Revised 1/29/99

NVCC COLLEGE-WIDE COURSE CONTENT SUMMARY
FRE 101 - BEGINNING FRENCH I (5 CR.)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Introduces understanding, speaking, reading and writing skills and emphasizes basic French sentence structure. Lecture 5 hours per week.

GENERAL COURSE PURPOSE

Beginning French, a basic introductory course, places emphasis on the development of proficiency in the following skills: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. Students learn to function in the language within a limited context of vocabulary and structure. The course also includes a general introduction to culture.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

A. Listening

The student will understand short, learned material and some full sentences, particularly where context strongly supports understanding, and speech is clearly audible. The student will understand words and phrases from simple questions, statements, and high-frequency commands, although repetition, rephrasing, and/or a slowed rate of speech may be required. B. Speaking The student will communicate by relying heavily on learned materials, while occasionally expanding these through simple recombination of their elements. The student will ask questions or make statements involving learned materials. The student will show signs of spontaneity, although, speech continues to consist of learned material rather than of personalized, situationally adapted materials. The student's pronunciation will approximate native speech, although, it may still be strongly influenced by first language. The student's vocabulary centers on areas such as basic objects, places, and most common kinship terms. The student will be able to make himself or herself understood by sympathetic native speakers, although, repetition may be required. C. Reading Where vocabulary has been learned, the student can read common messages, phrases, or expressions, such as some items on menus, schedules, maps and signs.

At times, but not on a consistent basis, students may be able to interpret material in context at a slightly higher level.

 D. Writing The student will perform simple written tasks, such as filling out forms, and writing autobiographical information. The student will write all the symbols in an alphabetic or syllabic system, or 50-100 characters or components in a character writing system. MAJOR TOPICS TO BE COVERED

The student will learn the structure of the French language in a prescribed sequence beginning with the simplest structures and working toward the more complex. Students learn correct French pronunciation.

    1. Personal Identification
    2. Health and Welfare
    3. House and Home
    4. Education
    5. Services
    6. Travel
    7. Family Life
    8. Earning a Living
    9. Community/Neighborhood
    10. Shopping
    11. Physical Environment
    12. Meal-taking/Food/Drink
    13. Public and Private Services
    14. Leisure
    15. Current Events
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