Brittany Connor, Madame C.

[email protected]
academyfrench.weebly.com
OFFICE HOURS

French 1
PERIOD/Schedule

Course Description and Objectives:

French 1 is a one- or two-year course (depending on individual students), designed to help them acquire novice mid-
high level in listening, speaking, reading and writing of French, as well as broaden students understanding of French-
speaking cultures.

I teach language using the TPRS (Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling) and CI (Comprehensible Input)
methods. TPRS emphasizes mastery and proficiency in the language rather than short term memorization of vocabulary
and grammar rules. Research has shown that students who acquire language through TPRS/CI methods score
competitively higher on national assessments and college placement exams. The target language is spoken 90% (or
more) of the time as endorsed by ACTFL (the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages). The French 1
curriculum is based on the 200 most used words in the French language which account for 60% of the spoken language.

Required Materials
1.5 or larger binder filled with loose leaf lined paper and at least 3 dividers 2 different colored pens
(Dcollage, Story vocabulary and stories, Class Handouts and homework)
French-English Dictionary (optional) Pencil
Classroom Expectations Consequences for Misbehavior
1. NO NEGATIVITY RESPECT your classmates, your Disruptive students will fill out accountability reports
teacher, the class, and all property while class continues without them.
2. Raise your hand before speaking or leaving your seat 1. Verbal warning
3. Listen and follow directions 2. Detention and Parent Notification
4. Follow all other rules set out in the student handbook 3. Administrative Intervention

Electronic Device Policy Food and Drink Policy

No cell phone use is permitted in Students are always allowed to have clear water bottles
the classroom without teacher with lids. Students must ask me (in French) for
consent. It must be silent and permission to have any other food or drink.
put away. If it is seen or heard, I Students are responsible for keeping their area
will keep it for the day. If it neat and clean. If housekeeping becomes a
happens again, it will go to the principal. problem, the entire class will lose the privilege.

Your Grade
The course will be divided into 4 units, each unit has 3 chapters, and each chapter has 2 lessons. Each lesson should
take about a week to complete. I will give an exam at the end of each chapter, so about every 2 weeks. I will also be
giving brief pop quizzes at least once a weekthese give me a better idea of how much language you are actually
acquiring rather than testing your short term memory and cramming skills.
70% Assessment (includes tests, quizzes, class work, homework, and projects): Rubrics will be distributed when
necessary. See chart below for weighting of specific standards.
30% Participation: Graded every day. Rubric below.

Participation
Participation
18%
18% Knowledge: Culture
Knowledge: Culture Assessment
30%
30% Knowledge: Vocabulary
Knowledge: Vocabulary Assessment
Knowledge: Structures
Knowledge: Structures Assessment
18%
18% Understanding: Listening Comprehension
Undertanding: Listening Comprehension Assessment
3% Understanding: Reading Comprehension
6% Understanding: Reading Comprehension Assessment
11% 6% 3% Application: Speaking
6% Application: Speaking Assessment
11% 11% 6% Application: Writing
11% Application: Writing Assessment

