Course Description

Students who successfully complete this course will develop their French proficiencies to the Novice Mid range according to the ACTFL* Proficiency Guidelines. Students will also show proficiency in the "five C's" denoted in ACTFL's Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century: Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities. By the end of French 1, students will be able to speak, read, and write short sentences about a variety of familiar topics.

*American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages

Mode of Communication, Novice Mid:

Interpersonal Communication:
I can communicate using a number of isolated words and memorized phrases about familiar contexts.

Presentational Speaking:
I can present using isolated words and memorized phrases limited by the particular context in which the language has been learned.

Presentational Writing:
I can reproduce from memory a modest number of words and phrases in context. I can supply limited information on simple forms and documents, and other basic biographical information, such as names, numbers, and nationality. I can write well about practiced, familiar topics using limited formulaic language.

Interpretive Listening:
I can list key actions from short stories such as personal anecdotes, familiar fairy tales. I can identify people and objects in their environment or from other school subjects, based on oral descriptions.

Interpretive Reading:
I can report out the content of brief, written messages and short personal notes on familiar topics such as family, school events, and celebrations. I can recognize familiar practiced words and phrases, usually one phrase at a time, and repetition may be required.

Major Units:

Each unit includes cultural elements relevant to the unit.

Semester 1:
1. Nice to Meet You (greetings, introductions, classroom expressions)
2. My Daily Life (calendars, time, school and daily activities)
3. Friends & Family (Family trees, likes/dislikes, descriptive adjectives and body parts)
4. Bonne Fête (French celebrations and traditions)

Semester 2:
5. Body care (body parts, illness)
6. French City Life (directions, shopping, money and foods)
7. Traveling (phone, technology, transportation, hotel)
8. La Francophonie (the francophone world)

Major Grammar Concepts for the Year

• Adjective agreements
• Irregular verbs to be, to go, to have, to do, to want, to be able to, to take...
• 3 major verb classes (classifying and conjugating verbs: ER/IR/RE)
• Verb conjugations: present tense (affirmative / negative), reflexive verbs, near future and past tense (passé composé).
  
  

Grading

Grading categories and percentage breakdowns for the course are as follows: Interpersonal 2-way Communication such as conversations and text chats (15%), Presentational 1-way Output such as speeches and writing (15%), Interpretive 1-way Input such as listening and reading (15%), Tests and Quizzes (25%), Final Exam (20%), Homework / Classwork (10%).