Classroom Guidelines

We invite you to let your instructor know what your pronouns and preferred name are:

Feel free to send an email, to come to drop-in hours, or to email to set up an in-person or Zoom meeting with your instructor about this.  We also encourage you to let UIC know your preferred first name [https://registrar.uic.edu/student-records/preferred-first-name/]and to indicate your preferred name pronouns on Blackboard settings [https://today.uic.edu/students-can-set-their-preferred-names-and-pronouns-in-blackboard/].  

Respect and collaboration: Enjoy the experience of teamwork and treat others the way you would like to be treated.

Our classroom is a community: we aim to be respectful and generous with each other. Your instructor will treat you with respect, in class, in drop-in hours, and on email. Plan to do the same every time you interact with your instructor or other students.

Attendance is required:

Success in this class depends partly on your attendance and participation (15% of the final grade). You learn French by speaking it and by listening to other students and the instructor. See here for the attendance policy for this class.

Netiquette (Online Etiquette)

Please use the following rules of netiquette as you post to online discussions and send messages to your instructor and fellow students in the course:

• Use a greeting with all email communication. Do not begin an email without first writing, "Dear Professor _______", or "Hi Madame/Monsieur___________".  In emails, always identify yourself and what class and section you are in. It is a good practice to put your course and section in the subject line. This helps your instructor identify course related emails.

• Use professional language. Always say please and thank you and leave text messaging abbreviations out of messages and posts.  Be positive and constructive in your feedback to replies to students.  

• Try not to use all caps--it comes across as shouting to the reader. Use "bold" formatting or use quotes to emphasize a word or phrase. It may be okay at times for headings or to place emphasis on a web page, but try to avoid it when communicating on discussion boards or corresponding with others electronically.

• User proper language and titles – no slang or profanity. Even if a word is one you consider to be "not so bad," it could be offensive to others.  

• Review posts and messages before saving.  Check for grammar and spelling errors and restate your message when necessary.

• Ask for clarification. If you do not understand an assignment or feedback from me, please ask for clarification. I will do my best to word my posts/messages as clearly as possible, but in an online environment, I cannot "see" if my messages are being understood.

• Be mindful of different cultural and linguistic backgrounds, as well as different political ideologies and religious beliefs. Be respectful of others’ views and opinions.

Daily homework required:

There is daily homework for this class. You need practice to improve your French. To see what is due each day, see the Assignment Calendar. Contact your instructor with any questions.

Late homework is not accepted unless you have an excused absence or a documented technical problem.

Electronic devices:

You may use a device to access the materials needed for class. 

We invite you to take advantage of the class you are paying for by focusing on course material during class. If you are reading/sending text messages or checking email during class, this will be reflected in your participation grade.

During an exam, using a phone/tablet/laptop will be understood by your instructor as an attempt to send or receive information about the exam (see Academic Dishonesty on this website).

No eating during class:

You need your mouth to speak French with during class.  Eating can also distract other students.

Academic Integrity (avoiding cheating and plagiarism):

You must work completely alone on anything (all kinds of homework, exams, writing etc.) turned in for a grade. Cheating = taking credit for someone else’s work. Consequences for cheating/plagiarism may include: a zero on the assignment, an F in the class, expulsion from UIC. See Academic Dishonesty on this website for more examples of what cheating is in this class.