FR 201: Intermediate French I

While studying culture, literature and language, students will review basic structures in French with a variety of contextualized activities and ample communicative practice (mostly available on the Vista Higher Learning website).

By the end of the course, successful students should have a greater understanding of certain aspects of French and Francophone cultures and have developed their communicative competence in French at the intermediate level. They will have: learned vocabulary related to relationships, feelings, marriage, and personality; watched the short film Tout le monde dit je t'aime; learned about the connections between the U.S. and France; watched a TV clip about voting in Belgium; learned spelling-change verbs and irregular verbs; learned how to form questions; read an article about Francophone music and cuisine in the U.S.; read writer Paul Verlaine's poem "Il pleure dans mon cœur"; learned vocabulary related to the city, including places, directions, people, activities, and descriptions; watched the short film J'attendrai le suivant...; learned about the French cities of Marseilles and Lyons; have been introduced to the photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand; learned reflexive and reciprocal verbs; learned descriptive adjectives and adjective agreement; learned the formation, categories, and position of adverbs; read an article about the annual music day in France; read writer Dany Laferrière's article "Tout bouge autour de moi"; learned vocabulary related to the media, people of the media, film, television, and the press; watched the short film Le Technicien; read about Québec; watched a video about the newspaper Vendredi; learned the passé composé; learned about the uses of the passé composé as compared to the imparfait; learned about the media mogul and former circus performer Guy Laliberté; and read an excerpt from the novel 99 francs, by writer Frédéric Beigbeder.

In keeping with Cal Poly's learning objectives, successful students should, moreover, better be able to: think critically and creatively; communicate effectively; work productively as individuals and in groups; use their knowledge and skills to make a positive contribution to society; and make reasoned decisions based on an understanding of ethics, a respect for diversity, and an awareness of issues related to sustainability. They should, more specifically, have made progress in: communicating effectively through speaking, listening, reading, and writing in authentic situations in French; developing communicative and intercultural competency in order to work productively both as individuals and in collaboration with others; gaining perpective on cultural and historical achievements in French-speaking cultures as well as on relevant issues of diversity; cultivating awareness of ethical and professional perspectives that reflect linguistic and cultural heritage; thinking critically and creatively using French and negotiating meaning between French and English; and developing the life-long ability to evaluate ways in which language and culture provide perspective/s on the larger world of the arts, science, and technology.

Required Text

Portails: Intermediate French 2 (Vista Higher Learning)

ISBN 978-1-54330-591-3

The required text is available at the Cal Poly bookstore and also directly from Vista Higher Learning for the best price.

Recommended

Morton, Jacqueline. English Grammar for Students of French

For additional practice / information

Please Note

Students from diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and with diverse learning needs are welcomed in this course. Please reach out to me with suggestions and/or concerns.

Cheating and/or plagiarism will not be tolerated. As per California Education Code Section 78907, neither electronic listening nor recording devices should be used without prior written consent of the instructor.

In order to be successful in this class, students should make it a priority and actively participate in all class sessions. They should meet with me to review tests, homework, and any concepts with which they might be struggling.

Grade Breakdown

Activities for credit: 15%

Graded activities: 25%

In-class engagement: 10%

Quizzes: 20 %

Tests: 30%

Working Schedule (subject to change)

Ressentir et vivre

21 September: Pour commencer

23 September: Court métrage

28 September: Imaginez; France-Amérique; La France peut-elle se fâcher avec les États-Unis?

30 September: Structures