Course Outline for French 50D
French Conversation and Culture IV

Effective: Fall 2020
SLO Rev: 10/07/2019
Catalog Description:

FRNC 50D - French Conversation and Culture IV

3.00 Units

Development of skills learned in French 50C. Understanding of spoken French through pronunciation, vocabulary, and applied grammar. Further study of the culture and everyday life activities of Francophone people. Following an immersion instruction format, the class is entirely taught in the target world language of the selected course.
Prerequisite: FRNC 50C.
1102.00 - French
Optional
Type Units Inside of Class Hours Outside of Class Hours Total Student Learning Hours
Lecture 3.00 54.00 108.00 162.00
Laboratory 0.00 18.00 0.00 18.00
Total 3.00 72.00 108.00 180.00
Measurable Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. demonstrate an advanced knowledge of the French conversational structures and patterns presented in the course;
  2. demonstrate a good understanding of tense use (present, past, and simple future) as well as the mode use (indicative and subjunctive);
  3. converse on topics studied expressing hope, giving advice, and making request with a degree of fluency and with functionally accurate pronunciation and intonation;
  4. demonstrate a knowledge of the culture, geography, history, current social and political issues of the Francophone countries;
  5. compare and contrast American cultural practices and Francophone countries in relation to speech, social attitudes, and values.
Course Content:

Course Content (Lecture):

  1. Advanced knowledge of the French conversational structures and patterns in order to converse with relative fluency in the target language.
  2. Good understanding and appreciation of the culture of Spanish-speaking people, including formative historical events and relevant geographical information to function successfully in cultural interactions that involve going to:
    1. the post office 
    2. interviewing for a job  
    3. going to an art museum
  3. Converse on topics studied expressing hope, giving advice, and making request with a degree of fluency and with functionally accurate pronunciation and intonation.
  4. Use of informal and formal commands in the most common daily situations such as parents telling children what the chores are.
  5. Good understanding and appreciation of the culture of Francophone people to function successfully in cultural, including: 
    1. formative historical events
    2. relevant geographical information 
  6. Knowledge of the differences between the cultural practices of Francophone countries and the United States, their current social and political issues in order to give oral presentations in the target language on current news from varied media sources: 
    1. TV
    2. radio
    3. Internet. 


Course Content (Laboratory):

  1. Activate lecture content using interactive audio and audiovisual programs on CDs, DVDs, CD ROMS, target language websites, etc., featuring culturally authentic and contextual guided speaking, reading, writing activities.
  2. Organized laboratory activities including conversation groups.
  3. Fundamentals of French pronunciation:
    1. The consonant /l/
    2. Liaison: required, optional, and forbidden
    3. Interrogative inflection
    4. The schwa and the law of the three consonants
    5. Accentuation
    6. Equality of rhythm
Methods of Instruction:
  1. Choral/individual repetition of model speech.
  2. Introduction and discussion of French conversational methods
  3. Lecture/Discussion
  4. Simulation by instructor and re-creation of dialogues and improvisation.
  5. Small group activities including skits, dialogues, etc.
  6. Use of supplementary materials such as audio and visual.
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
  1. Prepare a dramatization of literary texts such as a favorite poem or play (1-2 acts) in the target language
  2. Describe, analyze and explain literary information such as pieces of advertisement, billboards, posters
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of the different uses of the subjunctive and indicative modes by preparing a debate or round table discussion on current social issues using the target language
  1. Class Participation
  2. Homework
  3. Oral reports
  4. Quizzes
  5. Periodic oral tests
  6. Final Examination
Upon the completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. Demonstrate proficiency in understanding and use orally the grammatical structures presented and vocabulary assigned.
  2. Demonstrate proficiency in understanding and use in writing the grammatical structures presented and vocabulary assigned.
  3. Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the culture, including formative historical events and relevant geographical information.
Textbooks (Typical):
  1. Véronique Anover and Theresa A. Antes, (2014). A Vous! Heinle and Cengage Learning.
  • none
Abbreviated Class Schedule Description:
Advanced conversation class taught in the target language. Will further study French through pronunciation, vocabulary, applied grammar, and cultural topics.
Prerequisite: FRNC 50C.