FRENCH101 is a multimedia course that combines print, video, audio, and web activities. The emphasis is on communicative efficiency – the development of skills, self-expression, and cultural insight. This course assumes no prior knowledge of French. You will learn basic vocabulary and grammatical structures that will give you a good start in using this language for interpersonal communication, travel, reading, writing, surfing French websites, watching French films, etc. You will also learn about cultural aspects of French-speaking countries that will help you when you travel or study in Francophone countries.

CREDIT HOURS: 4 credit hours

COURSE OUTCOMES:
Upon completion of the course, the student will acquire:
-Oral production and communicative skills
-Vocabulary (mastery of specific lexical items)
-Grammar (control of specific structures and forms)
-Reading Comprehension Skills (ability to answer questions about authentic texts written in the target
language)
-Writing Skills (creative and grammatically correct usage of the language)
-Cultural Awareness (knowledge and awareness of specific cultural, societal, and geographical aspects)

REQUIRED TEXTS:
-Mais oui!, Thompson Phillips; 3rd edition (textbook)
-Workbook/Lab Manual to accompany Mais oui! as well as the CDs

COURSE OUTLINE
A precise outline of materials to be covered will be handed out on the first day of class along with a list of all scheduled tests and the dates for the written and oral final exams.

CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR: Ask pertinent questions; contribute to discussions; avoid "private" conversations that distract the instructor and other students.

Remember that the faculty is the one to end the class — do not prepare to leave early.

Cheating on exams or quizzes incurs an automatic failing grade for the course.

DO NOT FORGET to shut off your cellular phone before entering the classroom.

PUNCTUALITY is of paramount importance: don't be late for your class!
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CLASS PREPARATION AND PARTICIPATION: Because learning a language is a time-consuming process which requires individual study, exposure to French, and involvement in communicative activities, it is essential that students study assigned material outside of class, complete exercises assigned by the instructor, attend class regularly, and participate actively in all classroom activities. Students absent on any given day will receive no participation credit for that day.

The following descriptions represent behavior typical of both strong and weak preparation and participation to help you understand what is expected of you as well as how this component of your performance is assessed.

-Characteristics of strong preparation & participation: The student studies assigned materials and completes reading assignments prior to class; prepares assigned exercises prior to class; attends entire class period; listens attentively to instructor and classmates; participates actively, and enthusiastically works in pairs and small groups; attempts to communicate exclusively in French ; volunteers information and/or answers but also allows other students the opportunity to answer.

-Characteristics of weak preparation & participation: The student is absent from class or does not attend entire class period and thus does not participate; attends class but has not prepared the material beforehand; does not pay attention to class activities; does not complete group activities; speaks in English ; engages in disruptive behavior in the classroom (i.e. talks when the professor or another student is talking).

You will be evaluated very frequently (often without your knowing it) on your participation in class, your preparation in general, on assigned homework and exercises in particular, and on your contribution to the learning environment. If you must be absent on any given day, you are nevertheless still responsible for the material covered and the assigned homework for the next class period. Remember, you are getting evaluated on your preparation.

GRADING POLICY:

A significant percentage of your grade depends on your daily effort in class. Skipping classes, failure to hand in assignments and lack of preparedness and participation in class will have a strong negative effect on your final grade! Please note that good test grades alone are not sufficient to pass this course.

HOMEWORK is given as we progress through the chapters. It will, however, always be your responsibility to review all the materials covered in class. The work and lab manuals are to be worked on as we progress through the chapters and the pages of the workbook are due at the end of each chapter (part of the lab manual will be worked on in class).

The workbook pages must be checked carefully and corrected by the student with ink of a different color prior to handing them in to the professor. Tear the chapter pages out of your workbook and staple them together or use a paper clip! Late homework will not be accepted!

Remember that regular and steady work is necessary for any skill-building process, and a language is a perfect example of this. If you let yourself slack off, you will not continue to make good progress. If you are prepared for class, you will feel more sure of yourself and have positive experiences with the language.

FINAL EXAMS
The final written exam is an 80-question, comprehensive scantron exam. In addition, you will have to write an essay, incorporating the vocabulary and information learned in the chapters through the semester. In the second part of the semester, the topic of this final essay will be revealed and you may start writing a draft that your professor will look over for corrections / suggestions, as many times as needed. This draft has to be typed so that you can easily make corrections. You may, however, NOT bring that essay into class on the day of your final exam.

Final oral exam: Shortly after the mid-term period, you will receive the questions and situations for the oral exam. First you will prepare your situations, translate the questions and then you will practice asking and answering them (form study groups, visit the tutors, etc.). During the exam itself you will have a conversation with your professor based on the situations, questions and answers you prepared. The exam will be scheduled in the regular classroom, at about 5-7 minute intervals, during the regular class period, on the final day of class.

WITHDRAWAL FROM CLASS:
See school policy. If a student is planning to withdraw from the course, he/she is encouraged to notify his/her instructor. He/she must, however, withdraw officially by filling out the appropriate form by the due date. Lack of such action will result in an automatic failing grade. An instructor CANNOT give a mark of W, unless the student processes an official withdrawal form.
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