San Francisco State University Inventory of Program Assessment Activities, 2005-2006 Program: French B.A. College: Humanities Date: Program Mission: Our goal at the B.A. level is to enable students upon graduation to have both the linguistic and cultural preparation to function at a fairly advanced level in a French-speaking society or with French speakers. The French Program addresses multicultural and multilingual issues, in the light of the changes affecting French society and identity, the importance of the Francophone world, and the social reality of California today. Students should have developed an appreciation and an understanding of the nature of language and culture, through a study of the French language, and the French and Francophone cultures and literatures. In previous years we followed the guidelines of the Foreign Language department, which recommended that one assessment be evaluated in one course by one instructor. In reality we do not assess our curriculum that way. We usually assess it in collaboration with the members of the French program. The method of assessment of the academic 2005-2006 reflects this collaborative approach. We decided to assess the knowledge of FR culture in FR 400, FR 306, FR 410. Because FR 400, FR 306 and FR 410 incorporate many aspects of the French culture, a constant dialogue with other members of the French program is required (so a book, video, etc will not be selected in another course). We assessed the courses through constant dialogue and discussion, insisting in particular on the best methods and techniques to teach certain cultural topics and relying on the expertise of each of the member of the French Program. Measurable learning outcome Place in curriculum where outcome is addressed Academic year outcome was/will be assessed Assessment/procedures Methods/strategies Summary of findings about student learning Use of findings for program improvement A. Language skills Skill introduced in the 2000-2001 for FR 306 CCTC document* See last page* See last page* 1. Listening Comprehension 2001-2002 for FR 301 See D below See D below See D below Student can understand the main ideas and some details on a variety of topics as well as description and narration in past, present and future (for example, short lectures on familiar topics, news items, interviews and factual reports) lower division courses. At the BA level, it is first developed in FR 301, French Phonetics, FR 305, French Composition, and especially in FR 306, French Conversation. It should be mastered when students take FR 500, Introduction to Literary Texts and advanced elective courses. 2002-2003 for FR 306 Program Review** See last page** See last page** Page 1 of 8
2. Reading Skill introduced in the 2000-2001 CCTC document* See last page* See last page* Comprehension. Student can understand main ideas and facts in a variety of texts (short stories, news items, personal correspondence, simple technical material written for the general reader). lower division courses. At the BA level, it is first developed in FR 305, French Composition, where we assessed it for this cycle of study. It is further developed in FR 306, French Conversation and other required courses. It should be mastered when students take FR 500, Introduction to Literary Texts and advanced elective courses. 2004-2005 for FR 305 (the assessment exposed in the following columns addresses writing skills as well (see 4 below). Both are taught as complementary. FR 305, French Composition, consists of reading and analyzing twentieth-century short texts illustrating different genres of writing, such as description, narration, essay and writing compositions following these models. Written homework consists in five compositions submitted to a double correction representing the genre of writing studied in the corresponding chapter; two in-class essays on a specific topic illustrating a genre of writing studied in class. In preparation for each class, students read the texts and work on exercises dealing with specific grammatical, structural and stylistic aspects of the text to be discussed in class. French 305, French Composition is designed to improve students written expression in French in terms of both accuracy and content. This is achieved through close reading and analysis of short excerpts from texts written by contemporary francophone writers (Sarraute, Beauvoir, Camus, Tournier, Duras, Le Clézio) whose styles are extremely different. The instructor s assessment of written assignments, class and group discussions indicates that the students learned during the semester. Students evaluations students also indicate that the students were aware of how much they had learned. Several students pointed out that FR 305 helped them write more grammatically and coherently in English as well as in French. The main difficulty faced by the instructor teaching a composition class is the heterogeneity of students levels in French. Organizing the class in groups of different levels really helped. The instructor found that introducing and teaching writing as a process rather than as a finished product reduces students anxiety and makes them a lot more willing to try. Giving them the chance to write each composition twice presented the double advantage of making the students write more while giving them more confidence in their abilities to write convincingly in a foreign language. Page 2 of 8
