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Course description:

Bienvenue ! By taking French 1001, you are joining the Francophone world and stepping closer to becoming a global citizen. The French language is a vital tool for developing your intercultural competence: as a language spoken on five continents (six if you count the research station, La Terre Adélie, in Antarctica), it represents a great variety of people and cultures. It is also one of the most studied languages in the world and is used in many professional fields, such as business, art, politics, science, math, diplomacy, etc. French 1001 will start you down the path to acquiring the grammatical knowledge, vocabulary, and cultural understanding necessary for communicating with the diverse Francophone communities around the world.

Required Course Materials:

• Wong, Wynne, Stacey Weber-Fève and Bill VanPatten. Liaisons: An Introduction to French. 3rd Ed.
  • You will need the textbook and an access code to the MindTap website. You will need to follow the instructions on the hand-out I emailed to you to get registered in MindTap.
  • All required and optional practice activities will be done in the MindTap site. You will need to follow the instructions on the hand-out to get registered in MindTap.
• Flashcards
  

Optional Course Materials:

• Morton, Jacqueline. English Grammar for Students of French. Olivia and Hill Press. ISBN: 0934034370, which contains excellent explanations of fundamental grammar concepts.
• Kendris, Christopher; Kendris, Theodore. 501 French verbs. ISBN: 0764179837.
• Resources in the Hasselmo Language Teaching Center (LTC, Hum 6):
  • Rosetta Stone levels 1 and 2
  • LOTS of great French and Francophone movies!

Course Structure and Expectations:

This course will be conducted almost entirely in French because research shows that immersion is the best way to acquire a language.
Fren 1001 has a flipped structure:

• You will learn most of the material on your own by studying the textbook and by doing the daily homework in the MindTap website. The workbook is a vital component of the class and you need to devote considerable time to it. There will be about 15 MindTap activities due every day. Skipping the workbook will quickly lead to a low grade. Learning a new language requires a commitment to the memorization of vocabulary and grammatical forms outside of the classroom. Your success and enjoyment of class will greatly increase with work toward this commitment. Please reach out if you need help with strategies for this independent work.
• Class time will be spent reinforcing what you learned from your homework by practicing grammar and vocabulary, answering questions, and speaking with each other in large and small groups. To be able to participate, you are expected to come to class having finished all of the assignments listed on the syllabus. Do not fall behind! You should be prepared to actively participate in all class activities.
• NOTE: We may not cover all sections of the textbook in class, but you are still responsible for all material listed on the syllabus. In other words, you are responsible for your own education.

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Attendance:

Attendance is normally required in all language courses because it is when we are together that you can engage in interactive language practice and have your questions answered. Therefore, final grades are normally reduced 5% per absence after three absences (one week’s worth of class). These are not normal times, however. The pandemic has changed everything--except the importance of practice when learning a new language.

This semester, our attendance policy will be based on an honor code: you are on your honor to attend as many courses as possible. Strive for perfect attendance. I will take attendance, but there will be no penalty for going over three absences (except for losing the participation points, which you can make up: see details below). If you are sick or are in quarantine, let me know in advance and I can set Zoom up so you may attend this course from home.

COVID-19, Fall 2020 UMN Morris Principles for Planning and Decision Making:

In our section of Fren 1001, we will plan to meet in person for the semester. You must wear a clear mask in this class. If there are any serious outbreaks or major concerns about health on campus, however, we may need to move our course on-line. Here are the U of MN guiding principles about COVID:

The safety, health, and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff is the foundation upon which all decisions are made at the University of Minnesota Morris. We commit to responding with flexibility and integrity to evolving conditions. In that spirit we will:

• Prioritize the quality and continuity of student academic and co-curricular experiences to support student learning and degree progress.
• Align all decisions to advance the UMN Morris mission, strategic vision, and plan.
• Honor our commitments to equity, diversity, respect for differences, and community.
• Enhance institutional viability and sustainability.
• Act with respect, transparency, and timeliness.
• Collaborate with our University of Minnesota System colleagues.

COVID-19 Protocols:

