ADVANCED FRENCH CONVERSATION AND CONTEMPORARY CULTURE
Reid
Fall 2006
Classroom: STV 216
MWF:  11-11:50
Office:  STV 215
Office Hours: M/W 12-2 and by apt.
Phone: 438-7894
e-mail: jhreid@ilstu.edu
homepage: http://lilt.ilstu.edu/jhreid/conversation/
 

For password protected files:
userid:  jhreid
password:  reid

COURSE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

I.  The goal of French 214 is to improve your ability to speak knowledgeably and intelligently about contemporary French culture, so that you are able to engage in successful conversations with members of French and Francophone cultures. 

By working to improve your ability to speak intelligently about French culture, you will gain a greater understanding of cultural practices, values, and identities.  You will learn to identify and question cultural identities and values by evaluating and comparing the strengths and weaknesses of American, as well as French, cultural practices. 

II. The class encourages you to improve your ability to engage in intelligent dialogue about French and American culture by helping you to: 

• develop an increased awareness of the different aspects of a "culture"; 
• acquire and learn to interpret basic accepted "facts" of contemporary French culture; 
• learn methods of analyzing cultural texts; 
• evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of possible conclusions about American and French cultures and reevaluate your opinions.
• participate actively and thoughtfully in class and group discussions; 
• prepare, for your peers, critical questions on one aspect of French culture, as it is presented in
  reading assignments, and present an intelligent summary and interpretation of this cultural aspect;
• build your French vocabulary; 
• improve your pronunciation and intonation so that the French will understand you;
• understand spoken French by working on oral comprehension exercises in the laboratory;
• prepare and present clear and logical oral presentations.

III. French 214 helps prepare future French teachers for the contemporary culture section of the Illinois teacher certification exam.

IV. You will also develop your pronunciation, oral presentation, reading and writing skills.

REQUIRED WORK

Daily homework: 

• Read assigned passages from Les Français, articles on the web, and The French Way before
  coming to class. 
• Interpret these passages critically by responding in writing to questions on homework sheets
  and by bringing completed sheets to the class for which they are assigned.

Periodic homework: 

• Write answers to questions on French videos in computer laboratory and turn in sheet at beginning of class for which assigned; 
• Prepare questions, vocabulary, and oral presentation for 3 individually assigned classes; 
• Prepare for written and oral quizzes.
• Cercle Français 6 times during the semester

In class:: 

• Participate intelligently in group and class discussions; 
• Make corrections of and additions to your written question sheet in another color ink, but only if it does not distract from your participation in the conversation. 
• Take notes on culture presentations by students and professor; 
• Learn to recognize and correct your mistakes in grammar and vocabulary;
• Bring a dictionary to class.

Important Links

• Grammatical Correction Abbreviations 

• Common French Grammatical Errors

• French Media on-line (TV,Newspapers,Magazines,Radio)

• Le passé composé vs.l'imparfait

• Les articles:  du, de la, des vs. le, la, les

• Comment taper les accents dans Microsoft Word

SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS

I may adjust this schedule according to the needs of a specific class.  You are responsible for all changes in the syllabus, whether or not you are in class.  I will add all changes to the on-line syllabus.

GLC=Guide de lecture critique

Aug. 25  Way chps. 67 Paris, 68 Parisians, 69 Politeness and Directions, 12 (Cafés), 19 (Cultural Tourism), 20 (Culture), 83 (Vive la différence!), 14 (La Chanson), 8 (Branché) GLC 67, 68, 69, 12, 19, 20, 83, 14

Sept. 4 Labor Day, No Class 

Sept. 11  OP V (Julie, Kristina, Kristen), Raymonde Carroll, Evidences Invisibles, "Le Couple," 93-98 (Restricted),

Sept. 22 Way chps. 62 (Men and Women), 51 (Je t’aime), 54 (Kissing), 33 (Friendship), 52 (Joie de Vivre), 18 (Conversation), 49 (Humor), 41 (Greetings and Farewells) GLC 62, 51, 54, 33, 52, 18, 49, 41, 43, 75.

Sept. 27 OP X Les Français (Katie Schoen, Danielle), “Education à la française, éducation à l’américaine,” "L'Enfant français" 87-91

Required Texts:

Wylie, Laurence and Jean-François Brière.  Les Français.  3rd ed.  Upper Saddle River:  Prentice Hall, 2001.
Steele, Ross. The French Way: Aspects of Behavior, Attitudes, and Customs of the French. Lincolnwood, IL: Passport Books, 1996.
A full size French/English Dictionary (about $20).

Recommended Texts (especially for future teachers of French who plan to take the certification exam) to be put on reserve:

Carroll, Raymonde.  Evidences invisible:  Américains et Français au quotidien.  Paris:  Seuil, 1987.

Mauchamp, Nelly. La France d'aujourd'hui: civilisation. Paris: Clé Internationale, 1991.

