French+III-IV+syllabus+2014-15

Syllabus – French III/IV 2014-15 Dave Smith e-mail dsmith@ysschools.org school phone: 767-7224

Building on and furthering your base of skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing in French; we’ll read from many authentic texts and listen to broadcasts/podcasts in French from around the francophone world. You’ll be assigned readings from French language newspapers, and will be asked to listen to French language radio. We’ll build on your grammar skills, and learn/review all eleven major tenses in the four verb modes. We’ll read __­le Petit Nicolas__, as well as French poetry, short stories, and classical literature from a variety of periods. We’ll use our online webpages to learn and practice grammar and vocabulary. We'll read __Le Petit Prince__ by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
 * __ What we’ll cover __**

During the quarter, points will be given for homework, quizzes, and such assignments as French radio or podcast listening and newspaper reading.
 * __ How your grade is determined: __**
 * Homework ** (when assigned) is usually worth 10 points. It is worth full credit the day it’s due. I’ll take it one day late for partial credit (usually a maximum of 60% of the full amount), but you’ll have to remember to bring it to me if it is late! I won’t remind you to show me late work most of the time!
 * Quizzes ** are usually worth between 25 and 40 points, and we have them about once per week. I will allow you to retake a quiz during academic lab if you aren’t happy with the grade you received, and I’ll input the higher grade. (I don’t want this to be a crutch to allow you to not stay in the habit of studying regularly, so I reserve the right to take away the retake option if I think you’re abusing it! I’ll warn you first, though!) I want you to be able to demonstrate mastery, and sometimes this is in a different time frame for different learners!
 * PBL projects ** will happen throughout the year, and will incorporate our learning standards. Points will be awarded for various parts of each PBL, including each product that is designed to demonstrate student learning.
 * Speaking and other in-class activities ** can be worth from 5 to 25 points
 * At the end of the midterm or quarter ** your grade will be based on the total number of points your earned divided by the total points possible during that grading term.
 * How to get help ** : Come see me! I’m available during academic lab and at other times you need to arrange. You can ask in class //any time// as well as before or after class, too.
 * You should plan ** to study (besides homework time) 20 to 30 minutes per night to master what we’ve covered in class. You may require more or less time depending on your learning style and speed of acquiring and mastering new information and concepts.
 * French Café! ** Saturday, April 11, 2015, all the French classes will put on our French Café, a fun evening of food, song, poetry, and other entertainment. The public is invited, and of course we want your family to come! We raise money, too, from donations to fund scholarships for students at the École des Sciences Byimana in Rwanda, a school with which Yellow Springs High School has had a relationship for the last several years. It is a fun evening, and all students are encouraged to take part!