Syllabus

Professor Beth Mauldin
FRENCH 201
MWF 9:30 - 10:20
email: bmauldin AT oglethorpe.edu
Office: Hearst 317A
Office Hours: MW 10:25 - 12:00

Course Description:

This course is designed as a further development of knowledge acquired in a beginning French class. Speaking, listening, reading and writing skills will be taught with particular emphasis given to the oral language and the acquisition of adequate conversational skills. The goal of the course will be to provide the student with a good oral command of the language in everyday settings, a solid knowledge of grammar and the ability to read and write moderately difficult French. The courses Intermediate French (FRE 201), French Conversation and Composition (FRE 301) and French Lyric and Literary Prose (FRE 302) constitute the three required courses for a French minor or major. Students complete the minor by taking one more advanced level French course of their choosing. The major requires a semester of study abroad, Elementary Spanish I (SPN 101) and three additional advanced courses.

Our aim will be to develop an appreciation for the intricacies of language and the richness of another culture. The study of a different language and culture adds another dimension to our thinking processes and person; it also provides a fresh outlook on our own culture and language. The intermediate level course should be an opportunity for students to enrich their understanding of the cultural context in which the French language exists. Far beyond a mere inventory of grammatical notions, the study of a foreign language ought to give insight into a particular view of the world. In the case of French, the student has the opportunity to discover a language profoundly influenced by the rational philosophy of the great seventeenth-century thinker Descartes, the heritage of centuries of strong centralized governments and a rich intellectual history.

Required Texts:

Capretz, et. al.: French In Action (Second Edition)

Capretz, et. al.: French In Action (Second Edition) Workbook Part2

Hope and Hope: L'Art de lire (Third Edition)

STUDENTS WHO TOOK ELEMENTARY FRENCH II IN THE SPRING SEMESTER NEED NOT PURCHASE THE FRENCH IN ACTION BOOKS. (THE SAME TEXTBOOK AND WORKBOOK WILL BE USED.) EVERYONE WILL NEED TO PURCHASE L'ART DE LIRE.

A personal dictionary will not be necessary for this course. Vocabulary will be presented in class, and the textbook and reader provide "lexiques." Students wishing to purchase reference books at a later date in the course in preparation for further study are encouraged to consult the instructor.

Class Periods:

We will cover a little more than one chapter of French In Action each week starting with Leçon 32 and continuing to Leçon 42. We will then skip to the last two "leçons" of the book, numbers 51 and 52. Students new to French In Action should review some of the previous chapters. An easy and effective way to do this would be to view a number of the videos in the library. Each "leçon" starts with a ten-minute story and then develops vocabulary and grammar. It would therefore be relatively easy to view quite a number of storyline sections, thereby getting a fairly good idea of the ongoing story involving the characters Robert and Mireille. Students returning from last year may also want to do some reviewing.

Each "leçon" has a 30-minute video coordinated with the textbook and a 90-minute audio tape coordinated with the workbook. The video should be viewed and the tape exercises begun before coming to class on the first day assigned to the "leçon." Students will then have several days to complete the workbook exercises. Students should see the video available in the library on DVD or video laser disc and on line at the following website: http://www.learner.org/resources/series83.html#. (Lessons are identified by pedagogical titles. Thus, Leçon 32 is “Habitat I,” Leçon 33 is “Habitat II,” etc. Click on the icon “VoD” in the shaded box to view the video. You will then need to set up a password at no charge. Computers must be equipped with software for viewing streaming video.) A short written assignment to be handed in will be assigned in conjunction with most "leçons."


Note: The study of a foreign language requires careful, methodical work each day without fail. The material cannot be "crammed" in hurried make-up efforts. Do not get behind. If you at any time have particular difficulty with an assignment, come in and see the instructor at once. If office hours are not convenient, other arrangements can be me. Delay in seeking guidance will only make the problem worse.

