FRENCH

Summer 2020
Course Information and Policies
Photo sources:
https://www.parisinfo.com ;
https://www.accorhotels.com/fr/hotel-A572-
fairmont-le-chateau-frontenac/index.shtml L’abbaye du Mont Saint-Michel en
Normandie
Le Château Frontena à Québec

Instructor: Alesha Pisciotta Zoom ID: 921 8414 2083

Email: alesha127@ku.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Welcome to French! This course serves as an introduction to the French language and
selected aspects of Francophone civilization and culture. At the end of this course, you should
be able to:
o Greet French speakers and ask how they are doing
o Talk about things you like and don't like
o Talk about doing things in the present tense
o Describe yourself and other people using some basic adjectives
o Count to 60 and tell time
o Ask basic questions
o Compare and contrast cultures from different francophone countries

Here are some ways that learning French can help you, whether you choose to study
foreign languages or something entirely different!

 Studying the grammatical structures and vocabulary of French will greatly increase
your understanding of your native language (as well as any other languages you speak)
and your ability to express yourself.
 Studying French can help your future career in most fields, given that cultural training
and awareness is a key skill sought by companies and organizations with any sort of
international ties. See this article on how learning a foreign language in college can help you
land your first job: https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/talk-up-foreign-language-
skills
 Studying a foreign language builds your analytical thinking skills.

TRANSLATION PROGRAMS:
The use of computer or on-line translation programs is NOT permitted in this course (or any
college-level foreign language course) and is considered plagiarism. You will receive a write-
up for any instance of using an online translator. To avoid this, use only the words and
structures we have covered in class.

GRADING/GRADE DISTRIBUTION:
Grades are calculated according to the scale below and are not curved. There is no extra

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credit offered in this course, and late work/assignments are not accepted without a valid,
documented excuse.

A 92.5-100% B+ 87.5-89.4%   C+ 77.5-79.4%    D+ 67.5-69.4%

            A- 89.5-92.4% B 82.5-87.4%       C 72.5-77.4%     D 62.5-67.4%
  B- 79.5-82.4%    C- 69.5-72.4%     D- 59.5-62.4% F 0-59.4%
                                                                                    
Participation 17%
Daily Homework 20%
French Essays 17%
Cultural Essays 12%
Presentation/Quiz 17%
Final Oral Assessment 6%
Final Exam 12%

ABSENCES:

Students must attend all program classes and activities. Sleeping, inattentiveness, or disruption
of a class or activity will result in disciplinary action. Students are required to attend all classes,
and all program functions. Unexcused absences may result in dismissal from the program.
Missed classes and work must be made up, regardless of the reasons for missing the class or
work. Tardiness will not be tolerated. Three incidences of tardiness for classes and/or meetings
will constitute a write up.

PARTICIPATION (17%):

Participation is more than just being present. The most important aspect of learning a
foreign language is practice, practice, practice. This means using French as much as possible
while in class and fully participating in partner and group work. You must receive at least
70% on participation to receive your stipend.

 90-100% -- Used almost exclusively French and spoke often during class period.
Participated actively and was a leader in group work. Volunteered very often and
contributed to class discussion in a meaningful way. Listened attentively and responded
to others. Was very well prepared for class.
 80-85% – Used mostly French and spoke often during class period. Participated actively
in group work. Volunteered quite often and contributed to class discussion in a
meaningful way. Listened attentively and responded to others. Was well-prepared for
class overall.
 70-75% -- Used a good deal of French but used English sometimes when not necessary.
Spoke fairly often during class period. Participated actively in group work.
Volunteered occasionally. Listened and responded generally to others. Was mostly
prepared for class. May have gotten off task on occasion.
 50-65% -- Used quite a bit of English on several occasions during group work and/or
whole class discussion OR didn't speak often. Not very engaged in group activities and
often off task. Did not volunteer during classroom discussion. Seemed quite unprepared
for class.
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  0-45% -- Used more English than French OR did not speak during class.  Was not
engaged in group activities and/or was distracting to others or was often off-topic during
class. Did not prepare at all.

DAILY HOMEWORK (20%):

You will have homework each day that will provide practice for the material covered in class.. All
homework must be completed in order to receive your weekly stipend.