• Face coverings are required for all in-person and blended courses, as is social distancing of at least 6’ between individuals. Please be sure to wash hands often and self-monitor health every day for any of these critical symptoms: fever, respiratory symptoms, sore throat, or dry cough. Be aware of the broader list of COVID-19 symptoms: fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, loss of taste/smell; or nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Instructors will remind students without face coverings to put one on, which they can obtain from Higbie’s or the division office. If an individual refuses to wear a face covering or to leave the room, class may be adjourned and continued via a remote delivery method. For repeated non-compliance or if a class or event is adjourned because of a face covering compliance issue, the instructor should report the incident to their Division Chair, and staff should report to their supervisor. The non-compliant student may face disciplinary measures through the UMN Student Conduct Code (see face-covering FAQ). In cases of concern for an imminent threat to the safety of yourself and others, the instructor/staff or students may call UMN Morris Public Safety for support in removing the person from the building.
• Do not attend in-person classes or student jobs if you have symptoms or know you have been exposed to COVID-19. Contact Health Services or consult with your healthcare provider if you feel sick or may have been exposed to COVID-19. Follow guidance from Health Services or healthcare providers about whether a test is needed and where to find testing site locations. Health Services will refer students to Stevens Community Medical Center for testing.
• If after testing you have a confirmed positive test for COVID-19: isolate as directed by health care professionals and public health officials. Contact your instructor as needed to request accommodations for classes as guided by UMN policy for make-up work for legitimate absences due to illness. If exposed to COVID-19 (and have tested negative): quarantine as directed by health care professionals and public health officials. Provide information if requested by a public health investigator who will determine whether others may have been exposed. Follow Health Service, healthcare provider, or public health investigator guidance on when to return to in-person activities.

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Assessment:

Student work from this class may be used anonymously by the French program or UMN Morris to assess achievement of student learning outcomes. If you do not wish your work to contribute to learning assessment, please inform the professor.

Course Student Learning Outcomes:
This course’s student learning outcomes define the goals of the class, and articulate with UMN Morris’s Campus Student Learning Outcomes (CSLOs), General Education learning outcomes (where relevant) and discipline Program Student Learning Outcomes (PSLOs) for French. They also align with the National Council of State Supervisors For Languages (NCSSFL) and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages’ (ACTFL) Proficiency Guidelines. Fren 1001 seeks to increase students’ French language skills from a novice low to a novice high proficiency level via the following course objectives, based on the NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements.

1. Student Learning Outcome #1: At the end of Fren 1001, students will be able to identify the general topic and some basic information in both very familiar and everyday contexts by recognizing practiced or memorized words, phrases, and simple sentences in texts that are spoken, written, or signed. This learning outcome will help students achieve:
   • UM Morris CSLO: Career-ready Scholar;
   • Discipline PSLO: Students will be able to understand the main idea and most supporting details of written or listening texts in the target language.
2. Student Learning Outcome #2: At the end of Fren 1001, students will be able to communicate in spontaneous spoken, written, or signed conversations on both very familiar and everyday topics, using a variety of practiced or memorized words, phrases, simple sentences, and questions. This learning outcome will help students achieve:
   • UM Morris CSLO: Career-ready Scholar;
   • Discipline PSLO: Students will be able to express themselves, in speaking and in writing, in the past, present, and future in the target language.
3. Student Learning Outcome #3: At the end of Fren 1001, students will be able to present information on both very familiar and everyday topics using a variety of practiced or memorized words, phrases, and simple sentences through spoken, written, or signed language. This learning outcome will help students achieve:
   • UM Morris CSLO: Career-ready Scholar;
   • Discipline PSLO: Students will be able to express themselves, in speaking and in writing, in the past, present, and future in the target language.
4. Student Learning Outcome #4: At the end of Fren 1001, students will be able to identify products and practices to help me understand perspectives. This learning outcome will help students achieve:
   • UM Morris CSLO: Community Contributor;
   • Discipline PSLO: Students’ work will reflect an awareness of their own cultural biases and articulate the inherent complexities, worldviews, and values of other cultures.
5. Student Learning Outcome #5: At the end of Fren 1001, students will be able to interact at a survival level in some familiar everyday contexts. This learning outcome will help students achieve:
   • UM Morris CSLO: Career-ready Scholar;
   • Discipline PSLO: Students will be able to understand the main idea and most supporting details of written or listening texts in the target language.

UMM’s General Education Requirements:
Fren 1001 is the prerequisite for Fren 1002, and successfully completing Fren 1002 satisfies your Foreign Language (FL) General Education requirement. To succeed next semester, aim to do your very best in Fren 1001 and work to earn at least a C-, since the material you learn now lays the groundwork for Fren 1002.

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Course Workload:

Learning languages is like cracking a code, which is exciting and fun. But it also requires intellectual rigor and “grunt work” in the form of memorizing vocabulary, studying grammar, and doing practice activities. It is important to keep up with this work, because concepts in this 4 credit course will build upon each other, making it difficult to catch up if you fall behind. Morris language courses follow a pace that matches what other American colleges and universities do across the nation. To keep up, you will need to put in about 9 hours of study time outside of class per week to earn an average grade, which is on par with all University of MN courses (see the “Senate student academic workload policy” on page 7 of this syllabus). Breaking up your 3+ hours per class into smaller segments helps many language learners, e.g., one hour of studying new material; half an hour for reviewing older material; another half-hour before class time for reviewing materials to be practiced in class.

Please don’t be afraid to ask questions in class, even if you think everyone else already understands:
chances are good that at least one other person is confused as well.

