Upload
others
View
4
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
AP French Language Syllabus20072008
Course Overview
The AP French Language course is conducted exclusively in French. Students are encouraged to practice the target language on a daily basis with their teacher and peers [1]. Students will practice in order to develop proficiency through listening to dialogs, narratives, music, and oral presentations, and through reading news articles, short stories and other excerpts of both classical and modern Francophone literature [7]. Students will practice speaking skills by describing, questioning, debating and persuading [5]. Students will practice writing through weekly journals, sample essay prompts, and responding to reading samples [6].
Course Requirements
Course Requirements are indicated in this description as numbered:
[1] The teacher uses French almost exclusively in class and encourages students to do likewise.
[2] The course provides students with a learning experience equivalent to that of a thirdyear college course in French language. Instructional materials, activities, assignments, and assessments are appropriate to this level.
[3] Instructional materials include a variety of authentic audio and/or video recordings that develop students' listening abilities.
[4] Instructional materials include authentic written texts that develop students' reading abilities.
[5] The course provides students with regular opportunities to develop their speaking skills in a variety of settings, types of discourse, topics and registers.
[6] The course provides instruction and frequent opportunities to write a variety of compositions in French.
[7] The course provides frequent opportunities for students to integrate the four language skills through the use of authentic materials.
Course Outline
Students will use several classroom resources to increase their proficiency in French. A copy of each of the following materials is provided to each student.
Reading materials come from a variety of resources, but primarily Trésors du Temps, Quant à Moi (Bragger and Rice, 2005) and Intrigue (Blood and Mobarek, 2004). These resources provide students with authentic literature at a thirdyear college level [2]. Students have opportunities to practice prereading, during reading and postreading activities to increase comprehension of the literature selections [4]. Themes are presented for student discussion and debate [5]. Picture sequences are included to prompt writing and speaking practice [6].
Literature selections and essays are coordinated with vocabulary topics to help students increase their knowledge of vocabulary and provide opportunities to utilize target vocabulary for reading and listening comprehension, writing compositions and different modes of speaking [5]. All unit essays are scored according to the AP writing rubric and are written in class under time restraints.
Une Fois Pour Toutes (Sturges, Nielsen, and Herbst, 1992) is utilized as a review of advanced grammatical concepts. This book provides instructional review and highlights irregularities generally found in the AP Language Exam. The students are now at an advanced level of study and will master the minutia of the grammar to improve both their writing and speaking skills [2]. This book also includes multiplechoice grammatical items to assess student comprehension of the concepts.
Review French Three Years is used for drill and practice of grammatical concepts. After taking preassessment for each chapter, students primarily use this workbook for home assignments. Teacher determines and provides further instruction when necessary.
AP French (Ladd and Girard) is the primary book for practicing all the formats of the AP exam. Students are given a collection of one piece from each section. This creates a minimock assessment. During the course of a unit, students complete a collection. Each collection includes reading comprehension (news articles and/or literature excerpts [4]), listening comprehension (dialogues and narratives [3]), informal speaking or formal oral presentation [1, 7], informal or formal writing that includes integration of reading, listening and writing skills [7], verbs and word fillins.
First Quarter Plan
Weeks 13: Unit 1
Vocabulary: la maison, les courses, le travailGrammar: Present tense: including imperative, reflexive verbs
Quantities, Articles, Gender, Interrogatives and questioning
Composition: Avezvous rencontré des difficultés en cherchant un travail? A part les avantages financiers, pourquoi le travail estil si important pour les jeunes? Commentez avec un exemple tiré de votre propre expérience.
Literature Selection: “Le Chouette Bol d’Air”, René GoscinyDuring the reading, students will answer openresponse, short answer questions based on the reading. After the reading, students will respond to multiple choice comprehension
questions and participate in a class discussion on vacations. The direction of the discussion will depend on student experience and interest.
Listening: Students will participate in listening activity from chapter 1 of “Connaissance et Réactions”. Students will respond to short answer questions based on the listening selection.
AP Exam Practice: introduction to exam format, students do one selection from each test section as a class.
Assessment: Unit 1 Exam: Short answer, fill ins, and multiple choice test items based on the grammar, vocabulary and literature selections. The test will include a picture prompt with open response questions.
Weeks 4, 5: Unit 2
Vocabulary: La Vie Scholaire, La PauvretéGrammar: Passé Composé, Imparfait and p.c. vs imparfait Composition: Pour réussir à ta vie, estce qu’il faut aller à l’université? Quel rôle les études avancés jouentils dans notre société? Estce qu’il est important que tout le monde suive des cours au niveau universitaire?
