Description of this Course

This one-year course will utilize the textbook Discovering French in addition to other supplemental materials.  There will be daily grades as well as frequent quizzes and unit tests.  A student taking this course will be expected to put forth their best effort in the four areas of the French Language: reading, speaking, listening and writing.  Students are also expected to complete a semester writing project in French utilizing the program WINDOWS MOVIE MAKER or VOKI.  There will be a project each semester.

Breakdown of your Grade:

A student’s grade for each quarter will be determined as follows:

            25%     Tests

            25%     Warm-ups/Classwork/Participation

            20%     Listening and Video Activities

            15%     Quizzes

            15%     Writing Activities and Homework

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            A student’s grade for each semester will be determined as follows:

            42.5% 1^st/3^rd Quarter Grade

            42.5% 2^nd/4^th Quarter Grade

15%     Final Exam

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            5%       bonus (will be explained on reverse)

During the academic school year, students should expect to see the following types of assignments.

25% Tests:      Each one can be worth up to 100 points.  These tests will touch upon one or several of the four aspects of language learning: reading, speaking, listening and writing.  Students are expected to review for the tests (Review will also be done in class when time permits)

25% WarmUps/Classwork/ Participation:  Students will be expected to complete various in class assignments (i.e. daily warm-ups, bookwork, etc.) given to them by this teacher.  Students are given 2 points a day for coming to class and completing all the work assigned.  Points are lost when students are found to be off task (talking, disrupting the class) or unprepared (i.e. they lack the proper materials such as pen, paper; handouts or they are tardy to class without a pass from a teacher or staff).  It is the student’s responsibility to come to class prepared (i.e. pencil, paper, book, etc.) and on time or risk seeing a deduction in their grade.  Students are also expected to have one single subject notebook dedicated to their French class each semester.  This notebook will be used for review notes, homework and classwork.  It will be reviewed each quarter.  More details will be provided at a later date.

20% Listening and Video Activities:  Students will watch a variety of videos that relate to instruction.  Some will relate directly to the book (which must be completely done in order to receive credit – otherwise they need to be redone in the morning, at lunch and on certain days after school).  Some of the videos will be different films in the target language when possible.  Students are to complete and turn in the accompanying study guide when required.  Many of the points for these assignments are earned based on effort.  Therefore, it is in a student’s best interest to TURN IN ALL VIDEO HANDOUTS ON TIME!!  There will also be periodic quizzes based on the films viewed in class.  Therefore it is in a student’s best interest to complete the study guide for each film.

15% Quizzes:  There will be different types of quizzes:  film quizzes, lesson quizzes, culture quizzes, etc.  Students will be allowed to use notes for certain quizzes and will be told when they can use their notes.  However, please note: due to the number of quizzes given in a single semester, there will be no makeup of written book or grammatical quizzes.  To help offset any problems that this may cause for some students, the three lowest quizzes each semester will be dropped.

15% Writing Activities/Homework:  Homework will be often assigned on a daily basis.  THERE IS NO LATE HOMEWORK!  If you are absent, homework is posted at the back of the classroom where the lesson plans are located.  You can also visit my website www.delateurfrench.net to see what you have missed.  When you are absent (and the absence has been cleared), you will have the number of days that you were absent to turn in the assignment (i.e.  If you are absent 2 days, you will have 2 days extra).  When in doubt, please see Ms. DeLateur to confirm the extra time you will be given due to a CLEARED (unexcused does not count) absence.  When turning in work from being absent, please write the word ABSENT across the top of the assignment to ensure that you do receive credit.  Also, each semester, students are given a written portfolio semester project.  This project will have deadline dates each quarter and the final copy will be due at the end of each semester.  More information will be given out at a later date.

15 % Final Exam:      Final exams will be comprehensive and times will be announced at a later date.  The final can last approximately up to 2 days.  There are NO EARLY FINAL EXAMS given.  If you miss the final for whatever the reason, you will have to make it up ASAP.  A final exam is given EACH SEMESTER.

5% Bonus:      Students participating in class will have the opportunity to earn “euros".  Once each semester (or if announced earlier), the euros may be turned in for bonus points.  Additional assignments may be offered for points from time to time.  If a student earns 500 bonus points in a semester, then his/her grade will be raised by 5%.  If the total is less than 500, then the student will earn a portion thereof.  Please note there will be opportunities totaling over 600 points for a bonus.  A student may choose those activities that best suit the student.  He/She is not required do to ALL the activities.

FINAL NOTES AND SUGGESTIONS

• ALL CLASSROOM “COMMON SENSE” RULES APPLY (NO MAKEUP, FOOD, ETC.)  DURING THE LAST FIVE MINUTES OF CLASS, STUDENTS WILL HELP CLEANUP THE ROOM.

• PAY ATTENTION.  REMEMBER, IF YOU TALK WHEN IT IS NOT ALLOWED, THEN YOU LOSE POINTS.

• WHEN IN DOUBT, IT’S BETTER TO ASK RATHER THAN ASSUME.

• PLEASE NOTE –A STUDENT WILL BE PLACED ON A BEHAVIOR CONTRACT WHEN HE OR SHE HAS BEEN LATE TO CLASS FIVE TIMES.  STUDENTS ARE THEN PLACED ON SUBSEQUENT STEPS FOR EVERY FIVE TARDIES.  IF THE PROBLEM CONTINUES (I.E.  THE STUDENT’S TARDIES DO NOT DECREASE) THEN THE STUDENT WILL RECEIVE FURTHER CONSEQUENCES FROM THE DEAN’S OFFICE.   

• YOU ARE GIVEN 4 “VIRTUAL” BATHROOM PASSES EACH SEMESTER.  IF YOU HAVE ANY LEFT AT THE END OF THE SEMESTER, YOU MAY CONVERT THEM TO EXTRA EUROS.