French at ERHS

Click on the video presentation and/or Google Slides presentation by Madam Cherubin to hear about the French program at ERHS. Interested in FHS? Check out slide 14 or the video at about 9:00.

French Course Descriptions:

• Level 1 - In the first year of foreign language study, the sounds of the language are learned through dialogues, practice exercises and situations. The students learn to understand, speak, read, and write a limited amount of material. Students will learn to apply grammatical principles of the language to form new ideas and to communicate them. Cultural information about the countries is taught as part of the context.

• Level 2 - The development of skills begun in the first year of the language is continued. Greater emphasis is placed on oral proficiency, listening, reading and writing. Knowledge of grammar is expanded, including object pronouns and most of the verb tenses beyond the present. Cultural information is taught through basic content readings and supplemental materials.

• Level 3 - By the third level of a foreign language, students are required to use the language in class conversations, and read both fiction and nonfiction, including magazines and newspapers. Learning of vocabulary is greatly expanded. Some supplementary reading is required. Basic grammar is reviewed and more complex structure is taught. Cultural projects are to be carried out in the foreign language. Students are expected to write coherent paragraphs, short summaries, and outlines in foreign language. Frequent testing of listening and reading comprehension is expected in this course.

• Level 4 of French is not offered at ERHS at this time.

• Level 5 - Since level 5 is the Advanced Placement foreign language course, it is intended as a content course. Students engage in reading for information in order to prepare oral and written reports, as well as for literary appreciation. Grammar is reviewed and discussed in the foreign language as the students’ composition and oral work reveal their weaknesses. The work centers on broad units dealing with literary, cultural or social themes. Students are to use a variety of foreign language sources of information, including films, recordings, native speakers, as well as printed matter in preparing their assignments. Contemporary problems of the foreign county as well as national problems are discussed in the foreign languages. Long-range individual projects on special student selected topics are expected. Creative writing is encouraged through such activities as producing a newspaper, poetry magazine, storybook for children, or term paper.