Robert, Paul. Le Petit Robert II: Dictionnaire universel des noms propres. Paris: Dictionnaires le Robert, 1994. [Xerox the sections on francophone countries]

Written homework is to be prepared before class. All "guides de lecture critique" must be copied off of the on-line syllabus. 

    1.  Focus on answering the question posed.  Add cultural details in order to support your answer.

    2. I will take as much as 20% off just for excessive grammar problems or for simply copying words from the text without
     reworking them to answer the question.

    3. Homework  filled out during class or handed in late will receive a maximum grade of 60%.

10 = Speak in French only. Come prepared for class and show substantial evidence of progress in speaking and comprehending spoken French. Actively participate in class discussions. Correct own mistakes. Listen to others and learn from them. Rarely repeat the same mistakes.

9 = Speak mostly in French. Usually prepared for class and show above average progress in speaking and comprehending spoken French. Actively participate in class discussion. Often correct own mistakes, listen to others, and learn from them. Sometimes repeat the same mistakes.

8 = Often lapse into English. Prepared for class about a half of the time and show below average progress in speaking and comprehending spoken French. Often participate only passively in class discussions. Rarely correct own mistakes, listen to others, or learn from them. Often repeat the same mistakes.

7 = Speak little and participate only passively in class discussions. Partially or incompletely unprepared for class. Make little progress in speaking and comprehending spoken French. Do not correct own mistakes, listen to others, or learn from them.

4-6 = Present in class only physically and unprepared for class.

0 = Absent

II.  PERIODIC WORK

A. Oral Presentations and Preparation of a Guide de Lecture Critique :

    1. Two Oral Presentation of Reading from Les Français. 

    Each student will do two oral presentations, in groups of two, of a passage from the textbook or on the web and serve as a resource for discussion on this reading. 

        a.  Preparation of the guide de lecture critique: 

        Groups of two presenters will prepare a list of at least 8 questions on assigned readings from the textbook and of
        (at least) 20 vocabulary words taken from the readings, for which they will provide English definitions.  Presenters she
        each prepare half of the vocabulary and half of the questions based on half of the reading.

            1. Questions should focus on one of the author's main points.

• Most questions should be general enough to cover a section of your passage or one of the author's main points.  No yes/no questions allowed.
  • Begin most questions by asking students to find an answer in the text.
  • Then, in the same question, ask for an explanation from the text (Pourquoi?  Expliquez?)?
  • Then ask for a comparison to American culture or an opinion.
• Example:

  1.  a. What do the French think about immigration? 
       b. Why, according to the text, do the French have this opinion? or Explain their opinion according to the text?
       c. Do Americans have a similar attitude? or What do you think about the French attitude?

          b.  Preparation schedule for guide de lecture critique:

            1)  Two class days before the presentation, the group will present their questions and vocabulary to me before or after
            class. I will correct them immediately and choose those vocabulary items to be starred (about 15 items to be on the
            quiz and final exam). (If you cannot see me after class, you should make an appointment. No vocabulary and
            questions sheets that have not been corrected by me will be acceptable).

            2) The presenters will then prepare corrected copies of questions and vocabulary for myself and all class members. 
            They should send me a final copy by e-mail for my final corrections.  They will hand them out on the class day
            preceding the presentation.

        c. Oral Presentation: 

        Each student will prepare in writing a five-minute oral presentation on the assigned reading.

            1) Students can divide up the material and make separate presentations to the entire class, or each may present the
            entire material to half of the class.

            2) Each student should make an appointment with me at least one day before the presentation.  I will correct the
            French, make suggestions, we will work on the pronunciation, and I will give you a partial grade.

            3) Students who do not see me will receive a zero for the presentation.  

      d. Presentation Notes:

            1) First oral presentation:  you may have the whole text in front of you, but you should read as little as possible,
            while looking at the students as much as possible.

            2) Second oral presentation:  you may only use note cards, while reading as little as possible and looking at the
            students as much as possible.

            3) Third oral presentation:  you may use note cards, but these cards may only contain key words or phrases, not
            whole sentences.  You will look at the students during the entire presentation.

        e. Presentation Format:

            1)  begin with a statement of the general content of the reading;

            2)  summarize and relate the main arguments (all sides) on French culture;

            3) comment on the relation between these arguments and American culture (resemblances and differences). Ideally,
            these comments should include a discussion of what the reading adds to our understanding of the multicultural nature
            of the world and of American culture.

            REMEMBER! You are responsible for explaining the assigned texts to the rest of the class. If you do
            not understand them, come see me. You should be able to explain everything you say in your presentation
            and every question you pose. You should also know where in the assigned texts the answers to your
            questions are to be found.

        f. Group discussion responsibility:

        Presenters will serve as a resource for small group discussion based on the questions (which all students will have
        answered before coming to class).  Their purpose is elicit conversation from the other members of the group, not to
        lecture to them.  I may distribute supplementary questions on the topic.

