La lavande et les parfums, les cigales et le mistral, Tintin, Astérix et le Petit Nicolas, la haute cuisine, les moules et les frites Berlioz et Bizet, Brel et Mérimée, Rousseau et Voltaire...... L'Europe francophone nous attend.
Introduces understanding, speaking, reading and writing skills and emphasizes basic French sentence structure. Lecture 5 hours per week.
Course Materials | Course Objectives | Important Info | Grading Scale
Textbook
Débuts:
An Introduction to French by H. Jay Siskin, Ann Williams-
Gascon, Thomas Field
Other Materials
Workbook and Student CDs
Débuts Online Learning Center
Web Sites
Le monde francophone
MERLOT
Academic Help at the Alexandria Campus
This course will help you develop your communicative skills in French, combining structure and immersion; to learn the grammar through induction; to develop an understanding of gestures, non-verbal aspects of communication and other cultural elements through observation and imitation.
By the end of the course, you should be able to reach the following levels in the four skills:
Listening: Understand short conversations and responses to your questions. You may need to ask for repetition or a slower rate of speed for comprehension.
Speaking: Carry on a simple conversation; talk about yourself and your family, ask for directions, go to the bank, order a meal, find a hotel, buy items in markets or in stores.
Reading: Read signs, menus, timetables and ads.
Writing: Write information on simple forms and documents, write autobiographical information and short lists.
This course will help you acquire an unusually high level of cultural awareness and sensitivity, an essential tool for communication in any language.
Last day to withdraw without penalty or to declare audit status: See Schedule of Classes.
VIDEO-BASED COURSE
Débuts is a video-based program. The film, Le Chemin du retour, and its accompanying textbook, Débuts, are a completely integrated film-based introductory course for learning French language and culture. Centered around a young French journalist who is investigating her grandfather's hidden past, Le Chemin du retour is a two-hour, feature-length film that drives students' understanding of language and develops cultural awareness. As a complement to the film, the textbook, Débuts, reinforces the vocabulary and grammatical structures introduced by the film's narrative. Be on the lookout for body language and cultural cues. Don't be intimidated if you don't get every word at first.
ASSIGNMENTS
You are responsible for all the work in the workbook, which will be checked periodically in class.
Missed assignments are averaged in at zero, unless prior arrangements are made with the instructor.
Oral assignments are weighted heavily in this course and grades will be assigned accordingly. Written work and tests cannot substitute for missed oral assignments.
TESTS AND QUIZZES
There will be at least one test per chapter for a total of ten for the semester. Online quizzes for each chapter will also be part of the exam grade.
Exams will include a written and an oral portion.
ATTENDANCE
Regular attendance and active participation in all classes are essential. If you must be absent, please inform instructor in advance or, in emergency cases, as soon as possible thereafter. In the event of repeated unexplained absences, your instructor will administratively withdraw you from the course. All unexcused absence will result in grade penalty.
NEED HELP?
A tutorial program exists at no cost to the student. The Tutorial office is in Bisdorf 148 and the phone is 703-845-6363. Students and tutors should only work with the Débuts materials for best results. Summer tutoring upon availability.
The Language Center in AA160 is where students can go to use French software and to get help using Blackboard and other applications. Hours will be posted on the door. For more information on the Language Center, visit their website:
http://www.nvcc.edu/alexandria/hss/langcen/
Grades are calculated on a point system, with a maximum of 100 points for each assignment.
Exams will account for 75% of total grade. All other assignments, oral and written will account for the remaining 25%. Attendance will affect grade. Extra credit opportunities abound.
A [100-90%] B [89-80%] C [79-70%] D [69-60%]
F [below 60%]
Last Day to Withdraw without penalty or to declare audit: Consult Schedule of Classes
Photo: Lucerne, Suisse