3. Speaking Student can sustain a conversation with a fluent speaker on everyday topics, narrate and describe at paragraph length, and handle an unforeseen turn of events 4. Writing Student can write routine social correspondence, cohesive summaries, résumés, narratives and descriptions; take notes, and write on a variety of topics. This skill is introduced at the lower division level. At the upper division level, it is developed in all courses but mainly in FR 306, French Conversation. It should be mastered when students take FR 500, Introduction to Literary Texts and advanced elective courses. This skill is introduced at the lower division level. At the upper division level, it is developed in all courses but mainly in FR 305, French Composition where we chose to assess it for this cycle of study. It should be mastered when students take FR 500, Introduction to literary texts and advanced elective courses. 2000-2001 CCTC document* See last page* See last page* 2002-2003 for FR 306 Program Review** See last page** See last page** 2000-2001 CCTC document* See last page* See last page* 2004-2005 for FR 305 See above comments at 2. (Reading Comprehension) See above comments at 2. (Reading Comprehension) See above comments at 2. (Reading Comprehension) Page 3 of 8
B. Cultural This knowledge is 2000-2001 CCTC document* See last page* See last page* Knowledge introduced at the lower 2005-2006 for FR 400, Culture knowledge is The instructors found Instructors are pleased 1.Student can identify and characterize examples of such phenomena as painting, architecture, music and film. 2.Student can identify major historical events and place them in correct chronological order. 3- Student can understand, compare, contrast and appreciate the progression of cultural movements and ideas throughout the centuries from Middle Ages till XXth century. level, especially in FR 215, Intermediate French I, which is focused on French and Francophone culture. At the upper division level, it is especially developed in FR 400, French culture, which retraces the history of French culture, to World War II and for the XXth century further developed in FR 306, Advanced Conversation, based on films and in the elective FR 410, Culture Contemporaine FR 306 and FR 410 mainly developed at the upper division in FR 400, French Culture, taught in the Fall: FR 400 consists of reading and analyzing short texts and articles on political, artistic, musical, literary movements, ranging from Middle Age till WWII. Students are exposed to the cultural movements via diverse media such as video clips, paintings, theater, literary pieces, etc. that selecting less materials and examples to represent each period has advantages. Students seem to retain more the core information needed to compare these cultural movements through the diverse periods. The instructors in those courses also found that when students are required to provide an outline of their oral presentation and share it with their classmates, it helps them organize their information and the quality of the presentation is drastically improved. Page 4 of 8 In class, the instructor assesses students comprehension through small group work, class discussion, presentations and questions. Students are assessed on several levels: prepare a formal 15-minute oral presentation on a specific topic, 3 in-class exams consisting of short answer questions and an essay, a creative writing project, class participation, and answers to questions (the instructor gives a set of questions related to the texts and students prepare them as homework, the instructor collects their The instructors assessments of written works, class and group discussions, indicate that the students learned a lot in those courses. Students are able to link the centuries through themes and historical events, and compare diverse facts using multiple devices (paintings, music, politics, etc.). to have a balanced curriculum between the Fall courses (FR 400) and Spring courses (FR 410, FR 306) concerning the teaching of culture. We would like to reinforce, as much as possible, the study of culture throughout paired courses to develop further the culture aspect of our curriculum. We also need to continue advertising and strongly encourage our students top take advantage of all the opportunities offered by the curriculum of the French program, its extra curriculum activities such as the Francophone Club, as well as the Bay area cultural events. The culture courses attract a large number of students and it is difficult to have a class discussion, it is best to organize small group activities; yet it is not always practical.
