FR 001 - Penn State Altoona

French 1
Course Objectives and Syllabus
Fall 2012
Section Number: 001
Instructor: Dr. Patricia S. Seuchie
Instructor’s e-mail: [email protected]
Office Hours: MF 1:00-1:55 pm
Meeting times and place: MWF 2:00- 2:50pm Hawthorn 146
W 1:00- 1:50 pm Hawthorn 146
Office: Box 103 Hawthorn
Phone:
(814) 949-5035
Welcome to French 1! The following pages outline the general information and
policies for this course. A detailed course calendar, providing daily class schedules and
assignment due dates, is also included. Please read over all information carefully and
keep it for your references throughout the semester.
Description and Goals
This course is the first of a two-course elementary French language and culture
sequence at Penn State Altoona. The course meets for four class hours per week. The
focus of the course is on real-life language use, the integration of language and culture,
and the development of the four skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The
methodology used is communicative and task-based, meaning that in every chapter of
the book you will be learning language for a specific task, and by the end of the course
you will be able to perform a variety of tasks that are useful to someone visiting a
French-speaking country. You can expect to engage in pair and group work on a regular
basis and to participate actively in class. Regular attendance is extremely important to
your success in this course. This point cannot be stressed enough!
Please note:

Even though this is an elementary level course, the majority of the class will be
conducted in French. I will help you, but if you are really stuck you can always
ask to speak in English. Use of French in class is an important part of
your participation grade.

Any student with four or more years of high school credit in French will not
receive credit for this course. Please contact Mrs. Musset, foreign language
department coordinator, with questions about placement policies:
[email protected] ; Hawthorn 126.
Required Textbooks

En Avant !, 2012. McGraw Hill. Bruce Anderson, Peter Golato & Susan Blatty).
Printed textbook and electronic workbook.
Recommended materials

English Grammar for students of French. Morton, J. (2002). Olivia &Hill Press.
ISBN: 0934034370

A good French-English Dictionary? Such as Collins Robert, Harraps, Larousse, or
Cassel’s French and English dictionary.
Electronic workbook
The access code/book key for the electronic workbook (Centro) is bundled with the
textbook at the Penn State Altoona bookstore. Once you have purchased and entered
your access code, enter the following course code: KJTBKN763. If you buy a new or used
textbook elsewhere, it is your responsibility to make sure the access code is bundled
with the textbook. Otherwise, it is your responsibility to buy a separate access code for
the electronic workbook at http://www.mhcentro.com. This website contains the
workbook exercises as well as links to the video, audio files, practice tests and other
material important for this course. I will give you a handout on the first day of class with
the registration instructions.
Grades and Grading Policies
Finals grades will be calculated using the following percentages:
Class Participation
Homework
Compositions
Unit Tests
Oral Assessments
Quizzes
Class Participation
15%
10%
15%
30%
15%
15%
15%
French 2 is based on the idea that you will learn to use French to interact with other
French speakers. While learning French, the principal site of this interaction is the
classroom during scheduled class meetings. In order to participate fully in class and to
fulfill your obligation to others in group and pair work, you must be present. Therefore,
attendance is mandatory and will be checked every day. Please be forewarned that your
grade will suffer significantly if you do not come to class (see below for Attendance
Policy).
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The class participation grade will be based on the following criteria: the number of nonuniversity approved absences you have accumulated, tardiness, in-class behavior
(including participating in all activities, being prepared to answer when called upon by
the instructor, and volunteering answers to instructor questions), and preparedness.
Turn your cell phones off while in class and please note that students who engage
in text messaging during class will be marked absent for the day.
Attendance Policy
You are allowed 3 absences for the semester without penalty. For each absence
thereafter, 2 points per every absence will be deducted from your
participation grade (i.e. if you have a 90% in participation at the end of the semester,
but have 5 absences, your participation grade will drop from a 90% to an 80%).
Absences beyond the three allowed can therefore have a serious impact on your final
class participation grade. Failure to attend class for several days in a row will result in
an official notification from the department. There are, however, exceptional
circumstances when absences will be excused, such as University-approved absences
(athletic teams, Lion Ambassadors) and cases of serious illness and family emergency.
Documentation must be provided and I must be contacted before the absence occurs.
Students with 8 or more absences are encouraged to drop the class.
Students who accumulate 12 or more absences will receive a grade of 0% for
class participation. This attendance policy reflects our belief that being in class every
day is one of the most important ways to assure your own success in this class, and that
it is impossible to assess your progress if you are not in class.
Homework
15%
This grade represents the exercises on Centro.com as well as any other written
assignments I will give you. Please note that late homework will not be
accepted and will result in a zero for that particular assignment. If you are
unable to complete an assignment or come to class because of illness or
emergency, contact me before class.
 At the end of each class you will be assigned textbook exercises to complete and
pages to study for the next class meeting. You are expected to do the
exercises and to be familiar with the vocabulary and grammar in the
pages assigned BEFORE you come to class.
 Each week, you will complete selected work in the electronic workbook (Centro)
that accompanies your textbook. The purpose of the workbook is to give you
additional practice with the material and help you identify concepts that you may
want to clarify with me. The workbook will also be a useful study tool for tests.
The due dates for the homework are indicated on the course calendar. No late
assignment will be accepted for credit.
All written work you submit should be your own. You may not use translation programs
of any kind; to do so is to violate your academic integrity. You may of course use
spelling and grammar checks, as well as print and online dictionaries. Please see the

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class Angel page for a “First Aid Kit” file, which contains links to a variety of useful
online and university resources. In addition, you may not hand your work to
more advanced speakers of French (including tutors of the Language
Center) for them to rewrite or globally correct what you have written. You
may consult with these people for help with specific language learning issues or difficultto-translate expressions, but the only person who is to correct your work as a whole is
me.
Compositions
10%
You will write two short compositions throughout the semester. They will be done in
class.
Unit Tests 20%
Tests are given after two units of material during the regularly scheduled class period
(see syllabus for dates). Chapter tests consist of the following parts: listening
comprehension, reading comprehension, grammar and vocabulary, culture, and writing.
No make-up tests will be given unless I am contacted ahead of time and a
written medical excuse is provided or a legitimate family emergency is documented.
Oral Assessments
15%
There will be two oral assessments or activités de conversation during semester at a
given date specified in the syllabus. You will receive guidelines that explain the
procedure and topic well in advance. Failure to appear at the appointed oral exam time
and place results in an automatic grade of zero on the exam, unless I am contacted
ahead of time and a written medical excuse is provided or a legitimate family emergency
is documented.
Quizzes
15%
You will have nine quizzes (interros) throughout the semester. These quizzes will cover
the material from the textbook, class and exercises from Centro. The scheduled dates for
the quizzes are indicated on the calendar. No make-up quizzes will be given unless I am
contacted ahead of time and a written medical excuse is provided or a legitimate family
emergency is documented.
The final exam schedule is published during the middle of the semester. Please do not
make arrangements to leave at the end of the semester until you know the
date of your exam. It is your responsibility to check the schedule and make sure that
you have no conflicts. In the event of a legitimate exam conflict, you must apply for a
conflict exam. No one will be allowed to take the conflict exam for this course unless
his/her name appears on the conflict list published by the Registrar's Office.
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Student Concerns
If you are experiencing a problem about your performance in the course, please contact
me as soon as possible at [email protected] . I am here to help you succeed and I will be
happy to meet with you personally should you have questions or difficulties. Take
advantage of office hours to go over specific course material, course policy, assignment
instructions, or anything else you feel needs extra clarification. I am here to help!
University Grading Policy
Final grades are assigned according to the University Grading Policy:
93 and above
90-92.9
88-89.9
83.3-87.9
80-82.9
78-79.9
70-77.9
60-69.9
59.9 and below
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
D
F
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Programme du cours: Automne 2012
Please see your class Angel page or Centro.com for the due dates of other written
assignments.
Semaine 1
27 août
29 août
29 août
31 août
Semaine 2
