French I
What to expect in French I
In this first course in French you will be speaking, hearing, reading and writing French every day. You will have daily independent practice, often to be completed at home, and you will have opportunities to explore various aspects of Francophone = French speaking cultures, people and places and will research a country and present it to the class. In beginning French you will learn mostly to describe yourself, your family and friends, where you live and go to school, and what you do at school and in your free time. You will learn many vocabulary words, many verb conjugations, and new ways of telling time, counting, giving dates, and thinking about the world. Learning a language can be very hard work and is sometimes frustrating. If you feel that you are struggling please come and see me for extra help or to arrange a private tutor.
It is essential that beginning French students practice daily at home and do their assignments careful and thoroughly. Building vocabulary through memorizing sound and spelling is essential for success. Parents can help students by practicing with flash cards for meaning and spelling of words. There are also vocabulary practice activities at the textbook website at my.hrw.com.
It is tempting for beginning students to use Google Translate or other sources to express themselves, this is not acceptable. Students must work with the knowledge they gain step by step in order to master it. Work copied from other people, other sources, Google Translate or other translators will be given a ZERO. Students may use dictionaries, on-line or paper, to look up vocabulary words.
In 2021-2022 French I will be offered in the Fall terms blocks 2 and 4.
Google Classroom is the platform we will to make assignments from the textbook resources and to provide materials needed that cannot be distributed in class. It is also the platform students will use to turn in some course work. During Distance learning, all work will be turned in through Classroom. Each block has a separate Classroom; students will join the one they are enrolled in.
French 1 Block 2: classroom.google.com join code: edzru7s
French 1 Block 4: classroom.google.com join code: n6s5mc2
Textbook Resources
Textbook: Discovering French Today, French 1, bleu
Workbook. Exercises for listening and writing.
Activites pour tous workbook. Writing practice.
Online textbook, audio, video and practice, at the website: my.hrw.com Each student has an account which should be accessible through CLEVER on their SPS account.
Course Outline and approximate syllabus:
Unit 1: Weeks 1-2. Introduction to French and the Francophone world; greetings, introductions, numbers, letters and sounds.
Unit 2: Weeks 3-5. Daily survival: food, restaurant etiquette, time, day and date, weather, calendar, seasons.
Unit 3: Weeks 4-9. What you do and how well you do it: VERBS!
Semester 1 Exam Wednesday October 13
Unit 4: Weeks 10-12. Family, friends, possessions.
Unit 5: Weeks 13-15 Where we live and where we go in town.
Unit 6: Weeks 16-18 What we wear and how to shop.
Semester 2 Exam Tuesday December 21.
In the case of quaratine or Distance Learning
Learning to speak another language is best accomplished through actually speaking with others. When we meet in a classroom a great deal of our time is spent listening and speaking to French from many sources - teacher, student, audio, video.
Students learning French from home MUST diligently use all resources to practice speaking and listening to make up for the loss of in person class. Students must:
Attend Class via Google Meet and speak up!
Use the On-line textbook : listen to dialogues, watch videos, utilize everything.
Practice with the Workbook exercises, that are also available at the online textbook website.
Complete all assignments, written and spoken; submit audio recordings when required.
Schedule history for French I:
2016 - 2017 to present: Fall 2nd and 4th blocks.
2015-2016: Fall, 4th block.
2014-2015: Fall, 1st block; Spring, 3rd block.
2013-2014: Fall, 4th block.
2012-2013 Fall, 4th block, Spring 3rd block.
2011-2012 Fall 4th block, spring 3rd block.
2010-2011 Fall 3rd block; Spring: 2nd block
2009-2010: Fall 4th block
2008-2009: Fall and Spring