Course Name & Number: FREN1411 - Beginning French I

Semester & Year: Spring 2023

Instructor’s Name: Veronique Dupont

Email address: vdupont@nctc.edu

Office Phone #: (512) 814-9882

 

Course Description: Basic French language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing within a cultural framework. Students will acquire the vocabulary and grammatical structures necessary to communicate and comprehend at the beginner level.

Course Prerequisites: None.

Required Course Material: None, all instructional materials are available for free in our canvas site.

 

Cisco Webex Tutoring/Office Hours:  

Tuesdays and Thursdays: 12-1pm and 6pm-7:30pm in Cisco WebEx or by appointment: Office hours are times when you usually can get hold of me quickly online or in person. These are times for tutoring or asking questions. Feel free to call me anytime if you need help. If you need tutoring outside of your office hours, please contact Veronique (vdupont@nctc.edu), call or text me.)

Division Chair: Justin Hawkins jbhawkins@nctc.edu

 

SYLLABUS CHANGE DISCLAIMER

The faculty member reserves the right to make changes to this published syllabus if it is in the best interest of the educational development of this class. Any such changes will be announced as soon as possible in person and/or writing.

 

TEXTBOOKS & MATERIALS REQUIRED

All the required materials are available for free in our Canvas site. You must have access to a reliable computer, internet, webcam, speakers, and microphone. You will not be able to complete the required assignments without these materials. Please plan to use Mozilla Firefox as your main browser. Please plan to test on an actual laptop or desktop.

You are expected to complete your online work regardless of weather outside. Unless the college shuts down, you are expected to complete your work as scheduled. Please do not wait for the last minute to turn in your work because that is when technology glitches happen the most. It is your responsibility to double check that your submissions have gone through. 

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students who successfully complete FREN1411 will meet the following learning outcomes:

 

1.      Engage in conversations using level-appropriate grammatical structures including narrating events that take place in the present and producing questions and responses on a variety of topics dealing with everyday life.

2.      Demonstrate understanding of level-appropriate spoken French.

3.      Write simple sentences and organize them into short paragraphs.

4.      Read and comprehend level-appropriate texts.

5.      Identify and discuss traditions, customs, and values of the Francophone world.

6.      Compare and contrast the traditions, customs, and values of the Francophone world with characteristics of their own culture.

 

CORE OBJECTIVES

Foundational Component Area:  Language, Philosophy, and Culture

• Critical Thinking Skills (CT)- to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information
• Communication Skills (COM)- to include effective development, interpretation, and expression of ideas through written, oral, and visual communication
• Social Responsibility (SR)- to include intercultural competency, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities
• Personal Responsibility (PR)- to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making

 

GRADING POLICY & PROCEDURES

At the end of the semester, I apply standard rounding to everyone. An 89.44 will remain a B, but an 89.45 will round up to an A.

Devoirs 10%

Oral exam (1) 18%

Cultural project Videos (3) 17%

Written Exams (4) 55%

 

 

90-100% A

80-89%             B

70-79%             C

60-69%             D

0-59% F

Devoirs

You will have activities assigned to you to complete in order to practice material you have just learned.

It is important to stay up to date with your homework because language cannot be memorized in large chunks. It must be practiced and learned in small portions with regular review.

Oral Exam

The oral exam will be done in pairs and will reflect what you have learned.

Cultural Video Project

I will give you the topics for the 3 short cultural video projects that you will create. You will sign up at your convenience for those throughout the semester and present those online. Details are found on the modules UNIT Prelim.

Exams

Due to the nature of language learning, all exams will be cumulative. This means you are still responsible for remembering vocabulary, conjugations, and material from prior chapters for each exam.  Exams will be taken on campus at the testing center or at home and monitored.

**Even though your course is online, you are still expected to abide by the same standards of conduct as you would on campus. **

 

Grade input

I will try to get work graded and back to you by the next week but remember that the standard grade turn-around is two weeks.

 

LATE WORK POLICY:

In general, no late work is awarded credit (one week grace period if given). However, if you have a situation that merits an exception, contact your instructor to arrange a reasonable solution.  

SEE CANVAS FOR THE COMPLETE COURSE CALENDAR, OUTLINE, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF GRADED WORK, AND OTHER RELATED MATERIAL

 

COURSE POLICIES

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY:

Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation and collusion.  Consequences for academic dishonesty may include:

1) The student will receive a grade of "O" on the assignment.

2) A "Scholastic Dishonesty Report Form" will be submitted regarding the incident

3) Student may be dropped from the course with a failing grade (letter grade of “F”)

 

Misrepresenting your language abilities leads to scholastic dishonesty.

 

Attendance Policy:

 Even though this is an online class, it is not self-paced. You should plan to log into Canvas two times a week and do the corresponding homework. Language cannot be learned in big chunks. It must be learned in small bits with frequent review of the previously covered material in order to be acquired. Nevertheless, there is a grace period for weeks 1-14 allowing you to turn in the previous week’s work one week late. You still can receive full credit even being one week late.