Reading Selection: “La Dernière Classe” Alphonse Daudet Prière d’un petit enfant nègre – Guy Tirolien
Readings are followed by multiple choice comprehension quesions and a discussion in French comparing the school experiences by the boys in each of the readings, as well as their own experiences.
Listening Activity: Students will watch a recorded news segment from TV5, followed by a discussion on the French educational system.
AP Exam Practice: Selection 2, one practice activity from each section of the AP exam.
Assessment: Unit Exam. Short answer, fill ins, and multiple choice test items based on the grammar, vocabulary and literature selections. This exam will include an openresponse question
Week 6, 7 : Unit 3
Vocabulary: Les MaladiesGrammar: Passive Voice, Negative constructions
Composition: Grâce aux dernières découvertes scientifiques, les médecins peuvent prolonger la vie des patients gravement malades. La prolongation de la vie estelle plus importante que la qualité de la vie?
Reading Selection: Je vis, je meursLouise Labé Students will answer multiple choice test items based on the reading. Students will respond by writing a poem of their own in French, similar in theme.
Listening Activity: Students listen to a recorded version of the song “Sous le Pont Mirabeau” (adapted from the poem of the same name). In French, students discuss how the music, speed, etc., could change the tone of the poem.
AP Exam Practice: Selection 3.
Assessment: Unit exam. Short answer, fill ins, and multiple choice test items based on the grammar, vocabulary and literature selections. This exam will include a picture sequence with accompanying questions.
Weeks 8, 9 : Unit 4
Vocabulary: Le Théâtre, Le CinémaGrammar: Adjectives: vocab and agreement Composition: Les critiques des médias affirment souvent que le cinéma moderne et la télévision sont responsables de la violence qui se manifeste aujourd’hui autour de nous. Etesvous d’accord? Illustrez votre thèse avec des exemples.
Reading Selection: Le théâtre de l’absurde : extraits de quelques pièces, followed by multiple choice comprehension questions.
Students will read several movie reviews from a French newspaper and respond by writing their own critiques in French.
Listening Activity: Students will watch the film, Les Choristes and follow up with a writing prompt and class discussion.
AP Exam Practice: Selection 4
Assessment: Unit Exam. Unit exam. Short answer, cloze activities, and multiple choice test items based on the grammar, vocabulary and literature selections. This exam will include and a writing prompt.
Second Quarter Plan
Weeks 1, 2: Unit 5
Vocabulary: La CuisineGrammar: Future, Conditional, clauses with si and quand
Composition: Que signifie pour vous le mot “tradition”? Quelles traditions avezvous en famille? D’où viennentelles? Elles vous sont importantes? Comment les maintenezvous? Citez des exemples.
Reading Selection: Extrait de “Du côté de chez Swann” – Marcel Proust followed by multiple choice comprehension questions and a class discussion of the text.
Listening Activity: Listening activity with multiple choice questions from Quant à Moi
AP Exam Practice: Selection 5
Assessment: Unit Exam. Short answer, fill ins, and multiple choice test items based on the grammar, vocabulary and literature selections. This exam will include a picture prompt and accompanying questions.
Weeks 3, 4: Unit 6
Vocabulary: La VoitureGrammar: Le Subjonctif
Composition: Le permis de conduire est devenu un rite de pasage chez les jeunes. Imaginez comment serait la vie des adolescents sans voiture.
Reading Selection: Students search the internet to find selected readings from magazines and newspapers that portray cultural attitude and technology towards transportation. Followed by class presentations and discussions on findings.
AP Exam Practice: Selection 6
Assessment: Unit Exam. Unit exam. Short answer, cloze activities, and multiple choice test items based on the grammar, vocabulary and literature selections. This exam will include and a writing prompt.
Weeks 5, 6 : Unit 7
Vocabulary: Les Communications, La TechnologieGrammar: Le Plusqueparfait, Le Conditionnel – passé, Clauses with Si and Quand
Composition: Depuis un siècle, de plus en plus, les machines dominent notre vie. Il y a une machine pour toute tâche. Ces “gagets” sontils vraiment nécessaires à maintenir la qualité de vie? Expliquez et justifiez votre réponse.
Reading Selection: Students search the internet to find selected readings from magazines and newspapers that portray cultural attitude towards technology and technological advances. Followed by class presentations and discussions on findings.
Listening Activity: Students watch TV5 news report on cell phone use. Followed by a discussion on the similarities and differences between the attitude towards use of technology in US and France.