 
Assistance IS available: Learning languages requires intellectual rigor and it is important not to fall behind. If you find that you are struggling please do not wait to get help! Here are some good resources:

• My office hours are times set aside for YOU. We can meet weekly or more often, as needed.
• Peer-Assisted Learning:
  • This course is supported by Peer-Assisted Learning, or PAL. PAL involves weekly review sessions for select historically challenging courses. PAL is for all students in the course who want to acquire effective learning strategies, develop an understanding of difficult course material and improve their grades.
  • Attendance at sessions is voluntary - it’s a chance to get together with classmates to compare notes, discuss important concepts, develop study strategies, and test yourselves. At each session you will be guided through this material by your PAL Facilitator, an experienced student who has already successfully completed the course.
  • This semester, PAL will be conducted online via Zoom. Zoom links will be shared by the PAL Facilitator on my web page before the second week of classes. You can also find the schedule at z.umn.edu/PALTutoringSchedule.
• Scheduled Tutoring: course-based, scheduled tutoring is another great option for you if your schedule prevents you from accessing PAL or if you would like more individualized support.
  • If you would like to request a tutor for a course, complete a tutor request form.
  • The Academic Assistance Coordinator will then match you with a peer tutor and set up an initial meeting.
  • You and your tutor will identify a time to meet consistently over Zoom once or twice per week for the rest of the semester.
  • Tutoring sessions are 50-minutes long and can have up to five students per session.
  • The Office of Academic Success recommends requesting a tutor in the first three weeks of the semester to have the best chance of being matched with a tutor. Please be aware that they cannot guarantee that they will be able to find a tutor match when you request a tutor.
  • Contact the Office of Academic Success at oas@morris.umn.edu, Briggs Library 240 if you have any questions about PAL or tutoring.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS IN THE FRENCH CLASSROOM 

1. Come to class every day!
2. Study for at least 9 hours per week. Avoid cramming, it is not the best way to learn a language. Remember : learning another language is a gradual and cumulative process. Study for at least an hour daily!
3. Do not limit your exposure to French: seize any opportunity to develop and improve your comprehension, listening, speaking, writing and reading skills. Try to speak  French as much as possible in class, watch a movie in French, go to a conversation table
4. Practice daily by doing your assignments on time. Do not wait until the last minute to complete your assignments ! Use your MindTap site as a good resource to practice, review old materials (treat the MindTap activities as practice tests) and to self-assess your skills (use the grammar tutorials provided in the MindTap site to understand what is going on).
5. Use all the resources available to you: your professor (ME), a peer tutor, the Language Teaching Center (LTC), the MindTap website with extra activities, etc. (Always keep the honor code in mind, however...).
6. Create a study group.
7. ASK questions: do not be afraid and do not think that you are the only one in difficulty, because it is probable that others also are struggling.

I am accessible! Stop by my office hours or make an appointment and I will be more than happy to help!

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Academic Integrity in French:

Automatic translators are everywhere: in Google, in your word processors, in your email, in your apps. They can be helpful tools to navigate the world and to communicate with people in other nations. However, when learning a language, they are not helpful, but rather a crutch that enables you to write something without understanding it. Therefore, they are strictly off-limits in this class, where you need to show what YOU know, not what the computer can translate for you. The French discipline has adopted the following policy for all French courses:

• You may use these on-line dictionaries for looking up single nouns (nothing longer and no grammatical structures):
  • Linguee.com is an excellent on-line dictionary, created by linguists. This is an encouraged dictionary to use.
  • Wordreference.com is another on-line dictionary with discussion forums, but it is crowd-sourced and can be more colloquial. It is also fine to use.
  • For advanced students who would like to use a French-French dictionary, please consult Trésors de la langue française.
  • Do not use automatic translators of any kind (including the translator your word processor may have) under any circumstances. You will fail this course if you do.
• Do not enlist people in or outside of this class to line-edit your work without your collaborative input.
  • The feedback must be collaborative: you cannot simply forward work to someone and expect it to be corrected;
  • The editor must sign the draft they work on with you and you must turn that draft in to me;
  • The editor should provide a brief description of your activities, via email.

   

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Course Assignments:

 
Please don’t be afraid to ask questions in class, even if you think everyone else already understands:
chances are good that at least one other person is confused as well.

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University Grading Scales:
The University has two distinct grading scales: A-F and S-N.

The A-F grading scale:
The A-F grading scale allows the following grades and corresponding GPA points:

The S-N grading scale:
The S-N grading scale allows the following grades and corresponding GPA points:

Other U niversity of Minnesota Policies

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Programme du cours

Chapitre préliminaire :
« Bienvenue ! »

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Chapitre 1 :
« Une vie équilibrée »

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Chapitre 2 :
« Les plaisirs de la vie »

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Chapitre 3 :
« Nos origines »

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Chapitre 4 :
« Les espaces »

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Chapitre 5 :
« Les plaisirs de la table »

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Le vendredi 4 décembre entre 8h30 et 10h30: