Français 8

Course Description

French 8 is designed to build on and continue the skills and cultural knowledge gained in the previous two years of study. The New York State Foreign Language Proficiency Exam will be taken in June.

The exam is in lieu of a final in June. The exam consists of four sections. Part 1a (10 pts) is the informal assessment of speaking skills in the classroom from February through the test date. The points for this section are based on speaking performance in the classroom. For part 1b (20 pts), students will converse in French with the classroom teacher. There are four dialogues they must actively engage in correctly to earn full credit. Parts 2a, b, and c (40 pts) make up the listening section. For this, the teacher will read a series of passages and short messages in French. The questions for part a are in English, in French for part b, and in part c, the answers will be pictures. Sections 3a and b (20 pts) include various passages and advertisements in French followed by questions regarding what was read. For sections 4a and b (10 pts), the students are required to write two notes in French consisting of thirty words each.

Classroom Expectations

Students are expected to arrive to class on time. Students should be seated, homework should be copied, the homework from the previous night should be taken out, and they should begin the work that is written on the board. Students must ask questions when they arise since the pace will be faster this year. Participation is key to success since using French is the essence of knowing it.

Textbook and Materials

The textbook for French 8 will continue to be Allez, Viens!. Outside sources such as products, books, newspapers, flyers and brochures will continue to be utilized when they are most beneficial. More literature as well as articles from French magazines will also be used this year. This will be integrated to aid in the amelioration of reading skills. Students still need a dictionary, index cards and a binder with five sections (conversation, vocabulary, verbs, grammar, and culture). In addition, students will need one marble composition notebook.

Topics

Review of French 6 and 7, expressing wellness and illness, parts of a house, past tense, clothing and shopping, the verbs mettre, partir, sortir, dormir and porter, prepositions à and en, travel and transportation, and asking for and giving directions.

Projects will include topics of the French provinces, and famous Francophone historical figures and artisans.

Homework and Extra Help

Homework will be more complex more often than in previous years. Any night without written homework is to be used studying the material covered in class or during the previous week. If a student says there is nothing to study, he or she can go to the vocabulary review page at the end of the current chapter to study. The student can also review flashcards and notes. Absence from class does not excuse one from completing an assignment. I am available period 1, lunch, and activity periods by appointment. These are good times to see what class work was missed (or ask a peer) and to find out what the homework is. Students can make up homework for half credit. It is due the next day or no credit will be given. If I see a student is in immediate need, I will request a student to attend a session of activity period. Students that have an extended absence (due to a family trip or illness) should expect to work out how to make up class time and assignments with me.

Grading Policy

There is one test per chapter. There are multiple quizzes to test vocabulary and grammatical concepts. Writing assignments such as paragraphs or letters are designed to assess a student’s progress within a chapter and for general assessment of performance abilities. Interviews, dialogues, dictations, simple speaking exams, and conversations are quite common in the classroom and are designed as a forced practice (since “to use French is to know it.”), a self-assessment for students and as a way for me to assess the progress of the class and the individual.

Bonne Année!