FR 202: Intermediate French II

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 the law, legal rights, politics, public officials, and national security; watched the short film L'hiver est proche; read about piracy in the Antilles; been introduced to the dancer Léna Blou; learned the pluperfect tense; learned about negation and indefinite adjectives and pronouns; learned about irregular -ir verbs; read an article on the history and culture of Haiti; read writer Victor Hugo's speech "Détruire la misère"; learned vocabulary related to immigration, diversity, social problems, and change; watched the short film Samb et le commissaire; learned about western Africa; learned about Oxfam; learned and practiced partitives; learned and practiced the pronouns y and en; learned and practiced the order of pronouns; read an article about education in western Africa; read Ghislaine Sathoud's story "Le marché de l'espoir"; learned vocabulary related to family life, food, personality, and stages of life; watched the short film De l'autre côté; learned about North Africa and Lebanon; read about the designer Yves Saint Laurent; studied the subjunctive; studied demonstrative pronouns; studied irregular -re verbs. Successful students will also--independently--have read an article about a wedding in Algeria and read Olivier Charneux's "La logique des grands."

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 perspective 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

Due to cultural differences between the United States and the areas of the world to be studied, you might find some of the authentic materials used in this course provocative.

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 by the instructor.

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

Grade Breakdown

Activities for credit: 20%

Graded activities: 30%

Quizzes: 20 %

Tests: 30%

Working Schedule

La valeur des idées

4 January: Pour commencer

6 January: Court métrage; Qui sont les Roms?

11 January: Imaginez; Est-ce que les pirates ont vraiment existé?; Qui étaient les vrais pirates des Caraïbes ?; Léna Blou, focus 13 heures

13 January: Structures

18 January: Monday schedule--no class