AP Exam Practice: Selection 7
Assessment: Unit Exam. Short answer, cloze activities, and multiple choice test items based on the grammar, vocabulary and literature selections. This exam will include a picture prompt and accompanying questions.
Weeks 7, 8, and 9: Unit 8
Vocabulary: Les Affaires, L’EconomieGrammar: Le futurantérieur, Les pronoms (tous): sujets, réfléchis, possessifs, démonstratifs, directs, etc.
Composition: Estce que les différences entre les classes sociales et économiques sont en train d’augmenter ou de diminuer? Pourquoi et répondez en citant des exemples.
Reading Selection: Extrait de “Le Petit Prince” Antoine de SaintExupery followed by open response questions and a class discussion in French on the attitude of Le Businessman.
Listening Activity: Selection from “Le Petit Prince”, open response questions follow.
AP Exam Practice: Selection 8
Assessment: Unit Exam. Short answer, cloze activities, and multiple choice test items based on the grammar, vocabulary and literature selections. This exam will include and writing prompt.
Third Quarter Plan
Weeks 1, 2 : Unit 9
Vocabulary: Le Gouvernement, La Politique, Les PaysGrammar: Les prepositions, Les adverbes
Composition: Un proverbe français dit “Les voyages forment la jeunesse.” Selon vous, quel role estce que les voyages peuvent jouer dans le développement personnel des jeunes de votre âge?
Reading Selection: Extrait de “Les Misérables” Victor Hugo followed by multiple choice comprehension questions and class discussion of the text.
Listening Activity: Students will watch a political debate from TV5, and follow with a class debate on a topic of their choice from world current events.
AP Exam Practice: Selection 9
Assessment: Unit Exam. Short answer, cloze activities, and multiple choice test items based on the grammar, vocabulary and literature selections. This exam will include a picture prompt and accompanying questions.
Weeks 3, 4: Unit 10
Vocabulary: Les vêtementsGrammar: L’infinitif (usage and verbs that take à or de before inf.), Le gérondif, Le participle présent
Composition: On dispute souvent les règles des vetements aux lycées. Il serait plus facile d’avoir un uniforme pour tous les élèves? Quels seraient les avantages et les inconvénients d’un tel règle?
Reading Selection: “La Parure” Guy de Maupassant followed by multiple choice and open response comprehension questions
Listening Activity: Listening from ChampsElysées on the fashion industry followed by a class discussion on fashion trends.
AP Exam Practice: Selection 10
Assessment: Unit Exam. Unit exam. Short answer, cloze activities, and multiple choice test items based on the grammar, vocabulary and literature selections. This exam will include and writing prompt.
Weeks 5, 6, 7: Unit 11
Vocabulary: La Pollution, L’Environnement, Les AnimauxGrammar: Review of all verb tenses, clauses with quand and si
Composition: Si on laisse faire la nature qu’arriveratil en l’an 2100 à notre planète ? Imaginez et commentez.
Reading Selection: “L’Eléphant” – Marcel Aymé followed by multiple choice comprehension questions and students will recount a “tall tale” from theirchildhood in French.
Listening Activity: Listening activity from Quant à Moi followed by comprehension questions.
AP Exam Practice: Selection 11
Assessment: Unit Exam. Short answer, cloze activities, and multiple choice test items based on the grammar, vocabulary and literature selections. This exam will include a picture prompt and accompanying questions.
Weeks 8, 9: Unit 12
Vocabulary: Les Divertissements/ Le SportGrammar: Comparative/Superlative
Composition: Dans un match, aux Jeux Olympiques, dans les sports professionels ou lors des élections à l’école, l’essentiel est de gagner par n’importe quel moyen. Qu’en pensezvous? Expliquez et justifiez votre opinion.
Reading Selection: Excerpt from Petit Nicolas with accompanying comprehension questions.
Listening Activity: Watch a French sporting event from TV5, students will then mute the game and provide personal commentary.
AP Exam Practice: Selection 12
Assessment: Unit Exam. Unit exam. Short answer, cloze activities, and multiple choice test items based on the grammar, vocabulary and literature selections. This exam will include and writing prompt.
Fourth Quarter Plan
Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
These last weeks before the exam are dedicated to: a review of all material thus far, increased frequency of exam practice activities, a mock exam, and analysis of this exam.
Assessment: Mock AP exam
Weeks 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Cumulative project. Students will work to create a personal website in French that demonstrates appropriate use of all facets of the French language. Students will also provide links to French websites and explanations of their choices.
Sample Instructional Activities
In addition to vocabulary, grammar, composition, and reading selections listed above for each unit, students will also regularly participate in the following activities during
each unit.