Attendance is taken via the asistencia activities. If you miss 4 of them, you are at risk of being withdrawn from the course. Please do your work on time.

.**The final is due on the day and at the time listed in the syllabus calendar and on the textbook website. **

 

SCHOLASTIC INTEGRITY

Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion.  See Student Handbook “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct [FLB- (LOCAL)]” #18.

Disciplinary Actions [Student Handbook, #5] “When cheating, collusion, or plagiarism has occurred beyond any reasonable doubt, the instructor may give the student or students involved an “F” on a particular assignment or in the course. [See Scholastic Dishonesty FLB (Local)] The instructor shall make a written report of the incident and of the planned action to his Department Chair.  The Department Chair shall report the incident and action to the appropriate instructional dean who shall review the case, notify the student and, if necessary, take further action.  This may involve either probation or suspension of the student or students in question. If such disciplinary action is deemed necessary, the Dean of Student Services shall be notified, and the action shall be taken through that office.”

Plagiarism, which should be avoided at all costs, includes the following student actions:

1. Turning in someone else's ideas, opinions, theories, or work as your own.
2. Unintentionally or inadvertently turning in someone else's ideas, opinions, theories, or work as your own as the result of failing to document sources both internally and in the Works Cited.
3. Copying words, ideas, or images from someone without giving credit; Failing to put a quotation in quotations marks.
4. Giving incorrect information about the source of information, quotations, or images.
5. Changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit.
6. Copying so many words, ideas, or images from a source makes up the majority of the student's work, whether or not the student gives credit.

The NCTC Student Handbook can be found here

 

WITHDRAWAL POLICY

A student may withdraw from a course on or after the official date of record. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate and complete a Withdrawal Request Form. Students who do not attend class prior to the date of record will be dropped.

Last day to withdraw from the course with a “W” is April 3, 2023

 

Student Learning Outcomes: 

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

1.        Engage in conversations using level-appropriate grammatical structures including narrating events that take place in the present and producing questions and responses on a variety of topics dealing with everyday life.

2.        Demonstrate understanding of level-appropriate spoken French.

3.        Write simple sentences and organize them into short paragraphs.

4.        Read and comprehend level-appropriate texts.

5.        Identify and discuss traditions, customs, and values of the Francophone world.

6.        Compare and contrast the traditions, customs, french cinematography and values of the Francophone world with characteristics of their own culture.

 

 

COLLEGE POLICIES

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all the rules and regulations found in the Student Handbook.

 

ADA STATEMENT

NCTC will adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Office for Students with Disabilities to arrange appropriate accommodation.  See the OSD Syllabus Addendum.

 

STUDENT SERVICES

NCTC provides a multitude of services and resources to support students.  See the Student Services Syllabus Addendum for a listing of those departments and links to their sites.

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS

ADA STATEMENT

North Central Texas College does not discriminate on the basis of disability for admission or access to its programs.  The College is committed to providing equal access to its students with disabilities by providing appropriate accommodation; a variety of services and resources are made available through the ACCESS Department.  Students are responsible for notifying the ACCESS Department of their need for assistance.  Students with documented disabilities, such as mobility impairment, hearing or visual impairment, learning, and/or psychological disorders are eligible for services. 

 

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides accommodations for students who have a documented disability. A disability is anything that can interfere with learning, such as a learning disability, psychological challenge, physical illness, or injury. Accommodation may include extra time on tests, tests in a distraction-reduced environment, volunteer note taker in class, etc.

On the Corinth Campus, go to room 170 or call 940-498-6207. On the Gainesville Campus, go to room 110 in the Administration Building (100) or call 940-668-4209.  Students on the Bowie, Graham, Flower Mound, and online campuses should call 940-668-4209 to arrange for an intake appointment with OSD.

North Central Texas College is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, ADA Amendments Act of 2009, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112).

 

TOBACCO-FREE CAMPUS

NCTC restricts the use of all tobacco products including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, electronic cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco on campus property. NCTC is aware that tobacco use influences underage students, accumulates unsightly tobacco litter, and interferes with assuring clean air for all. Information on a tobacco cessation program is available for students, faculty, and staff who wish to stop using tobacco products. We would like to "thank you" for your help in making our campuses Tobacco-Free. For questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Vice President of Student Services at 940-668-4240.

 

 

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS

The student should contact the instructor to deal with any questions, concerns, or complaints specific to the class.  If the student and faculty are not able to resolve the issue, the student may contact the chair or coordinator of the division.  If the student remains unsatisfied, the student may proceed to contact the instructional dean.

