| French 1A Fall 2004
Madame Str�mberg Text: Allez, Viens! Holt Publishing Bienvenue en Premi�re Ann�e! Welcome to the first year of the French program here at Dominguez High School. The first-year French course is designed to introduce you to spoken and written French and to French and Francophone cultures. This course will prepare you for the second year of the program. Completion of the first year course fulfills one half of Dominguez� Foreign language requirement for graduation. This is the first course in a four year program which culminates in Advanced Placement French. If you plan to attend a Cal State school, you will need two years of the same foreign language to apply. If you intend to apply to a University of California (UC), you will also need two years, however, as these schools are more selective, three or four years of foreign language are highly recommended. Requirements: 1. ATTENDANCE: this class moves at a brisk pace. A new topic with associated grammar and vocabulary will be introduced at each session. The block schedule means we will cover even more ground each day. Every day will bring something that you cannot afford to miss. In addition, your class participation and classwork grades are directly linked to your attendance. Don�t be absent. Don�t be tardy. If you MUST be absent, you must let me know in advance whenever possible. Take the phone numbers and e-mail addresses of several people in the class, so that you may inquire as to what you have missed. I maintain a web page to help you keep up, use it. Try to keep up if you must be absent, absences can add up quickly and keeping up is always easier than catching up. 2. CLASSWORK / PARTICIPATION: Much of your grade will come from the points you earn doing oral and written work in class. Your comprehension and performance can only improve with practice, so we will practice at each session. Often you will work as a member of a group, or with a partner. Don�t allow feelings of inadequacy about your French skills to keep you from participation, remember, most everyone feels as you do. Be prepared to participate, listen carefully and follow up on what others say. Keep the conversations going as long as you can and take risks with language. I speak three languages in addition to English, and I learned them all in classrooms. I will help you, trust me. 3. HOMEWORK: homework will be assigned at each session and monitored or collected at the next. Often, homework will be used in our classwork, not doing it, will cost you not only homework points, but classwork points as well. You must do your homework. 4. MATERIALS: bring your materials each day. 1. Textbook, covered with a brown paper bag. 2. Notebook. You will be required to keep all of your classwork and homework in a notebook that will be collected and reviewed periodically. 3. Pens and Pencils 4. Positive Attitude, I know you can�t always have one, but do your best. Grading: You will be graded on a points system. In general, homework and classwork assignments are worth about 4 points daily. Various projects and assignments will be worth more. Mini Quizzes are worth 5 points and lesson quizzes are worth 10 points each. Tests are worth 20 points and Midterm and Final Exams are worth 40 points each. If you miss quiz, the next one will count double. If you miss two in a row, the first one will become a zero. Missed Unit tests must be made up. You must let me know immediately upon your return if you miss a unit test. You must keep reminding me until I give you the test. Extra credit: You may earn extra credit in a variety of ways. Before a quiz, find an example of French in your life, on a sheet of paper, attach it (or describe it if that is not possible) and write down where you found it, why you believe you found French where you did, and anything new you learned. It could be a word, new cultural information or an example of something we�ve been talking about in class. This will raise you one letter grade on your quiz. Attend French Club, read an article in a French magazine (yes, your horoscope counts), see a French movie on cable, hear French in a song, see news from a French speaking country, whatever. Write a paragraph and turn it in with your Quiz. Grading Scale 90% + A 80-89% B 70-79% C 60-69% D 50-59% D- below 50% FAIL The Rules: You are of course expected to follow the rules of the Compton unified School District, Dominguez High and common decency. In addition you must follow my rules. Luckily, they are simple. Ne m�emb�tez pas! Don�t bug me. If you are bugging me, I�ll let you know. Once. Then, you will stop. If you continue to bug me, you�ll be asked to leave or will be otherwise dealt with. Here are a few guidelines. � Respect all people. Their heritage, gender, sexual orientation, beliefs and ideas. I will not tolerate slurs of any kind or in any context in this classroom. Period. Use one and you will leave. � Do your own work. Cheating of any kind will not be tolerated. Plagiarism us the theft of other people�s ideas without acknowledgement of the source. This is forbidden. Violations of this code will result in failing grades on the assignments and a loss of trust. � Use classtime effectively. We have little time together each week and a lot to learn. Find something constructive to do with your time here. Don�t waste it. Start the warm up right away. Stay on task and keep others on task. Keep your pictures hidden. Do not groom, gossip or otherwise embarrass yourself in this classroom. � Follow all instructions. I am your guide and fearless leader. Most of the time I know what I�m doing. Do not talk back to me, defy me or otherwise disrespect me, your classmates or yourself. � Come ready to learn. Be on time. Bring your materials, take good notes, do your homework, study, help others out. Its really easy. In this class you will master the intricacies of the French Language by learning and applying new skills in speaking listening reading and writing. You will also learn about the customs and cultures of France and the French speaking world. I look forward to working with you and to a productive semester! Peace and love, Madame Stromberg e-mail: [email protected] website: www.geocities.com/dominguezfrench |