    2. Oral presentation of an article: During the last half of the semester, each student will be responsible for selecting
        and photocopying an article, about two pages in length, from a French magazine or newspaper or a French site on the
        World Wide Web. The more controversial the topic the better.

        a.  The easiest sources for articles are the on-line versions of French newspapers and magazines on the web.  From
        the course homepage, click on "FRENCH MEDIA ON LINE."  Many past students have gotten interesting cultural
        articles from Le Monde. You may also consult the magazines L'Express or Paris Match on the first floor of Milner or
        the newspaper Le Monde on the second floor. Or you may wish to buy a French magazine or newspaper at a
        bookstore in or near Chicago (Europa, Barnes and Noble, Borders). Borders in Champaign has French newspapers.

        b.  The presentation may develop a cultural or societal theme discussed in class or introduce a new aspect of French
        culture. The student will prepare questions, vocabulary, and a formal presentation. All steps are the same as for the
        presentation of the reading from the textbook, except only one student will make copies of the article for all class
        members and give the oral presentation to the entire class and this presentation will be given from notes, not read. 
        Discussion will take place in groups or among the class as a whole.

        c.  Other than picking your own article, follow the procedures outlined in 1. above.

B. VIDEOS:  ORAL COMPREHENSION EXERCISES will be based on the CD "L'Histoire immédiate" in the computer lab.  Questions on each Vidéo sheet are linked to the web syllabus.  Each question will correspond to the timer on the Lab computer's CD viewer.  The Lab proctor will have the CD.  In order to find the passage in which the answer is to be found, you must go to the correct time on the timer.  Scan back as many times as necessary to the beginning of the passage until you have an idea what it is saying.  You cannot probably understand every word.  The idea is to get the gist of what is being said.  Bring a dictionary with you so that you can look up words that might help you get the gist.

Remember, the material on the video will be on the written quizzes. We will review the video on the day that it is due. No late videos will be accepted.

A. QUIZZES: There will be four written quizzes and three oral quizzes.

    1. Written Quizzes: 

a. The quiz will cover: 

1) the readings in Les Français and The French Way,
2) All other readings for class; 
3) lecture and discussion on culture; 
4) assigned vocabulary and questions from question sheets. 

b.  The quiz format will be: 

1) mix and match vocabulary questions; 
2) multiple choice content questions; 
3) short essay questions.

   2. Oral Quizzes:

        a.  Oral quizzes will take place during the written quizzes or in subsequent classes.
        b.  I will announce a theme for the quiz, taken from the reading, on the class before the quiz day.
        c. Based on the reading, each student may prepare a list of facts concerning the theme and a list of his or her
        arguments on the theme (but not complete sentences) to be brought as notes to the exam.  Students will meet with
        me in groups of two and discuss the theme for five minutes.    

    3. Final Exam:

        a. The written part will cover all culture readings, all videos, all lectures, and the vocabulary on the quizzes.  It will follow the
        same format as the written quizzes. 

        b.  The oral part will be scheduled during the final week of classes. The final oral exam will be similar to the oral
        parts of the quizzes, but there will be several topics to prepare, you will engage in dialogue with me rather than a
        fellow student, and the exam will last 15 minutes. I will keep notes on the quizzes and expect to see progress in speaking
        and pronunciation.

IV. Absences:

You are responsible for all assignments made on the syllabus or in class, whether or not you are present (changes will be added to the syllabus on the web).  All absences will result in a 0 for class participation on that day, unless I receive a note from a doctor or an obituary notice, in which case the student will receive their average participation grade. Written quizzes may be made up, but only before the next class. It is the student's responsibility to make an appointment to take the written part at a time when I am available. Oral quizzes may not be made up. I will drop the lowest quiz grade.

V.   ATTENDANCE AT CERCLE FRANCAIS: 

You will be required to attend the Cercle Français at least 6 times during the semester for at least 30 minutes each time.  It meets in Stevenson 213 from 3:30 to 5:00 in Stevenson 202 on Wednesdays.   Be sure to sign the attendance list so that I know you have been there.  If you have classes between 3:30 and 5:00 on Wednesdays, you can organize a French discussion section and meet at least 6 times. Some students have met at the downtown Normal Coffee House.  Make sure someone keeps a record of when you have met.  I will take off credit from the final grade if you do not go to one or the other 6 times, but give you extra credit if you do go (and speak French of course).  

VI. Evaluation:

Class participation, pronunciation, and grammar progress 20%
Reading Homework Questions 10%
Quizzes 15%
Presentation and discussion of reading (2) 10%
Presentation and discussion of article (1) 10%
Vidéo (9) 10%
Final Written Exam 10%
Final Oral Exam 15%

Any student needing to arrange a reasonable accommodation for a documented disability should contract Disability Concerns at 350 Fell Hall, 438-5833 (voice) or 438-8620 (TTY).

GLC L'Espace.

GLC Stéréotypes français,

Euthénasie  GLC:  L'euthanasie

Anti-Américanisme I;  GLC Anti-Américanisme