3 septembre
5 septembre
5 septembre
7 septembre
Semaine 3
10 septembre
12 septembre
12 septembre
14 septembre
Semaine 4
17 septembre
19 septembre
1 9 septembre
21 septembre
Semaine 5
24 septembre
Chapitre 1 : Pour Commencer. Pour ce chapitre, lire Par la suite
(pp.488-489) et consulter le Vocabulaire (pp. 31-32)
Introduction
Chapitre 1:CD. Bonjour ! Tu t’appelles comment ? (pp.2-5) ; VI. L’alphabet
(pp. 8-10)
Chapitre 1: CD. Comment vas-tu ? Ciao ! (pp. 6-7) ; VI. Au calendrier (pp 1013)
Chapitre 1: GI. 1.1 (pp.14-16), CI. Écoutons ! Lisons ! (pp 26-27)
Fête de travail. Pas de cours.
Centro HW due
Chapitre 1:GI. 1.2 (pp.17-19); CI. Écrivons ! Parlons ! (pp 28) (quiz) #1
Chapitre1: GI. 1.4 (pp.22-25)
Chapitre 1 : GI. 1.3 (pp.19-22)
Chapitre 1: CI. Regardons ! Chantons ! (pp. 29-30) (quiz) #2 Centro HW
due
Chapitre 2: Comment sont-elles ? Pour cette unité, lire Par la suite
(pp.489-490) et consulter le Vocabulaire (pp. 61-62)
Chapitre 2 : CD. Tu as quel âge ? (pp.34-35) ; GI. (2.1 pp.44-46)
Chapitre 2 : CD. Tu es d’où ? (pp 35-36)
Chapitre 2: GI (2.2 pp 46-48)
Chapitre 2: CD. Quelle est ta nationalité ? (pp. 37-39) ; GI. (2.4 pp. 52 -54)
Centro HW due
Chapitre 2: VI. (pp. 40-43) ; GI. (2.3 pp. 49-52) (quiz) #3
Chapitre 2: CI. (pp. 55-57) ;CI. (pp. 58-59
Review
26 septembre
26 septembre
28 septembre
Examen #1 : chapitre 1 et 2
Centro HW due
Chapitre 3 : Qu’est ce que tu aimes faire ? (pp. 64-94) Pour ce chapitre,
lire Par la suite (pp.491-492) et consulter le Vocabulaire (p.94).
Chapitre3 : CD. Il est quelle heure ? (pp. 65-68)
Chapitre 3 : CD. A quelle heure ? (p.68-70) ; GI. 3.2. (pp. 78-81)
Chapitre 3 : VI. Pour passer le temps (pp. 71-74)
Semaine 6
1er octobre
3 octobre
3 octobre
5 octobre
Chapitre 3 : GI. 3.1. (pp.75-78) (quiz) #4
Chapitre 3 :GI. 3.3. (pp. 81-84)
Chapitre 3: GI. 3.4. (pp. 84-87)
In-class composition #1
Centro HW due
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Semaine 7
8 octobre
10 octobre
10 octobre
12 octobre
Chapitre 3: CI. Ecoutons! (p. 88) ; Lisons ! (p. 89) (quiz) #5 Centro HW due
Chapitre 3 : CI. Ecrivons! (p.91); Parlons! (p. 91) ; CI. Regardons ! (pp.93)
Oral exam #1
Oral exam #1
Semaine 8
17 octobre
17 octobre
1 9 octobre
Chapitre 4: En famille. (pp. 95-128) Pour ce chapitre, lire Par la suite (pp.493494) et consulter le Vocabulaire (pp. 127-128)
Chapitre 4 : CD. Qui est-ce ? Qu’est ce que tu fais/vous faites dans la vie ? (pp. 96-99)
Centro HW due
Chapitre 4: CD. Et pendant ton/votre temps libre ? (pp. 100-101)
Chapitre 4: VI. En famille (pp.102-105)
Chapitre 4: GI. 4.1. (pp.106-109) (quiz) #6
Semaine 9
22 octobre
24 octobre
24 octobre
26 octobre
Chapitre 4: GI. 4.2. (pp. 110-114)
Chapitre 4: GI. 4.3. (pp. 114-117)
Chapitre 4 : GI. 4.4. (pp. 118-120)
Chapitre 4 : CI. Ecoutons ! (p. 121) ; Lisons (p. 122)
15 octobre
Semaine 10
29 octobre
31 octobre
31 octobre
2 novembre
Semaine 11
5 novembre
7 novembre
7 novembre
9 novembre
Semaine 12
12 novembre
14 novembre
14 novembre
16 novembre
Semaine 13
Centro HW due
Chapitre 4 : CI. Ecrivons ! (p.124) ; Parlons ! (p.124) ; Regardons ! (p.125) ;
Chantons ! (p.126) (quiz) #7
Centro HW due
Review
Examen #2 : chapitre 3 et 4
Chapitre 5: Bon appétit ! (pp. 129-159) Pour ce chapitre lire Par la suite (pp.494495) et consulter le Vocabulaire (pp.158-159)
Chapitre 5 : CD. Ca te dit de (d’) ? (p. 130-131)
Chapitre 5 : CD. Un café, s’il vous plaît ! (p. 132-133)
