FRENCH III
COURSE PROSPECTUS

Objectives

1. To review and reinforce essential vocabulary and grammar learned in French I and II.
2. To further develop competency in the four language skills of listening, speaking, writing, and reading, preparing you to move on successfully to higher level elective courses.
3. To increase cultural awareness and perspective through the study of French and Francophone culture, history, and customs.

Materials

1. Discovering French - Rouge – The text, grammar and CD workbook comprise the core program this year. There will be numerous additional handouts.
2. Additional Reading: There will be occasional outside reading, principally short articles, stories, songs, and poems.
3. Films: We will watch two full length films this year, focusing on oral comprehension and vocabulary acquisition.
4. Language Lab: Some of the above activities will take place in the lab, where the focus will be on improving listening and speaking skills.

Daily Expectations

1. Be ¬on time for class. When you enter the door, you’re in a French environment, so try to speak the language. If you use English to communicate and French to do exercises you will advance at a much slower rate.
2. I give out a lot of handouts and hand back a lot of quizzes and tests that are important study guides. Please have a 3 ring binder to organize them.
3. Check your school e-mail account regularly.
4. There is a school rule that you should not be eating or drinking (except for water) in class unless it is necessary. See me if you have a scheduling or medical problem.
5. Do your homework nightly and turn your written assignments in on time to avoid being penalized for lateness. You should never have to do more than 45 minutes, and it should often be less.
6. If you are going to miss a class because of a doctor, dental, or an extra-curricular activity, please let me know in advance. You can e-mail me at gbird@hw.com.
7. When you miss class you are expected to keep up with the program on the assignment sheet. If you miss a quiz or test you are expected to make it up on the day you return. If you feel there is a compelling reason that you need more time, you need to e-mail me before that day to work this out.

Grading
Your grade will be based on the following:
Performance on quizzes, dictations, tests, compositions, oral presentations, homework, class participation, class conduct, attendance, semester and final exams + effort! These activities are weighted by category. Please take note that the percentages can change each grading period.

Here is a sample of a grading period:
Quizzes, Dictations, 20%
Tests 30%
Written reports / compositions / stories etc. 10%
Homework/preparedness for class 10%
Class participation / oral presentations 15%
Final exam 15%

Academic Dishonesty:

As you know, the Harvard-Westlake community does not condone academic dishonesty. Any violation will entail notification of the Deans’ office and potential consideration by the Honor Board. To avoid problems, think about the following:

ADVICE:

1. Academic dishonesty means submitting (or even pretending) that work that was done by others is your own. This can mean looking at a classmate’s work during a quiz or copying someone’s homework so that you will seem prepared for class. Therefore, never put yourself in a position where your integrity can be questioned. Move away from classmates when you are taking a quiz or test. Keep your own work to yourself and don’t let your eyes wander.
2. Major problems can start with smaller dishonesties. Be straightforward and don’t play games with your teachers (and your parents and friends, for that matter). For example, if you did not get the homework done, tell your teacher before class rather than try to fake it.
3. Don’t be influenced by what you read or hear about the erosion of moral values in your generation. This school regards the development of personal integrity as being just as (if not more) important as what you learn and attain here. So do the colleges that our students attend. Few things can hurt your future more than a reputation as a student who lacks integrity.

Updated 10/25/07