 

Name of Chair/Coordinator: Justin Hawkins

Office location: Corinth room 171

Telephone number: (940) 498-6282 ext. 8502

E-mail address: jbhawkins@nctc.edu

 

Name of Instructional Dean: Dr. Rochelle Gregory

Office location: Flower Mound campus room 200

Telephone number: 940-498-6297

E-mail address: rgregory@nctc.edu

 

 

 

 

                                              Course Calendar Spring 2023

 

Dates	Objectifs	Devoirs
Chapitre Prelim	Salutations, how to greet people in French, Numbers between zero and 50, days of the week, Talking about yourself, alphabet, and useful expressions
January 17th	Prelim Competence 1: Introduction Accent rules Pronunciation L’Alphabet Visit the Canvas site for our course and familiarize yourself with it. Look over the optional Canvas orientation if you are unfamiliar with this kind of platform. Module 1	Visit the Canvas site for our course and familiarize yourself with it. Look over the optional Canvas orientation if you are unfamiliar with this kind of platform. Register on the textbook website. Contact me for help any time.
January 19th	Competence 1 Work on the alphabet learn how to greet people pp 6-11	Check on the Textbook website the activities to do online. MODULE 1
January 24th	Competence 2a: numbers 0-50 pp 16-11	Check on Textbook website the activities to do online Sign up for video presentations (Guidelines are on modules Prelim)   MODULE 2
January 26th	Competence 2b: Days of the week time pp 12-13 and pp 16-19
January 31st	Competence 3: Talking about yourself and your Schedule pp 14-17	Check on the Textbook website the activities to do online, Homework on Prelim is due today   MODULE  3
February 2nd	Test # 1 - Prelim (Open book test) The test will be posted on Module unit prelim
February 7th	UNIT 1 Competence 1: Identifying and describing people Use Etre and negation pp 34-39	Check on the Textbook website for the activities to do online. Sign up for your Video presentations on the online calendar.  MODULE 1
February 9th	Competence 2: Describing people pp 42-45	Check on the Textbook website for the activities to do online   MODULE 2
February 14th	Competence 3: Asking someone questions pp 46-47	Check on the Textbook website for the activities to do online MODULE 3
February 16th	Competence 4: Describing the university area Il est /elle est pp 48-53	Check on the Textbook website for the activities to do online  MODULE 4
February 21st	MARDI- GRAS DAY The university and its courses definite and indefinite articles in French pp 54-57	Check on the Textbook website for the activities to do online  MODULE 4
February 23rd	REVIEW FOR TEST UNIT 1	Finish homework online
February 28th	TEST #2 UNIT 1 (Online- Testing Lab) Homework of UNIT 1 due online today
March 2nd	UNIT 2 Competence 1: Saying what you like to do pp 74-79	Check on the Textbook website for the activities to do online MODULE 1
March 7th	Competence 2: Saying how you spend your free time learn first conjugation of er verbs pp 82-84	Check on the Textbook website for the activities to do online MODULE 2
March 9th	Competence 3: Asking about someone’s day Asking for information    pp 88-91	Check on the Textbook website for the activities. MODULE 3   Watch a French movie listed and answer to questions. Answers will count 50 % of your test Unit 4. Check your module Unit 3 for the list of French movies. Due on May 2nd
March 13th – 18th	SPRING BREAK – NO CLASS
March 21st	Competence 4: Going to the café Ordering food Paying the bill- numbers 60-100 Pp 94-97  REVIEW OF UNIT 2  Homework of Unit 2 due online	Check on the Textbook website for the activities to do online MODULE 4
March 23rd	TEST #3 UNIT 2 (Open Book Test- The test will be posted on UNIT 2 module)
March 28th	UNIT 3 Competence 1 Le logement Talking about where you live Numbers 50-1000                           pp 114-119	ORAL TEST IN PAIRS, Due on April 11th   Click on Textbook website for the activities to do online Module 1   APRIL 3RD - LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW
March 30th	Competence 2: Talking about your possessions AVOIR verb Saying where something is  pp120-124	Check on Textbook website for the activities to do online Module 2
April 4th	Competence 3: Describing your room Using possessive adjectives colors pp 126-131	Check on Textbook website for the activities to do online Module 3
April 6th	Competence 4: Giving your address and phone number pp 1342-135	Check on Textbook website for the activities to do online Module 4
April 11th	REVIEW OF UNIT 3 Homework of Unit 2 due online	Check on Textbook website for the activities to do online
April 13th	TEST #4 UNIT 3 (Online Testing Lab)
April 18th	UNIT 4 Competence 1: Describing your family expressions with Avoir pp 152-155	Check on the Textbook website for the activities to do online Module 1
April 20th	Competence 2: Saying where you go on your free time Aller verb            pp 158-161	Check on the Textbook website for the activities to do online Module 2
April 25h	Saying where you are going to go and what you are going to do pp 164-167 – Aller + infinitive Module 3
May 2nd	Test #5, Unit 4 (Short Online Testing Lab-Movie questions are due (50%)
May 4th	No Class – Work on Final presentation and ask me guidelines or questions any time
May 8-13th	Finals (Finals will be presented online, more details will be given to you prior to the final)
Bonnes Vacances! LA FIN!