Listening Skills [3,7]
Students listen to authentic sources every week.
• Every other week students view taped news programming from TV5 [3]. Students have a prompt to complete a writing or speaking task in response to the viewing [7].
• On the alternate weeks students practice via the listening components of AP French (Ladd and Girard). These are followed by practice items to simulate the AP exam.
• Students also listen and respond to various selections from Quant à Moi and ChampsElysées based on current vocabulary/grammar units.
• Students listen to and analyze music and lyrics of French music, both current and classic selections [3].
Reading Skills [2, 4, 7]
Literature in the AP course comes from a variety of Francophone authors [4]. Students participate in ongoing reading of literature to acquire new vocabulary, gain comprehension strategies and skills, and prepare them for similar assignments in college [2].
Students complete prereading vocabulary building and predictive discussion [7]. During reading, students often complete graphic organizers training them to discover main ideas, supporting details, setting, character description and tone. After reading, students participate in discussion about the overall theme and may be asked to state and defend a position [7].
• Students have two current event activities each quarter. Students are given news stories on a teacherchosen topic. Students share information in discussion and write summaries and opinions regarding the events [7].
• Students also read from a variety of print resources including Internet news articles, magazines, advertisements, charts and graphs, and nonprint media such as art [4]. Students are at times asked to locate an artistic expression and describe how the piece represents a literary or current events theme.
• Students complete a Reading Comprehension section from the Ladd and Girard AP French resource for a warmup activity once a week during the first quarter, twice a week during the second quarter and daily during the third quarter.
• Students read and respond to one Literature selection per unit based on current vocabulary and/or grammar.
Writing Skills [2, 6, 7]
• Students begin the first quarter by writing a 250word composition to a written prompt. This composition is used to review and teach editing and elaboration skills.
• Students write an integrated composition from the Girard and Ladd AP French resource for each unit of study[7]. The topics incorporate the theme of the literature and the study of correlated vocabulary and/or grammar. Students are encouraged to utilize the target vocabulary in their compositions. Compositions are scored according to the AP writing rubric. Teacher and/or peer editing contribute to the rewriting of the composition that is graded for a second time [6]. Two compositions during the course are researchedbased and students must cite additional documentation that they have found to support their views [2].
• Students write two journal entries weekly. Topics are chosen from a prefabricated list provided by the teacher. Entries are based on a variety of topics, at least one entry will be based on the current vocabulary and at least one entry must show accurate and appropriate usage of the current grammatical subject.
• Students have pen friends in Paris, France. They correspond with their friends in French regarding personal interests and cultural exchanges [6].
Speaking Skills [1,5,7]
• Using classroom recorders, students record themselves responding to picture prompts and questions following the format of the AP exam. Students record once per unit based on vocabulary during the first and second quarters and once a week during the third quarter. [3, 5, 7].
• In the classroom, students engage in discussion daily about literature, current events, grammatical explanations, and general interest conversation. [1].
• Teacher provides a weekly Salon for students, on an alternating schedule of inschool and afterschool sessions. [5]. A controversial topic is selected by the teacher to begin the conversation, but the conversation is not limited to the topic and often takes a very different direction typical of authentic conversational situations [1, 5].
• Several field experiences are planned such as a trip to a French restaurant, a French play, and French film viewing and discussions. On these field experiences Frenchonly is the rule [1].
• Speaking French exclusively in class provides students a wide range of situations for communication.
Assessments
In addition to unit exams that will always include a reading comprehension selection and either an essay or an oral prompt, students will participate in a variety of assessments throughout the year. They include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Biweekly vocabulary quizzes based on students’ individual vocabulary journals.
• Two weekly journal entries that reflect the proper usage of the grammar and vocabulary of the given unit.
• One AP essay per unit. • Reading comprehension quizzes
Classroom Resource Bibliography
All students receive a copy of the following texts, including workbooks.
Blood, E. and Mobarek Y. (2004). Intrigue. Upper Saddle River, NJ.
Pearson Education. Inc.
Bragger, J. and Rice, D. (2005). Quant à Moi. Boston, MA. Thomson
Heinle.
Ladd R. and Girard C., 1998. AP French: Preparing for the Language
Examination. Glenview, Illinois. Addison Wesley Foreman.
Lenard, Y., 1997. Trésors du temps. Woodland Hills, CA.
Glencoe/McGraw Hill.
Sturges H, Nielsen, L., and Herbst, H. (1992). Une fois pour toutes.
White Plains, NY. Longman Publishing Group.