Course Description

FREN 1300 Beginning French Conversation I

FRENCH 1300 is a conversational introduction to the French language. It is designed especially for students who have never studied a foreign language, those who have limited conversational objectives (for example, acquiring some conversational skills for travel or the workplace), and for those who want to begin their study of French very gradually. The course generally transfers to universities as an elective, not in fulfillment of a language requirement.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites. This course is not open for students whose native language is French.

Course Goals (includes core competencies, incorporation of SCANS, etc.)

1. LISTENING COMPREHENSION
   Comprehend the basic message of spoken words, statements, questions, conversations about everyday topics. Comprehensible language will consist mainly of basic vocabulary and simple structures. Catch key meaning without comprehending every word spoken.
   
   
2. SPEAKING
   Speak first in single words or short expressions - memorized utterances - then, in short sentences about topics studied. Communication will involve giving information, asking and answering questions, and carrying on brief conversations. Speech will be hesitant with many inaccuracies, but understandable to sympathetic native speakers. Pronunciation may still show strong influence of native language.
   
   
3. READING COMPREHENSION
   Read short conversations, signs, forms, short texts using the vocabulary and structures practiced orally. These materials will reinforce vocabulary and provide material for conversation.
   
   
4. WRITING
   Write words, phrases or short sentences, questions and answers pertaining to the topics studied. Fill out forms giving personal information.
   
   
5. CULTURAL AWARENESS
   
   1. Develop awareness of where French is spoken and for what purposes. Be able to name parts of world and several countries where French is used.
      
      
   2. Develop knowledge of French customs and attitudes, expectations and values associated with the language situations practiced.
      
      
   3. Gain sensitivity to the challenges of intercultural communication and cultural misunderstanding

Instructor Information

Textbook Information

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS AND MATERIALS:

1. Entre amis, Oates, Oukada 3rd edition,1998, Houghton Mifflin
   & Student Homework Cassettes. Covered in this course: Chapters 1- 5
   
   Note: These tapes are packaged with new textbooks. If you buy a used textbook, you can get the tape duplicated by the library. 1  120-minutes tape (through chapter 7)  (To get entire book, 1 additional 90-minute tape.)
   
   

   OPTIONAL MATERIALS:
   

2. Workbook for Entre Amis, 3rd edition

Lab Requirements (if any)

Computerized Study Modules prepared for the textbook. You may use these in the Language Lab FAC 305 during announced open hours.

Students with Disabilities

Students who require reasonable accommodations for disabilities are encouraged to report to the disability counselor to make necessary arrangements. Faculty are authorized to provide only accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office.

Academic Honesty

Students are expected to do their own work, unless an assignment is made specifically as a group assignment. Plagiarism (handing in another person's work as your own),  or cheating will result in a grade of F for the assignment, quiz, or test in question. For a second offense, the student may receive a grade of F for the course.

Attendance and Withdrawal Policies

Class will begin at the scheduled time. Please be on time, as coming and going is disruptive to the class. Attendance is essential and daily records will be kept. In accordance with HCCS official policy, a student may be dropped for excessive absences after missing more than two weeks of class (4 classes). Consult with the instructor in case of serious illness or business reasons for absence. Students will lose points on the participation grade for every class missed over two weeks. Absences will be counted from the first class day of the semester, no matter when the student registers or first attends.

Grading Policy

Course Requirements for example: Testing, Projects, Assignments, Portfolios, Service Learning, Internships, etc.

Oral work, individual and group, pronunciation tapes
Homework
Short quizzes or in-class exercises
Chapter quizzes - oral and written
Final exam - oral and written

Make-up policy

You are expected to be prepared for class, even after absences. It is helpful to exchange phone numbers with one or two students in the class to find out assignments after missing a single class. Students are responsible for asking the instructor about handouts and work missed.

Generally, no makeups on short quizzes. One or two missed will not count against you. For Chapter quizzes, consult with the instructor. No more than one may be made up.

Course Content

The emphasis in the class is on oral communication, that is, listening and speaking skills. Reading and writing will be done as an aid to language acquisition.

Course Calendar with Due Dates for Assignments and Testing

The topics and tentative calendar are indicated below. Students are responsible for keeping up with the lessons in the textbook. Specific and more detailed assignments will be made on a daily basis. The instructor may make some adjustments during the semester.

SEMAINE 1 

• Introduction to French-speaking world
• Chapitre préliminaire Au départ
• Numbers to 30, clock time, alphabet, weather
• Chapitre 1  Bonjour!
• Greeting others, Exchanging personal information,
• Identifying nationality
   

SEMAINE 2

• Chapitre 1--Describing physical appearance
• Irregular verb être, agreement of adjectives
   

SEMAINE 3   

• Quiz 1: Chapitre 1
• Chapitre 2  Qu?est-ce que vous aimez?
• Asking and responding to ?How are you??
• Giving & responding to compliments
   

SEMAINE 4 

• Chapitre 2--Offering, accepting and refusing
   

SEMAINE 5 

• Chapitre 2--Expressing likes and dislikes
• Yes/no questions
   

SEMAINE 6 

• Quiz 2: Chapitre 2
• Chapitre 3  La famille
• Identifying family & friends
   

SEMAINE 7 

• Chapitre 3 --Indicating ownership, relationship
• Sharing numerical information
• Numbers to 79, Irregular verb avoir
• SEMAINE 8   
• Chapitre 3--Talking about people and things at home
   

SEMAINE 9

• Quiz 3: Chapitre 3
• Chapitre 4  L?identité
• Describing personal attributes
• Describing clothing
   

SEMAINE 10

• Chapitre 4--Describing people and things
   

SEMAINE 11

• Chapitre 4--Describing what you do at home
• Irregular verb faire
• Identifying someone's profession
   

SEMAINE 12

• Quiz 4: Chapitre 4
• Escale: l?Amérique du Nord
• Chapitre 5  Quoi de neuf?
   

SEMAINE 13

• Expressing future time; Telling time
• Irregular verb aller
   

SEMAINE 14

• Chapitre 5--Explaining your schedule
• Irregular verb devoir; Locating place
   

SEMAINE 15

• Révision
   

SEMAINE 16 Final Exam

Lab tapes designed to be used with the workbook--not the same as textbook cassette.
You may obtain copies free of charge by taking blank or used tapes to the library circulation desk and filling out a request form. It may take up to a week to get them back. The written cues for these tapes are in the workbook.

Entre Amis, 3rd edition three 60 minute cassettes