Score out 10 Participation Expectation Rubric

10 Pays attention and Contributes at the 9 level and Contributes more by: 1) Adding interesting and useful comments that are appropriate and in the
target language; 2) Speaking aloud voluntarily with longer spontaneous answers in the target language; 3) Volunteering for class jobs & doing them
well.
9 Pays attention and Contributes by: 1) Using English only with permission; 2) Regularly using the I do not understand signal or the slow down signal;
3) Playing the game by answering with one-word answers or short responses, participating enthusiastically.
7 Pays attention by: 1) Showing your intent to understand with body language and responses; 2) Sitting up; Maintaining eye contact with teacher,
peers and media; 3) Having nothing on lap or deskparticularly cell phones; 4) Observably listening when others speak; 5) Not distracting or
disrupting; 6) Not blurting out in English and not having side conversations.
5 Does not pay attention regularly as evidenced by: Having something on lap or desk (such as a cell phone); Slumping in chair; Showing limited effort
and/or eye contact; Using English once or twice without permission.
0 Absent; It is not possible to contribute or pay attention if you are not in classthis includes excused absences. Uses off-task English; Does not
observably pay attention; Is distracting/disruptive/insulting. Uses English two (2) or more times without permission; Behavior hinders or prevents
others from learning; Detracts from the target language conversation by blurting out or having side conversations; Slumps in chair; No eye contact
with teacher, peers or media.
Classroom Procedures
Procedures are ways of doing routine activities that help the classroom to run more smoothly so that we can focus on
learning. Procedures are not exactly rules, but repeated disregard of procedures can result in disciplinary action
because that will affect learning in the classroom.
Before Class Be in your seat and ready to work before the bell ringsusually this means having your composition
Officially book open and a pencil or pen in hand. On reading days, have the book you selected open and be
Starts: ready to read. On days with a Dcollage (warm-up activity), have your binder open, a pen or pencil
ready and begin working on the Dcollage.
At the You are considered tardy if you are not in your seat by the time the late bell stops ringing. Any time
Beginning of you arrive late to class, seat yourself quickly and quietly, say "Dsol" (I'm sorry)not because it is a
Class: terrible thing, but because you have disrupted the class and have dishonored your own learning time.
You are responsible for making up any activity that you missed, as well as for copying any notes from
your peers.
During Class: When the tardy bell rings, begin work quietly on the daily warm-up activity, the Dcollage.
Raise your hand if you have a question.
When I raise my hand and say Classe, all students should have eyes on me.
Use the stop or Je ne comprends pas! (I don't understand!) gesture (fist to hand) when you don't
understand.
Use the Plus lentement, sil vous plat! (Slow down, please!) gesture (palm motions downward)
when someone talks too fast.
At The End of Class is not over until the teacher dismisses you. Until that time, please stay in your seat and work. Do
Class: not put your materials away early, line up at the door or walk around the room. Before you leave,
please make sure that you pick up any trash in the area around your seat and that the desks are in
order. You will be reminded of this often. Here is the procedure for dismissing the class:
The teacher graciously says: Classe! (Class! )
The class responds with a hearty: Oui, Madame? (Yes, maam?)
The teacher will then respectfully say: Merci de mavoir coute! (Thank you for listening to me!)
The class will thankfully say: Merci de nous avoir enseign! (Thank you for teaching us!)
The teacher will then kindly say: Au revoir. (Good bye.)
Speaking: This is a language class and we will work on speaking in the target language in class most of the time
90% is the national standardthat means that the teachers should be speaking in the language most
of the time and so should the students. Here is how we manage questions: If the teacher asks in
French students must answer in French. If the teacher asks in English, students can answer in English
or French.
Absences: If you are absent for any reason, you are required to make up all work missed. It is your responsibility
to find out what assignments and notes you missed. Check with your peers, the website, and/or the
absence folder in class. If you need further explanation, ask the teacher. Students lose all
participation points for the day they are absent. For exempt and excused absences only, participation
points can be made up by writing a 100 word essay in French for each day missed using target
vocabulary or by watching a Learn French the Natural Way video and summarizing it for me (link on
weebly class site). Consistent with the student handbook, the student is given two (2) school days for
each day absent in which to make up any missed assignments. To make up your Dcollage, write 5
new sentences using new vocabulary and grammatical structures that we are using in class. Write the
date you were absent and the word ABSENT above the sentences. Do not just copy the answers from
a classmate because that would not require you to think and thereby learn.
Classroom There are many jobs that are necessary to keep the classroom going. Most students will have a job
Jobs: assigned to them that will help things run smoothly and to show that we are all in this together. We
want involved students, not passive ones.
If you have a concern about something, please see me after class or write me a short note. Please don't blurt out in
class. I will listen to you at the appropriate time.
GUIDELINES DURING STORYTELLING:
This is how to get the most out of French class activities. These are not exactly rules, but students that disregard these
guidelines will not be fully participating, this will affect the learning in the class. Repeated disregard can result in
disciplinary action because it will begin to affect learning.
Give me your full attention (make eye contact, desk clear, listen intently).
No English during storytelling. We do not want to break our concentration in French with side comments in English.
Raise your hand if you must say something in English and ask for permission to speak in English (Anglais, sil vous
plait?).
Talking to a neighbor in any language is not allowed during stories.
Once a fact (it can be imaginary) in a story has been established, it cannot be argued, debated, changed or one-
upped.
If I tell the class something, act as if you believe it is true. Show your amazement by oohs and ahhs or other
appropriate expressions.
If I ask a question which reviews an already-established fact, everyone should either answer or give the Je ne
comprends pas signal (hand to fist).
Anything can happen in French class! Tout est possible en cours de franais!

By signing this sheet, I acknowledge that I have read and understand the rules and procedures set out in the syllabus for
French 1. Any questions or concerns are written below.

Student name (printed) Student signature Date

Parent/Guardian signature Date