Francais II/ II H
Course Expectations

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at
frenchf546@aol.com
pkussman@ndsj.org

 
Texts
Course Description
Typical Day
Behavior/Expectations
HELP!!!
Homework/Projects
Grading
Absences
Extra Credit
Late work


Plagiarism

Texts:
French Level II uses the Glencoe Text and Workbook - Bon Voyage  Level II
Supplies: French Folder in which you will keep all written work and all reflections
Course Description:
French II continues where French I left off. After a brief period of review, the students will jump right into Chapter 1 which introduces a new verb tense.  The students will learn all indicative verb tenses in French II.  In addition their grammar will move to a more sophisticated level, using pronouns  and infinitives  and complex sentences connected by relative pronouns.
The students will continue their study of the people and customs of France as well as other Francophone countries.

French II Honors  will move at a significantly quicker pace, doing at least two more chapters in the text.  In addition, the Honors students will read several literary extracts and participate in discussions about them in French.as well as doing some literary analysis.

Upon completion of this course, the successful student should be able to listen to and respond in many normal situations, understand the written word and be able to communicate both orally and in writing with a limited degree of sophistication.  She will have met the Foreign Language Department outcomes.  In addition, this course addresses all of the  Graduation Outcomes
Typical Day:
A normal day in French class will start right away with either an oral. question to be answered, a quick written response on the white boards or in journals, or correction of the previous night's homework.  If we have our workbooks out we might flip to the back to do some listening exercises. We will work orally with the whole class, in teams, and in pairs asking and answering questions using new vocabulary and grammar.  I will usually present  new material early in the class so that we will have time to work with it for maximum comprehension. 

Block Thursdays and Fridays will usually be used for a group project, a game such as Jeopardy, stations (where the girls will rotate to several different activities) and impromptu oral presentations.
Behavior:
Mutual respect for all - you listen while I'm talking; we will listen while you are talking
No food 
No gum chewing
Be a good team player: Help when help is needed, but do not rush to give your teammates answers.  Let them try to figure things out for themselves. Do not be critical of your teammates

Teacher Expectations:

  • That you will study and digest the material covered in class  - daily!!
  • That you will  be actively engaged in the learning process at all times
Classroom Expectations:
  • Please be in your seat when the bell rings
  • Please bring textbook and workbook to class everyday
  • Put backpacks under desk to leave aisles clear and free for movement
  • You may have to re-arrange the furniture when you come in
  • Please be observant of the "quiet signal" - my hand up. We will be doing a lot of group work and we might get noisy; your attentiveness to my signal keeps me from having to yell when I want the group to gather back together.
  • Please be respectful of all

    • Class ends when I say "Au revoir, bonne journée", not when the bell rings
.
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HELP!!!!
If you are struggling, there are several suggestions:
1. Tape record the class.
2. Have me record the classroom tapes for you.  This will help with your pronunciation and listening skills - just bring me a blank cassette tape.
3.  Buy some French music - Celine Dion has several French CD's.  Also Patricia Kaas, is supposedly the French "Madonna"- you can find her CD's at Borders and Barnes and Noble.
Borrow mine first to see if you like her style.
4. Sign up for tutoring with a CSF member - call the Counseling Dept
5. Try some tutorials: 6.  Come see me - Manley, Rm. 215 - I'm usually here at 7:00 A.M. Due to my new duties as Mentor/Master teacher, I am only teaching 2 classes.  So my  free blocks are  2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 7th
      Call me  - 408/294-1113  ex 2140
      E-MAIL me     - frenchf546@aol.com  (week-ends and evenings)    or  pkussman@ndsj.org

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Homework:
You will have homework every night, unless you took a test in class that day.  Most of the time your homework will be in the workbook.  It probably should not take you more than 15 minutes.  Homework is always based on what was taught in class that day.  Ideally, if you were paying attention and actively participating in class, you should be able to do the assignment with your text book closed. If you can't, you should study the text before trying your homework.  In this way, your nightly assignments can be used as a daily quiz - to see if you really learned the material.

I do not collect workbooks, but I do note in my grade book when it is clear that you have not done the assignment.

Other assignments will consist of a variety of handouts and written exercises.  In addition,  you will write at least one composition per chapter - usually the autobiography section  in the workbook on the last page for each chapter.   The length of these compositions will grow as you progress through the year.

Homework for the week is posted every Monday morning, so there is no excuse for not having it.

 There are 3-5 projects  that will  be done in French II H

  1.  September - a video "selling" yourself to a prospective employer, a dating service, a pen pal - you choose the audience
  2.  October - library project during Sophomore breakaways - create a package, write a letter, present to class   or do an art project
  3.  March - a group project, all oral, presenting a news broadcast
  4.  April-May - an individual /pair project researching a francophone country and presenting the info to the class
Grading:

30% Tests    30% quizzes and HW     30% Oral quality    10% effort/participation

The oral part of your grade is based on the quality of your oral work. A significant portion of this grade is derived from the "P.O's" - Participation Orale.  These are topics that will be listed on the board Mon., Tues., Wed..  You will be expected to do a specific number of P.O's per marking period.

*****A student who does poorly on a test may be given an opportunity to take a different version of the test. The choice to offer a re-test will be based on day to day performance and effort as well as a determination of how poor the performance was in comparison to previous ones.  These re-tests will be offered within 3-5 days of the original test.  It will be in the library  for you to take at your convenience. It is a one time chance to better your grade.  YOU MUST ASK  ME FOR A RE-TAKE.  Please do not assume that I will create a re-take for every chapter.

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Absences:
If you miss one or two days of school, you are expected to learn the material you missed and make up the work in a timely manner - usually 2 or 3 days.  Make arrangements with me if that is not possible for you.

If you miss class due to a school sponsored activity, you are still responsible for what was learned in class and what was assigned.

If you miss school for more than a few days, you will need to come see me so that I can teach you the material and so that we can work out an acceptable time table for you complete your assignments and take your tests.
Extra Credit:
There is, essentially, no extra credit in this class.  If you need to bring up your grade, let's talk about re-taking a test or quiz.  Our goal is to learn the material, not to do a report on Marie Antoinette.

However, if you attend a French play, movie, concert, exhibit, I will be happy to accept a report and some documentation of your attendance for extra points.  There are also some internet projects you can do.
Late Work
No projects will be accepted late.  Most projects will have a "due date" and a "late by" date, thus eliminating the problem of waking up sick the day the project is due.
Any other late work loses 10% per day. ( Most assignments are 20 points; they will lose 2 points per day).
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 Plagiarism


Plagiarism in a Modern Language class is:

•    Using an online dictionary or translation device for translation purposes
•    Stringing together more than 2 words that are not your own – You may use an online dictionary to look up “lace”.  You may not use it to look up “ a pretty lace collar”
•    Paraphrasing or copying text without citing sources – If you are asked a question about a reading selection and answer using the same phrases that are in the text in your answer – unless you use quotation marks and indicate the source (text) , you are guilty of plagiarism
•    Having another student or a parent do your work for you- if you use someone as a dictionary, have them sign the paper indicating what type of help they gave.



Plagiarism is cheating.  If we suspect that you have used a translation device, we will ask you to explain the words, genders, usage, verb tenses, etc.  If you cannot and it is determined that you have disregarded the above rules, you will receive a 0 (not an F).  The Dean will be notified and a letter will be sent home.  A second offense is cause for expulsion.

This is a serious matter and we are taking serious steps to make sure that the work we grade is original.
 

 HOME
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VOYAGES
ABOUT THE
   AUTHOR
E-MAIL Me
at
frenchf546@aol.com
pkussman@ndsj.org