Course Outline for French 1A1
Beginning French 1

Effective: Fall 2022
SLO Rev: 12/20/2016
Catalog Description:

FRNC 1A1 - Beginning French 1

3.00 Units

Introduction to the French-speaking cultures of the world featuring the study and practice of the four language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) of French. Following an immersion instruction format, the class is entirely taught in the target world language of the selected course. May not receive credit if FRNC 1A has been completed.
Strongly Recommended: Eligibility for ENGL 1.
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. understand the cultural nuances of American and French-speaking cultural practices in relation to speech, social attitudes, and values;
  2. demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the culture of French-speaking people, including formative historical events and relevant geographical information;
  3. communicate orally and in writing in a variety of meaningful real life activities using the grammatical structures presented and vocabulary assigned;
  4. demonstrate the ability to comprehend a short conversation composed chiefly of the vocabulary and grammar studied;
  5. apply the sentence patterns and grammar structures presented in the course to create new sentences in culturally appropriate ways both orally and in writing;
  6. conduct a simple, culturally sensitive conversation in French on topics studied, using words and expressions in structurally correct sentences;
  7. write a coherent and culturally appropriate paragraph of sixty words or more on a topic studied and/or discussed in class;
  8. express likes and dislikes/wishes and preferences;
  9. make simple descriptions in French related to size, shape, and color orally and in writing;
  10. demonstrate beginning competency in pronunciation of French;
  11. demonstrate practical applications of their French communicative skills in applied professional and/or in service learning fields.
Course Content:
Course Content (Lecture):
  1. Introduction to the history and geography of French-speaking countries, cities, regions, and other  places of the world
  2. Social and cultural information necessary to understand important differences between French and American cultural practices and to be sensitive to cultural differences in social interactions
  3. Introduction to basic elements of French pronunciation
  4. Functional vocabulary and grammar to allow students to:
    1. Identify themselves in the target language (name, age, nationality, place of birth, profession or occupation) orally and in writing
    2. Greet others, make introductions, take leave, thank, and write simple culturally appropriate expressions of thanks
    3. Be able to express spatial relationships (far, near, right, left, etc.) orally and in writing
    4. Identify and discuss family relationships
    5. Be able to ask for, read, understand, and write simple street directions
    6. Count, understand, and write numbers, and be sufficiently comfortable with numbers for simple financial transactions in the currency of the target culture(s)
    7. Use vocabulary related to weights and measures orally and in writing
    8. Make descriptions related to size, shape, and color orally and in writing
    9. Identify clock time, the date, the weather, and be able to read and write them as well
    10. Discuss in simple terms their likes and dislikes and to inquire in culturally sensitive terms into likes and dislikes of others, orally and in writing
  5. Syntax and grammar that allows students to correctly use orally and in writing:
    1. Subject pronouns in both formal and informal social contexts
    2. Regular –er and the irregular verbs être, avoir, aller, faire, venir, revenir, devenir in the indicative present 
    3. The negative verb constructions ne . . . pas, pas du tout, pas encore, plus, and jamais 
    4. The conjugated verb + infinitive (with no intervening preposition) construction 
    5. The expression il y a affirmatively and negatively 
    6. The future tense using the present tense of aller 
    7. The pronominal verbs
    8. Nouns in singular and plural forms, regular and irregular
    9. Definite and indefinite articles
    10. Singular, plural, regular, and irregular adjectives, their proper placement, and possessive adjectives 
    11. The expression of possession with the preposition de
    12. Interrogative forms involving intonation, est-ce que, the expressions n’est-ce pas?, non?, c’est ça?, je suppose?, d’accord? OK?
  6. Introduction to the basic elements of French phonetics for functional pronunciation in both formal and informal social contexts


Course Content (Laboratory):

  1. Activate lecture content using interactive audio and audiovisual programs on MindTap Motifs (online course content).
    Motifs MindTap passkey which includes access to:
    1. Motifs electronic Student Activities Manual (workbook + lab manual = homework)
    2. Textbook assignments (part of homework)
    3. Motifs eBook (online textbook)
    4. Video Library (part of homework)
    5. Enrichment- flashcards, web quizzes, games, glossary, Internet activities, Google Earth coordinates, interactive learning games, Heinle iRadio, grammar & vocab tutorials, verb conjugator
    6. Diagnostic exams with personalized learning plans
  2. DVDs, CD ROMS, target language websites, etc., featuring culturally authentic and contextual guided speaking, reading, and writing activities such as cued repetition of native speech, dictations, cued oral responses, listening comprehension, and interactive realia (culturally authentic texts).
  3. Organized laboratory activities including conversation groups.
  4. Fundamentals of French pronunciation:
    1. Syllabification and rhythm
    2. Final consonants: pronounced and unpronounced
    3. Vowels and spelling  
    4. The vowels /a/, /i/, and /u/ (all symbols between slashes are International Phonetic Alphabet symbols)
    5. The o in closed and open vowels
    6. The vowels /e/ and /E/
Methods of Instruction:
  1. Lecture/Discussion
  2. Laboratory
  3. Group Activities
  4. Class and group discussions
  5. Distance Education
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
  1. Write a paragraph that includes basic biographical information, such as nationality, place of birth, birthday, and current residence;
  2. Compose an oral presentation describing self, family, and friends demonstrating understanding of the value of family in the French-speaking world;
  3. Laboratory Assignment: record pronunciation activities from Motifs iLrn.
  1. Exams/Tests
  2. Quizzes
  3. Class Participation
  4. Homework
  5. Final Examination
  6. Lab Activities
  7. Oral Presentation
  8. Papers
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. K. Jansman, M. A. Kassen, and Denié-Higney Laurence (2017). Atelier-An Introductory French Program (1st). Heinle Cengage Learning.
Abbreviated Class Schedule Description:
In this course, you will be introduced to the French-speaking cultures of the world featuring the study and practice of the four language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) of French.
Strongly Recommended: Eligibility for ENGL 1.