Course Syllabus

Course Name:   French 5 AP                                        
Course Number:          2282
Level:                               Honors  
Department:                  World Language

Instructor:                Lionel Jean César
  
Course Description
Prerequisite:               French 4
Open to:                       Fr, Soph, Jr, Sr
Length:                        Year
Credit:                          1
 
Objectives
The AP French Language and Culture is designed to promote proficiency in French and to enable you to explore culture in contemporary and historical contexts.  This course will help you develop language skills that can be applied to the College Board exam and everyday life. This class invites you to analyze six major themes through reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

Themes

• Global Challenges / Le Défis Mondiaux
• Science and Technology / La Science et la Technologie
• Contemporary Life / La Vie Contemporaine
• Personal and Public Identities / La Quête de Soi
• Families and Communities / La Famille et la Communauté
• Beauty and Aesthetics / L’Esthétique 

General Course Goals

The World Language Department has adopted the five goal areas of the ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages), also known as the five C’s of foreign language education.

• Communication (face-to-face, in writing or through the reading of literature)
• Cultures (gain knowledge and understanding of the cultural contexts in which language occurs)
• Connections (to other bodies of knowledge in the target language)
• Comparisons (and contrasts, to provide a multi-faceted view of the world) 
• Communities (participation with language in a variety of contexts, both in and beyond the classroom, and in culturally appropriate ways)

These goals are tied to national and state standards, which have various progress indicators across the continuum of foreign language learning. 
At the end of the course, the students will be able to demonstrate their proficiency across the three communicative modes of communication (presentational, interpersonal, and interpretive):

• Ability to comprehend formal and informal spoken French to the extent of being able to ask pertinent and thought- provoking questions about a speech, presentation, or news broadcast (from authentic sites). (Interpretive/interpersonal) 

• Master the ability to compose a well-organized, coherent essay using upper-level grammar structures correctly, integrating both the reading and listening skills from the given prompt.  These essays may be descriptive, narrative, analytical or persuasive, all exceeding 200 words (based on AP essay criteria). The AP composition rubric is used for grading. (Interpretive, presentational) 

 

• Master the art of the spoken language, not only for conversation, but to express ideas and to debate and defend various points of view when challenged and to make a coherent oral presentation with few, if any, notes. (Interpretive, interpersonal, presentational)

• Ability to identify and summarize main ideas from a variety of authentic written texts/ videos / radio broadcasts (literature, on-line authentic newspapers, magazines, authentic audio/video sources) and to analyze and discuss French and Francophone literature, including poetry. (Interpretive, interpersonal)

 

 Texts and supplementary materials 

• AP French Preparing for the Language and Culture Examination Richard Ladd. Pearson 2012
• Interaction (8th Edition) Langue et Culture Susan and Ronald St. Onge. Heinle Cengage

Learning 2012

• Quant à moi (4th Edition) Jeannette D. Bragger and Donald B. Rice. Heinle Cengage

Learning 2010

• Allons au-delà (La Langue ET Les Cultures du Monde Francophone Richard Ladd. Pearson 2012
• Une fois pour touts (2nd Edition) Une revision des structures essentielles de la langue française. Longman

Magazines/newspapers:  Phosphotre / Ça m’intéresse / France-Amérique / Science et Vie / Le Figaro Science et Avenir /  L’Express / L’Étudiant / Le Monde / Le Parisien / Le Point

Radio and Television Segments:  (news, advice, travel tips, reviews, weather cast)
Listening sources:

• Online Accompanied listening activities (AP French Preparing for the Language and Culture Examination Richard Ladd. Pearson 2012)

• Accompanied listening activities (Quant à moi (4th Edition) Jeannette D. Bragger and Donald B. Rice. Heinle 2010)
• Songs selected according to themes, sub-themes, and language structure being studied
• News for current issues and vocabulary
• Online articles based on themes and sub-themes
• Documentaries on France and the francophone world
• Movies, Teacher, Students, Guests
• BBC French, TV5 Monde
• RFI, Radio Canada, France 2, France 24

Assessments
       These assessments cover all the above major themes and the learning skills.
Contexts:

• Tests and quizzes (essay/multiple choice):  assess listening/ reading comprehension/analytical ability/ grammar/ vocabulary/ culture/ listening/ speaking

• Speech samples - recorded in language lab/debates/discussions/oral presentations: assesses speaking ability (some mirror AP test items)
• Evaluation of essays/writing samples using appropriate AP rubrics. (Integration of all four skills: based on authentic readings and listening items, followed by debate or discussion)
• There will be a great emphasis on the AP exam itself during the 3rd and 4th quarters. During this time, students will practice available versions of the AP French Language and Culture Examination, and self-evaluate.
• The Semester One Exam will be in the format of the new AP French Language and Culture Exam.
• The Semester Two Exam: Teacher creates the television game “Questions pour un champion”. Students must ask in writing to participate. They must also answer some questions in writing. A traditional final exam will be available for students who do not score enough and those who miss a game.
• Homework assignments will receive immediate feedback and students will have the opportunity of making corrections.

 

Others: Click on the links that correspond to the topics you have in mind!