answer and checks that they have understood the material). FR 410, contemporary French Culture is an elective, taught in the Spring, which complements FR 400: it focuses on the events from WWII till nowadays. The core of the course revolves around cultural current events. Students read newspaper articles, watch French TV news, discuss topics affecting France in the XXth and XXIst century (political parties, elections, foreign affairs, Europe, etc). Culture is further reinforced in FR 306: Advanced Conversation, taught also in the Spring. The class is based on French movies (full-length or passages): students discuss the cultural themes representative of these films. For instance, students discuss the aspects and consequences of WWII in movies such as Au Revoir les Enfants or La Grande Vadrouille. Page 5 of 8
C. Knowledge of This knowledge is 2000-2001 CCTC document* See last page* See last page* Literature 1.Student can characterize major literary movements or periods and place them in correct chronological order. 2.Student can characterize the main literary genres. introduced at the lower division level, especially FR 216, Intermediate French II, which is focused on French and Francophone Literature. At the upper division level, it is first developed in FR 305, Advanced Composition (for 2 and 3) and FR 400, French Culture (for 1), then 2003-2004 for FR 500 The assessment prepared in 2003-2004 for FR 500 being rather long, we included it as an attachment. The assessment prepared in 2003-2004 being rather long, we included it as an attachment. The assessment prepared in 2003-2004 being rather long, we included it as an attachment. 3.Student can apply basic more especially in FR terms of literary analysis 500, Introduction to (for example, theme, literary Texts where we structure and style). chose to assess it for this cycle of study. Students should demonstrate their mastery at this level and in more advanced literary courses they may take as elective. Page 6 of 8
D. Language This skill/knowledge is 2000-2001 CCTC document* See last page* See last page* Structure introduced at the lower 2001-2002 : Instructor s evaluation of division level and in all Assessment of familiarity class practice, midterm Student is familiar with courses of the BA level. with French prosody, written and oral exams, the phonology, morphology and syntax It is more specifically articulation of French evaluations of students of the target language developed in FR 301, phonemes and ability of tapes. Individual oral French Phonetics and transcribe French exams. Class FR 325, French Linguistics, now replaced (since Fall 2005) with FL 325, Linguistics for Foreign Languages Phonemes was assessed in FR 301, French Phonetics. questionnaire on skills/knowledge acquired in class. Page 7 of 8 2003-2004 : assessment of knowledge of history of the French language, morphology and syntax in FR 325, French Linguistics Instructor s evaluation of oral and written assignments : 5 takehome written exams and one oral presentation based on a small research project. Class questionnaire. The assessment prepared in 2001-2002 being rather long, it is included as a complementary document. FR 301 appears to be an effective course for developing students listening skills and knowledge of French prosody, phonemes and phonetic transcription. Its complementary goal to teach poetic prosody, enhancing the knowledge of literature, seems successful. Students seemed to benefit from doing takehome written exams in Fr 325: it gives them an opportunity to study more in depth the topics discussed, and practice their written expository skills in French. They also learned how to use secondary sources for doing research. The oral presentation gives them more practice for doing research in linguistics and helps them to develop their oral expository skills in French. In their responses to the The assessment prepared in 2003-2004 being rather long, we included it as an attachment. We would like to develop more exposure to various accents and ways of speaking in FR 301. FR 325 was taught with a reader designed by a French faculty who initially planned to develop it into a book but has been instead working on a project related to translating themes, for the following reasons: In 2005-2006, the Department s policy/ suggestion to replace specific linguistic target language courses with a Foreign Language linguistic course, FL 325, Linguistics for foreign languages, led French faculty to
questionnaire, students expressed their interest for all the topics discussed. However, they would prefer to study them more in depth over two semesters. They also would like some changes concerning the topics covered by the oral presentations. Preferences seem to depend on the previous linguistic formation and language skills of the student in French, English and other languages, which vary a lot. replace Fr 325 with FL 325 and introduce two more practical French elective language courses in the Fall semester, when FL 325 is taught, taught in rotation every other year: FR 304, Advanced Grammar and FR 450, Translating Themes. Students signed a petition in 2004-2005 to get an Advanced Grammar class. Both classes attract many students. These elective make it possible for students to acquire both linguistic skills and linguistics knowledge at the same time, and they reinforce FL 325. Page 8 of 8