Cultural Essays (12%):

You will have two cultural essays to write, each worth 50 points. Every Thursday, we will briefly
go over the culture of a francophone country. You will choose one of the countries we have
gone over in class and compare it to another francophone country that we are not studying in
class. Your essay should be 2-3 pages double-spaced, in 12-point, Times New Roman font. You
can choose any cultural topic you would like: sports, food, religion, politics, history, etc, but it
should be coherent (so only pick 1-2 topics max). Cite all of your sources and list them on a
separate reference page (failure to do so will result in a write-up). I will provide more
information on citing sources as the assignment approaches.

French Writing Essays (17%):

This will provide you the opportunity to practice writing in French. Your first draft will be worth 50
points. I will mark your errors, and two weeks later, you will submit a final draft, in which you
correct your errors and expand the essay to cover new material. Your final draft will be worth
100 points. Plagiarism during this activity will results in a grade of 0 and a write up. You will
receive more instructions on this as it approaches.

Presentation:

You will need to prepare a presentation with a small group of classmates. Think of these
presentations as a skit where you make up characters and a conversation that they have in
which you showcase the words and structures you have learned so far. There will be only one
presentation that will be worth 100 points. Presentations should be about 3-5 minutes long, and
every member of your group should speak. You must participate in each presentation to receive
your weekly stipend.

Final Oral Assessment (15%)

On the final Thursday of class, you will meet with me for five minutes to conduct on oral
assessment. You will receive more information on this as it approaches.

ACADEMIC HONESTY

Students should be certain that all of the work submitted in this course is their own. NO outside
assistance is allowed on any homework/assignments. Any instances of academic
dishonesty will result in a write-up and no stipend. Examples include, but aren't limited
to:

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 Submitting plagiarized work for an academic requirement. Plagiarism is the representation of
another’s work or ideas as one’s own (unacknowledged word-for-word and/or paraphrasing
of another’s work/ideas).

 Copying / turning in written work that is not original to you.

 Resubmitting work from another French course.

 Having someone else do the work for you.

 Using a translation program in any way to complete assignments.

Online Class Policies

 Keep your microphone muted during class unless you have permission to speak.

 Use the "raise hand" icon when you have a question.

 Cameras should be left on during class time and you should be looking at the screen,
and not somewhere else.

 If you are doing other things during class (using your phone, typing for any reason, etc),
you will receive 3 warnings, after which you will be written up.

 All class meetings will be recorded for grading purposes and in case of any unsavory
conduct while students are split into pairs without teacher supervision. These recordings
will only be viewed by the instructor and will be deleted at the end of each week.

 Always bring a notebook and a pencil to class with you to write down answers and
brainstorm.

Calendar (Subject to Change)

Week Date In class Homework (to be emailed to me

before class)
1 Monday- Introduction to the course and how to introduce yourself and ask how
June 1st someone is doing
Tuesday- Review, Alphabet, and Daily Homework AND fill out student
June 2nd Pronunciation information sheet!
Wednesd Useful Vocabulary, how to say Daily Homework
ay- "the"
June 3rd
Thursday- Listening Activity and French Daily Homework
June 4th Culture!

Friday- No Class
June 5th
2 Monday- More vocab and how to say you First Cultural Essay Due

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 June 8th like and don't like things
Tuesday- How to say you like and don't like Daily Homework
June 9th to do different things

Wednesd- How to talk about doing different Daily Homework

ay, June things
10th
Thursday, Reading and Haitian Culture! Daily Homework
June 11th
Friday, No Class
June 12th
3 Monday, How to say "to be" and some First Draft of French Essay Due
June 15th adjectives
Tuesday, How to use adjectives Daily Homework
June 16th
Wednesd- How to say there is/are, how to Daily Homework
ay, say "a/an"
June 17th
Thursday, Reading or listening (TBA) and Daily Homework
June 18th Senegalese Culture!

Friday, No Class
June 19th
4 Monday, How to form questions and use Second Cultural Essay Due
June 22nd question words (how, when, why,
etc)
Tuesday, More on questions and numbers Daily Homework
June 23rd 0-60
Wednesd- How to tell time and time to work Daily Homework
ay, on presentations
June 24th
Thursday, Presentations and Quebecois Presentation Due
June 25th Culture
Friday, No Class
June 26th
5 Monday, Days of the week and weather Final Draft of French Essay Due
June 29th (subject to change)
Tuesday, Reading and review Daily Homework
June 30th
Wednesd- Review Day and French in the US Daily Homework
ay,
July 1st
Thursday, Final exam and oral interviews Review Sheet Due
July 2nd
Friday, No Class
June 3rd

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Classes will be held the sixth week, July 6th-11th. The schedule will be announced ahead of
time.