2015-2016 LCHS French 4 Honors Syllabus Mme Olsen Course Description: Students continue building proficiency in French by thoroughly reviewing previously learned grammar and vocabulary concepts at a more expansive, rigorous mode of study. Vocabulary is taught in context, practiced through multimedia, and reinforced with written exercises. Excerpts of authentic readings, audios and other genres give the student an opportunity to gain a deeper insight into the Francophone cultures of the world and real-life application of the language. This course is taught in French. This year there will be an increased emphasis on Project Based Learning. French 4 Honors will not have a midterm or final exam. We will continue with quarterly and end-of-the-year benchmarks. Mme Olsen's 2015 French 4 Honors Syllabus - LCHS 1
The following is a description of the themes to be covered: 1 SEMESTER Semester 1 AP THEME 1: CONTEMPORARY LIFE TOPIC 1: HOUSING AND SHELTER: LA VILLE ET LA CAMPAGNE City and Country/Animal vocabulary Review of present tense Review of past tenses (passé compose et imparfait) Review prepositions with names of cities and countries Prepositions of location/giving directions Use of depuis Use of transition words Relative pronouns: qui, que, dont, lequel, ce qui, ce que, ce dont) Demonstrative pronouns TOPIC 2: HOLIDAYS AND CELEBRATIONS: LES FÊTES Holiday vocabulary National and religious holidays in US and in francophone countries Past tense expressions Continue review of passé composé and imparfait Introduction of plus-que-parfait Review the partitive Review of object pronouns (me, te, nous, vous, le, la, les, lui, leur, y, en) TOPIC 3: RITES OF PASSAGE: LES RITES DE PASSAGE Birth vocabulary Wedding vocabulary Death/funeral vocabulary Vocabulary describing other religious rites of passage Useful expressions to accept and refuse an invitation Review of passé composé, imparfait and plus-que-parfait Introduce present subjunctive mood Mme Olsen's 2015 French 4 Honors Syllabus - LCHS 2
Semester 2 AP THEME I: CONTEMPORARY LIFE TOPIC 4: CUSTOMS AND CEREMONIES: Le SAVOIR-VIVRE Parts of the body vocabulary Idiomatic expressions with vocabulary from body parts Table and speaking etiquette Social activities with friends Descriptive adjectives: emotions Introductions avoir idioms Present subjunctive with impersonal expressions and expression of emotion Present subjunctive with expressions of desire TOPIC 5: PROFESSIONS Professions and trades vocabulary Office Personnel vocabulary Job Opportunities; job search process and interview The subjunctive with expressions of doubt infinitive versus subjunctive Indicative versus subjunctive (with expressions of doubt and in relative clauses) Introduction to past subjunctive Review of interrogative pronouns Review the future tense Introduction of futur antérieur AP THEME III: L ESTHETIQUE TOPIC 6: IDEALS OF BEAUTY: LA MODE Vocabulary (clothes and accessories) Fashion trends Introduction of conjunctions which introduce clauses with the subjunctive Il est v. C est Review of reflexive verbs Review of adjective/noun agreement Review of placement of adjectives in sentence Review of interrogative pronouns Review of comparative and superlative YEAR-LONG THEME: LE MONDE FRANCOPHONE Grammar: will be learned and reviewed in contextualized format. Mme Olsen's 2015 French 4 Honors Syllabus - LCHS 3
Grading will include but is not limited to the following: Formative Assessments will have a 0% weight in grade calculation. Formative assessments help teacher, student and parents gauge readiness for summative assessments. Some examples are warm-ups & closing tasks, project rough drafts and homework. Summative Assessments: will have a 100% weight in grade calculation. Some examples are essays, benchmarks, oral presentations, projects, unit tests, quizzes, classwork, journals, debates and skits. Expect a minimum of 9 summative grades per quarter with several formative assignments leading up to the summative work. Summative work each quarter will include: 1 project, 1 essay, 1 oral presentation, 1 grammar test, 1 vocabulary test, 1 reading comprehension test and 1 listening test. Late work on summative assessments will be accepted with a 10% grade deduction for each class day delay for up to 3 classes. Grade will then go to an F if work is not turned in the following class. Homework will be assigned at the beginning of the week and will be due the following Monday or Tuesday. Homework is to be completed on-line and submitted through VISION. If a student does not have access to the internet at home; he (or she) is to plan get their homework done in the school computer lab or library during Raider Rally. No pop quizzes. All graded work will be announced in advance in class and on PHOENIX. Supplies One 3 ring binder with 5 dividers labeled: - Lesson Objective and Closing Task - Vocabulary and Grammar Notes - In-class Work - Essays and Journaling - Graded Assignments #2 pencil 2, Highlighter 1, loose leaf paper - 1 pack, French/English Dictionary - A pocket dictionary is fine. Mme Olsen's 2015 French 4 Honors Syllabus - LCHS 4
Classroom expectations Work hard in class = a lot less work at home. Participate and take notes. Be respectful of yourself and others. Have a good attitude and do your best. No cellphone use during Mrs. Olsen's class. If a student uses a cellphone during class time; it will be confiscated and a parent will need to pick it up at the front office. Use of cellphone during any graded assignment = an automatic F. Talking during quizzes or tests before everyone is finished = an automatic F. Please raise your hand if you have a question during a quiz/test. Expect to speak often IN FRENCH. Resources: Vista Higher Learning: D Accord 2. See Mrs. Olsen s LCHS webpage for links to other resources. PowerPoints, study guides, assignments and resources will be posted on Mrs. Olsen s French 4 VISION page. The Access code is French 4. Students will submit work electronically on VISION. Office Hours - Room 124: Mrs. Olsen is available every Raider Rally and after school on Tuesdays from 4 to 5pm for extra help. Contact Information: Please contact Mrs. Olsen by e-mail as needed at Katia.Olsen@lcps.org. Be sure to include a phone number if you would like a call back. Call backs will take place during Blocks 3 & 5 and after school. Mme Olsen's 2015 French 4 Honors Syllabus - LCHS 5