For all our standards for teaching foreign language and how I come up with my rubrics, please click here.
For what all students "can do" as we learn, click here. These are the ACTFL "can do" statements. By the end of the course, students will be able to do up to Intermediate Mid to High "can do" statements. Please look through these statements to understand what students are expected to be able to do by the end of the course. Intermediate Mid/High is the highest level expected and will result in the highest scores.
Grading Policies
Assessments 70%
Practice 30%
Zeros: If no work is received for any given assignment OR assessment for any reason, a zero will be scored. I will take late practice work / missing practice work UP TO 1 WEEK past the due date, with an automatic letter grade deduction. After that point, I will not accept the practice work. Reassessment opportunities will be provided and encouraged but will have time limits as well--determined at point of assessment and reassessment opportunity. If a student has zeros for practices that pertain to a reassessment, the student may be required to complete those zeros before a reassessment will be provided.
One hour a day, five days a week, is not enough to become proficient in French. You will need to take a few minutes throughout each day to practice. Some tools and methods for practicing French are: paper (reading and writing); mental or vocal rehearsals of words and phrases (for example, counting in French); encounters with French-speakers; French media (books, movies, TV shows, documentaries, songs and music videos, podcasts, etc.), and educational videos, websites and apps for learning French.
To earn an “A” in the practice category (worth 30%) of your grade in French 3, you will need to spend every moment of class time practicing French (completing classwork, reading, writing, speaking and/or listening to French).
Time spent on activities unrelated to your French studies during class will result in slower progress and lower “daily practice” grades. For example, a student who routinely watches videos or texts in English during class will experience slow progress and low practice grades. On the other hand, a student who looks up words and practices vocabulary on a French app (such as “Duolingo”), listens to French songs and watches French videos (while allowed in class) will personalize and improve his or her learning and earn high practice grades.
In addition to spending class time practicing French (“daily practice”), you will need to complete all classwork (practice assignments and quizzes), constantly aiming toward the next higher level of proficiency.
Assessment (70%)
Assessments are a way to show what you have learned through practice and what you can do. Assessments target the three modes of communication:
Interpretive (reading; viewing; listening)
Presentational (writing; presentational speaking)
Interpersonal (spontaneous speaking and writing)
In addition to regular assessments, there is a final exam at the end of each semester, worth 10% of the semester grade (each quarter being worth 45%). The final will include all three modes of communication.
Assessments have a minimum score of 40%. Reassessment opportunities are available on certain assessments and are handled as we move through the curriculum.
Class rules
1. Be on time! Be prepared!
2. Have a respectful attitude and make an effort to not disrupt during class -- refer to explanation in practice section of grading. NO PHONES OR HEADPHONES are allowed in class. If we need headphones for an activity, students will receive directions.
3. Be an active listener and FOLLOW DIRECTIONS! Language learning is fun! You MUST be an active participant. Participation matters and is counted into your grade.
Updated STANDARDS for FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING.doc.pdf