IV. End of Semester Performance Level Descriptions

Listening Comprehension (Intermediate-Mid)

Comprehend longer recombinations of learned materials that refer primarily to personal background, activities, and the students' world. Understanding is less dependent on visual reinforcement.

Speaking (Intermediate-Low)

Speak in a limited number of uncomplicated communicative tasks in straightforward social situations. Conversations are related to basic personal information such as family, self, daily activities, personal preferences, and basic needs. Ask and answer direct questions. Pronunciation, vocabulary, and syntax are strongly influenced by native language. Can generally be understood by native speakers accustomed to dealing with non-native speakers.

Reading (Intermediate-Mid)

Read and understand texts dealing with a variety of topics where the vocabulary has been previously learned. May read and understand authentic short passages of prose with rereading and assistance. Misunderstandings occur frequently.

Writing (Intermediate-Low)

Can write statements and formulate questions using recombination of learned material. Sentences are written in the present time with inaccuracies when using future and past tenses. Writing may contain basic errors of grammar, punctuation, word choice, and spelling. Can be understood by native readers used to the writing of non-natives.

Cultural Awareness

Be able to identify regions of the world where French is spoken. Demonstrate knowledge of a few basic facts about several Francophone countries or regions. Show some understanding of French customs. Show soome understanding of issues in intercultural communication and cultural misunderstanding. Acquire and demonstrate cultural awareness and understanding of French and Francophone countries and people.

V. Language Resource Center (FAC 305)

The LRC is located at the northeast corner of the 3rd floor of the Fine Arts Center (the building in which our class is held). Ideally, you should plan to spend anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour and a half there per chapter. Moreover, we are fortunate enough to be using a text series with computer activities. Visit the lab as often as possible! The people who work in the LRC are very helpful and friendly: ask them for help if you have any computer questions! If you don’t have Internet access at home, and you need a place to work, the LRC is where you can go for any work related to language learning. We are in the process of updating the software library, and there will soon be more materials for French courses.

VI. Tests

There will be a one and a half hour exam after every two chapters - one on review materials and chapter 13 & 14, and a cumulative final that emphasizes chapters 15 & 16. In summary, there are two written tests throughout the session, one of which is a cumulative written final. Tests have a listening portion, along with reading and writing segments.

VII. Oral Presentation

At the end of the semester, you will do an oral presentation in French in front of the class on a pre-approved topic. This exposé will count for 10 percent of your final grade.

VIII. Compositions

You will be assigned three compositions throughout the semester. These will range in length from one and a half to two pages. All compositions should be typed in a size 12 font, and double-spaced. You are encouraged to use spelling and grammar check on Microsoft Word: yes, later versions of Word can check spelling in French. All you have to do is adjust the language & dictionary in the program’s setup. Accents can be created by (1) changing the general Windows keyboard to International, (2) using the Windows character map, (3) using the control key and numeric codes, (4) or using the control key, apostrophe, comma, etc., plus the letter to be accented once in Word. Refer to your computer owner’s manual, online FAQs, or tutorials for further assistance. Click here for more information about creating accents.

IX. Final Grade

Class participation and attendance = 10%; Compositions and homework = 20%, Quizzes = 15%; Midterm = 25%, Exposé = 10%; Final exam = 20%

X. Make-ups

All test dates and assignment due dates are in the course calendar above. No make-up quizzes or late turning in of assignments allowed. You may make up ONE written exam’s listening portions after having provided a reasonable explanation (death in the family, extreme illness, etc.) for having missed it. Whenever possible, notify your instructor of your beforehand via telephone or e-mail.

XI. Attendance and Participation

As these make up 10 percent of your grade, you are expected to come to every class prepared and ready take on the day’s lessons. More than two absences (the equivant of two weeks of class) will result in your final grade being lowered by one letter. Exchanging phone numbers with one or two other students for times when you miss a single class is a very good idea. It is not your instructor’s responsibility to ‘bring you up to date’ on what you missed during your absence, nor is it his job to tell you if you’ll be ‘doing anything important next time.’

Class will begin at the scheduled time.  Please be on time, as coming and going disrupt the class.  Attendance is essential and daily records will be kept.  In accordance with HCCS official policy, a student may be dropped for excessive absences. Consult with the instructor in case of serious illness or business reasons for absence.  Students will also lose points on the participation grade for every class missed over the allotted time. Absences will be counted from the first class day of the semester, no matter when the student registers or first attends.

The student who earns an ‘A’ in attendance & participation has come to every class on time, always done his/her assigned work (computer work, compositions, workbook exercises, etc.), participates actively, and interacts with other students in a positive, encouraging manner. Participation goes far beyond answering when called upon: it also includes an upbeat attitude and a genuine willingness to actually speak some French and help neighbors do the same during group work.

XII. Audio materials for the Workbook / Lab Manual

Using the data CD I provide you, you’ll be required to do listening exercises in the workbook. The audio files are in *.mp3 format, and they can be played on any computer with Microsoft Windows Media Player (probably already on your computer, and, if not, available as a free download for PC or Mac environments). Some multifunction DVD and CD players will also play these files.

XIII. Reasonable Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Services Office, SJAC 102, 713-718-6164, at the beginning of each semester. Faculty are authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office.

XIV. HCCS Grading System

90-100 % A

80-89  % B

70-79 % C

60-69 % D

59 & below F

XV. Cell Phones, Beepers, and Other Intrusive Noise-Making Devices

Please have the common courtesy to turn off all cell phones and beepers before class. Their use disrupts the class and is QUITE RUDE. 

XVI. Policy on Academic Dishonesty

Students are expected to do their own work, unless an assignment is made specifically as a group assignment.  Plagiarism (handing in another person's work while purporting it to be your own), or cheating of any other kind will result in a grade of F for the assignment, quiz, or test in question.  For a second offense, the student may receive a grade of F for the course.

XVII. Internet Links

You may wish to go to these sites as soon as possible and bookmark them all in your browser!

http://www.mhhe.com/visavis3  

This site houses the publisher’s pages for our textbook where there are, among other things, exercises that go along with the text. Do these exercises regularly and faithfully, and you’re guaranteed to improve you general understanding of each chapter. Students are expected to do all 'paroles' and 'structures' exercises at the text web page.

Fore more helpful links, click back to the main area of my online office.