(1:30–2:20 p.m. and 2:30–3:20 p.m.—M T W Th in H321)

• Professor:                   Professor Irene Konyndyk
• Office:                            424 Hiemenga Hall
• Office Hours:            Flexible—preferably by appointment.
• Phone:                           Office: 526-6366
• E-mail:                           ikony@calvin.edu                               

Text: Allons-y!  Le français par étapes.  (6^th Ed.), by Jeannette D. Bragger & Donald B. Rice; Boston:   Heinle & Heinle Publishers, 2004.  (“Smart Pack” = Textbook, audio CD, and Workbook)

This is a beginning level language course which presupposes no background in French.  It is the first semester of a 3-semester elementary French program – one that fulfills Calvin’s foreign language requirement.  It will provide an introduction to the basics of French language (speaking, listening, reading, and writing) and culture.  This course provides a unique instructional approach to learning French—a multisensory, structured, metacognitive method.

NOTE: Student Learning Outcomes are delineated in the “Expanded Course Info” handout.

 Student activities:

a)     interacting in French with classmates

b)     reading and understanding explanations of grammatical points presented in class and in text

c)     memorizing vocabulary (meaning and spelling)

d)     preparing written and oral exercises to practice new language skills

e)     working with audio CD and iPod (Moodle) to improve your pronunciation and comprehension skills

f)      reviewing for quizzes and tests to master the previously-studied materials

g)     participating in activities such as French songs, prayers, videos, etc.

h)     weekly meeting with tutor.

We will spend approximately 10 class days on each chapter.  Class will be devoted to presentation of new materials, oral and written drills, conversation activities, review of homework assignments (areas of difficulty—students are expected to self-correct HW at home), testing, and enrichment activities.

 Expectations for achieving language proficiency:

1.  Class attendance/conduct:  Attendance and participation in all class sessions are essential and will be noted daily (cf. course contract).  Please turn off all cell phones, PDA’s, etc. before coming to class.  Laptops may be used in class only with the permission of the instructor.  A weekly meeting with the tutor is also required.

2.  Assignments:  Assignment sheets will be distributed per chapter.  Because this course requires your active participation, assignments must be prepared in advance of each class session.  Homework is collected at the start of each class session.  Anything not handed in then, is considered late.  Students are expected to spend approx. 2 hours outside of class for each class session. That time should be divided between written assignments, study and review of material covered in class, and audio work. Students are expected to correct their own “cahier” work with the answers in the back of the workbook.

Statement on Academic Integrity: The student-faculty relationship is based on trust and mutual respect, which can be seriously undermined by the suspicion or reality of academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism (students plagiarize when they do not credit the sources of their writing—the words, information, ideas, or opinions of others), improper group work, reuse of a paper from another course, and/or cheating on a test or quiz. Students are encouraged to speak to their faculty member with specific questions related to academic dishonesty.   For further clarification or information please visit:   http://www.calvin.edu/academic/engl/101/tresources/plagiarism.htm

No computer translation programs are allowed for doing HW assignments.  (These programs are of poor quality, and student learning does not occur in the way that it should.)  Also, if you get help from someone else with HW, you need to note that on a given assignment.

3.  Evaluation / Assessment:    The following components will determine your grade:

                        10%  Class attendance and participation

                        5%    Weekly meeting with tutor [graded for effort]

                        15%  Homework assignments [Anyone can earn an “A” here!]

                        10%  Daily Vocab Quizzes

                       20%  Tests  (4)

                        5%   Oral Interview

                        20%  Final Exam                                                                                             

                        5%    Cultural Activities  (A total of 30 pts. required)    [Ditto!]

                        5%   Weekly Journals  [Anyone can earn an “A” here!]

                        5%    Paris Project

Possibilities for Cultural Activities:

French Chapel                                                                         3 pts. per chapel [+ 2 pts. for helping lead chapel]

French Film [If not on approved list, must have prior approval by Prof]    15 pts.       (1 paragraph summary and 1-par. reaction, spell-checked, etc., incl. what you think the point of the film was)

French Christmas Party                                                                          5 pts.

Prepare a French food dish for the class                                          10 pts. (for purchased items) /15 pts. (made from a recipe) Other – make a suggestion!  (Pts. will be decided)                         (no repetition of dishes / food items)

Vocabulary quizzes will be given daily.  Other quizzes may be given periodically on grammar, readings, and audio materials.  These may be announced or unannounced, written or oral.  Tests will be given after every chapter, as outlined on the course syllabus.

Missed test policy:   No make up tests will be given.  If you miss one of the 4 tests for a legitimate reason (e.g. illness, with a note from the Health Center), the percentage allotted to this test will be added to the final exam.

            Grading Scale:           

                        95-100             A                                 73-76               C

                        90-94               A-                                70-72               C-

                        87-89               B+                                67-69               D+

                        83-86               B                                  63-66               D

                        80-82               B-                                60-62               D-

                        77-79               C+                                0-59                 F                                                             

5.  Tutors            Each student is expected to meet with a course tutor weekly for a 30-minute session.  These sessions are graded for effort.  The tutors assigned to our class will be announced soon.  If needed, you may contact them to arrange additional sessions (free of charge) for explanation, drill, or help with assignments.  They will take attendance and give me a report on each tutoring session.

 French Department Activities   All students of French are invited to participate in the following (culture points):

      a)  French chapel on Wednesdays (10:00 – 10:20 a.m.) in the Meditation Chapel (chapel lower level).

      b)  French Dept. film showings: http://www.calvin.edu/academic/french/events/film%20festival%202010/frenchfilmfestivalfall2010.htm

      c)  French Christmas party in early December.

 NOTES:

1.      If you have a sheet from SAS listing the accommodations for which you are eligible, please give that to me during the first week of class.

2.     You are expected to check your e-mail daily. An important message may be sent.

3.     You will only get as much out of French as you put into it.  Keeping up is critical, since each lesson builds on the previous one.  Feel free to ask questions whenever you don’t understand something.

4.     Learn vocabulary thoroughly (meaning, spelling & pronunciation). Words are the building blocks of language.

5.     Enjoy!

 

  Étape préliminaire –                                         6, 7  septembre              

 Chapitre 1 –                                                          8, 12, 13, 14,  15**, 19,  20, 21, 22 septembre          

 EXAMEN I –   Chapitre 1                              le lundi 26 septembre 

 Chapitre 2 –                                                         27,   28,  29** septembre ;  3,  4,  5,  6,  10, 11, 12, 13  ** octobre 

EXAMEN II – Chapitre 2                              le lundi  17 octobre 

 Chapitre 3 –                                                          18, 19 [Deadline for first 15 pts. of culture], 20, (le 24. 25, et le 26 — pas de classe! — Prof. K. gone and Academic Advising),  27, 28 **octobre – [NOTE :  the 28^th is a FRIDAY class day to make up for Monday, Oct. 24!!] ;  31 octobre;  1, 2, 3,  7,  8  novembre 

 EXAMEN III – Chapitre 3                              le mercredi  9 novembre 

 Chapitre 4 –                                                             10**,  14  15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, (le 24 – Thanksgiving break), 28, 29 novembre   

 EXAMEN IV – Chapitre 4                               le mercredi  30 novembre  

 Révision –                                                                1,  5,  6,  7**,  8 décembre 

 EXAMEN FINAL –    111A                           le mercredi  14 décembre      9h00 du matin

                     111B                            le mardi  13 décembre               9h00 du matin 

 Put the final exam date on your calendar now and make your Christmas travel plans accordingly.