Chapitre 5: VI. Faisons les courses ! (pp. 134-139)
Chapitre 5: GI. 5.1 (pp. 140-142)
Chapitre 5: GI. 5.2. et 5.3 (pp. 143-149) (quiz) #8
Centro HW due
Chapitre 5: GI. 5.4. (pp. 150-151) ; CI. Ecoutons ! (p. 152)
Centro HW due
Chapitre 5: Lisons ! (p. 153) ; Ecrivons ! (p.154)
Chapitre 5: Parlons ! (p.155) ; Regardons ! (p. 156); Chantons ! (p. 157)
In-class composition #2
Pas de cours : Thanksgivings !
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Semaine 14
26 novembre
28 novembre
28 novembre
30 novembre
Semaine 15
3 décembre
5 décembre
5 décembre
7 décembre
Semaine 16
10 décembre
12 décembre
12 décembre
14 décembre
Semaine 17
Chapitre 6 :On est à la mode ? (pp. 161-190) Pour ce chapitre lire, Par
la suite (pp. 495- 496) et consulter le Vocabulaire (pp. 190)
Chapitre 6 : CD. Qu’est ce que tu penses/vous pensez de … ? (pp. 162- 164) Centro
HW due
Chapitre 6 : CD Quel est ton/ votre gadget électronique préféré ? (pp.165-166)
Chapitre 6: VI. Qu’est ce qu’ils portent ? (pp. 167-170)
Chapitre 6: GI. 6.1. (pp. 171-173) (quiz) #9
Chapitre 6:GI. 6.2. (pp. 174-177)
Centro HW due
Chapitre 6 : GI. 6.3. (pp. 178- 180)
Chapitre 6 : GI. 6.4. (pp. 181- 183)
Chapitre 6 : CI. Ecoutons ! (p. 184) ; Lisons ! (p. 185) (quiz) #10
Chapittre 6 : Ecrivons ! (p. 186) ; Parlons ! (p. 187) ; Regardons ! (p. 188) ;
Chantons ! (p. 189)
Centro HW due
Oral exam #2
Oral exam#2
Review
Examen #3 : chapitre 5 et 6
The final exam will take place during the week of December 17th. Do not make plans to
leave campus until after the final exam schedule has been posted. No make-up
exams will be given in order to accommodate student travel plans.
Academic Integrity
University policies related to academic matters (for example, rules governing academic
dishonesty) are strictly upheld in this course.
Penn State defines academic integrity as the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest, and
responsible manner. All students should act with personal integrity, respect of other students’
dignity, rights and property, and help create and maintain an environment in which all can
succeed through the fruits of their efforts (Faculty Senate Policy 49-20).
Dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated in this course. Dishonesty includes, but is not
limited to, cheating, plagiarizing, fabricating information or citations, facilitating acts of
academic dishonesty by others, having unauthorized possession of examinations, submitting
work of another person or work previously used, or tampering with the academic work of other
students. Students who are found to be dishonest will receive academic sanctions and will be
reported to the University's Judicial Affairs office for possible further disciplinary actions.
Disability Access Statement
Note to students with disabilities: Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the
University's educational programs. If you have a disability-related need for reasonable
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academic adjustments in this course, contact the Office for Disability Services. For
further information regarding policies, rights and responsibilities please visit the Office
for Disability Services (ODS) Web site at:www.equity.psu.edu/ods/. Instructors should
be notified as early in the semester as possible regarding the need for reasonable
accommodations.
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