Homework:

The exercises in most of the workbook are self-correcting. Students are, of course, to do the exercises FIRST and then check their answers. All exercises up to and including “Exercices-tests” should be completed. The exercises in the final section (“Préparation à la lecture et à l’écriture”) are optional but worthwhile. Certain written exercises from a number of the chapters will be assigned to be completed on a separate sheet of paper and handed in. There will also be independent written assignments made from time to time. As noted above, the pre-reading written exercises in L'Art de lire are to be handed in before each discussion session. The instructor may occasionally ask to see the workbooks in order to assess the quality of work being completed by students. The workbook and reader exercises represent a considerable investment of time, but that is how one learns another language. It is virtually impossible for students to succeed on tests and participate successfully in class without having devoted a great deal of time to the workbook, the reader, the audio program and the video presentations.

DVDs and Video Laser Discs:

The "leçons" are available in the library on DVD and video laser disc. Each video takes 30 minutes to view. The discs are on reserve in the library and are not to be checked out. Individual viewing booths and small viewing rooms for several students are available. Library staff can explain the use of the equipment. The instructor will also give explanations in class. Obviously, the videos may also be viewed in the labs on campus or at home by accessing the website indicated above (http://www.learner.org/resources/series83.html#.).

Audio Program:

The audio material is available at Petrel Net (http://petrelnet/OU/). Click on “Library Reserves,” “Browse the Reserves” and “French in Action.” Accompanying audio cassette tapes for each chapter are also available on loan in the library. They may be checked out for 3 days. The instructor will drill some of the material from the audio program in class giving students an opportunity to ask questions and clear up any difficulties.

Oral Presentations:

Throughout the semester, students will work together on skits, developing some of the ideas found in each chapter.

Tests:

Tests will be given covering the work of two chapters of French in Action and the appropriate units in L'Art de lire. They will include an oral component, both listening and speaking. Each test will also include an individual oral interview with the professor. Students absent without prior notification and permission will not be allowed to make up tests. There will be no comprehensive mid-term examination.

Final Examination:

A cumulative final examination will be given at the end of the semester. It will include writing and listening comprehension.

Schedule:

Schedule:

Wednesday August 29 Introduction
Friday August 31 FiA 32 Devoirs: 32.1 - 32.18
Monday September 3 Labor Day Holiday
Wednesday September 5 FiA 32 Devoirs: 32.19 - 32.38
Friday September 7 FiA 29 Devoirs: 29.1 - 29.16
Monday September 10 FiA 29 Devoirs: 29.17 - 29.32
Wednesday September 12 Lire Les Bijoux 1
Friday September 14 Test #1
Monday September 17 FiA 30 Devoirs: 30.1 - 30.16
Wednesday September 19 FiA 30 Devoirs: 30.17 - 30.33
Friday September 21 FIA 31 Devoirs: 31.1 - 31.16
Monday September 24 FiA 31 Devoirs: 31.17 - 31.33
Wednesday September 26 Lire Les Bijoux 2
Friday September 28 Test #2
Monday October 1 FiA 33 Devoirs: 33.1 - 33.19
Wednesday October 3 FiA 33 Devoirs: 33.20 - 33.38
Friday October 5 NO CLASS
Monday October 8 Columbus Day
Wednesday October 10 Lire Deux Amis 1
Friday October 12 Lire Deux Amis 2
Monday October 15 FiA 34 Devoirs: 34.1 - 34.15
Wednesday October 17 FiA 34 Devoirs: 34.16 - 34.30
Friday October 19 FiA 35 Devoirs: 35.1 - 35.20
Monday October 22 FiA 35 Devoirs: 35.21 - 35.39
Wednesday October 24 Test #3
Friday October 26 Film
Monday October 29 Film
Wednesday October 31 Film
Friday November 2 FiA 36 Devoirs: 36.1 - 36.16
Monday November 5 FiA 36 Devoirs: 36.17 - 36.32
Wednesday November 7 FiA 37 Devoirs: 37.1 - 37.18
Friday November 9 FiA 37 Devoirs: 37.19 - 37.36
Monday November 12 Test #3
Wednesday November 14 FiA 38 Devoirs: 38.1 - 38.19
Friday November 16 FiA 38 Devoirs: 38.20 - 38.38
Monday November 19 FiA 39 Devoirs: 39.1 - 39.16
Wednesday November 21 Thanksgiving Holiday
Friday November 23 Thanksgiving Holiday
Monday November 26 FiA 39 Devoirs: 39.17 - 39.32
Wednesday November 28 Test #4 (NO CLASS)
Friday November 30 FiA 40 Devoirs: 40.1 - 40.15
Monday December 3 FiA 40 Devoirs: 40.16 - 40.27
Wednesday December 5 FiA 41 Devoirs: 41.1 - 41.33
Friday December 7 Test #5
Monday December 10 Review

Grading:

The final grade will be determined by the following formula:

35% class participation (including written homework and skits)

35% chapter tests (average with lowest score eliminated)

30% final examination

Class participation includes being prepared for class, volunteering answers, regular attendance, participating in skits and homework completed in the workbook.

Anyone learning another language makes mistakes; in fact, those who make the most mistakes in their attempts to speak and answer questions learn the most. It is very important to be alert in class and to participate actively. A certain psychological aspect of language learning can sometimes make it difficult for students to attempt to express themselves in the new language. The instructor will lend encouragement, but the student must make the decision to try.

Attendance Policy

Essential to successful second-language acquisition is continued practice and contact with the language. Therefore, class attendance is required. You may miss four classes for any reason. After these four absences, the final grade will be lowered one third of a grade per absence (from B+ to B, for example) and half a grade in case of A (from A to A-). If you have a total of ten absences you will receive an F or FA in the course. There is no distinction between “excused” and “unexcused” absences. If you were not in class, you were not in class. Use your allowed absences wisely. This is the official policy on attendance of the Division of Foreign Languages. Much of the learning in a foreign language course takes place in the classroom and simply CANNOT be made up. Be in class, and be on time.

The class will be conducted in French. This is, of course, not always easy and requires the cooperation of everyone. If the instructor addresses the class in French, you are expected to reply in French, making use of the material and vocabulary developed up to that particular time in the course. Do not attempt to express overly complicated ideas, or to pursue subject areas beyond the scope of the material presented in the textbooks and in class. By building with simple constructions you will improve your speaking ability enormously in a relatively short time.

Many of you may be interested in joining the French Club. Activities include films, discussions, attendance at cultural events and social evenings.

Honor Code:

The students and faculty of Oglethorpe University expect each other to be truthful in the academic endeavor they share. Faculty assume students complete work honestly and act toward them in ways consistent with that assumption.

Students will pledge to have completed tests honestly by signing a pledge attached to each weekly test and to the final examination. The instructor will be present in the classroom during portions of tests only to serve in clarifying instructions. Homework from the workbook should be chiefly the result of individual work, but students may profitably discuss exercises together and give limited aid to each other.

Incompletes:

An incomplete for unfinished work at the end of the semester will be granted only for reasons of health, family tragedy, or other circumstances the professor deems appropriate. This procedure is not recommended and will be granted only in exceptional cases. It is particularly inappropriate for this course which depends so greatly upon class participation. The grade “I” has the same effect as an “F” on the GPA. If the student completes the work within thirty days of the last day of exams, the professor will evalute the work and turn in a revised grade. Any “I” not changed by the professor within forty-five day of the last day of exams will automatically be changed to a grade of “F.” This policy was approved by the Faculty of Oglethorpe University on May 1, 2002.

Cheating:

a. The unauthorized possession or use of notes, texts, or other such materials during an examination.

b. Copying another person’s work or participation in such an effort.

3. An attempt or participation in an attempt to fulfill the requirements of a course with work other than one’s original work for that course.



Plagiarism:

Plagiarism includes representing someone else’s words, ideas, data, or original research as one’s own, and in general failing to footnote or otherwise acknowledge the source of such work. One has the responsibility of avoiding plagiarism by taking adequate notes on reference materials, including material taken off the internet or other electronic sources, used in the preparation of reports, papers, and other coursework.