FLF 202 MWF FALL 2009

Instructor:       Martine BELL
Office:             Withers 227
Office hours:   M 2:30-3:30, W 2:30-3:00, F 11:30-12:30
Phone:             515-9306
E-mail:             mbell@ncsu.edu
Website:          http://www4.ncsu.edu/~mbell

For adverse weather and emergency situation information: Call 513-8888 or see: http://news.ncsu.edu/media/AdverseWeather.html

CLASS MEETINGS:  FLF 202-002  MWF 1:30-2:20

COURSE OBJECTIVES:   

The primary objective of FLF 202 is to enable students to communicate in oral and written French in both formal and informal situations, while gaining a further appreciation of Francophone cultures. By the end of the semester, students should be able to exercise the following skills:

• Listening: understand and interpret the main ideas of increasingly longer stretches of speech with different accents; utilize context clues to piece together non-comprehended information.
• Speaking: initiate a general conversation by means of asking questions; paraphrase what somebody else has said; begin to sustain conversation by utilizing effective communicative strategies; use increasingly precise vocabulary words; describe things and people; narrate experiences or events in various tense and mood; exchange opinions on cultural topics.
• Reading: read a variety of authentic materials.
• Writing: provide written responses to assigned questions; increase precision in the expression of ideas; describe or narrate ideas in extended informal writing; prepare a composition with a clear organization of topic sentences.
• Culture: gain a greater understanding of and appreciation for French peoples and cultures.

 PLACEMENT AND PREREQUISITES:  (See http://fll.chass.ncsu.edu/undergraduate/place.php for policy and http://chasslabs.chass.ncsu.edu/laundry/fll_placement_tests.php for FAQ)

(1) FLF 201 at NC State
(2) or the equivalent of FLF 201 from another university
(3) or placing into FLF 202 on the NC State Placement Test with a score of 395-556
(4) or a score of 610-700 on the SAT II Subject Test

If you do not have any of the prerequisites listed above, you must take the Placement Test in the Laundry Lab (LAU 214: Language and Computer Building at the corner of Stinson & Current Drives) http://chasslabs.chass.ncsu.edu/laundry/home. The test will take about 20-30 minutes and you will receive the results immediately.

NOTE: If you took French in high school and you have been told that you have 'reached proficiency at the 201 level', this does NOT satisfy the prerequisite for this course. This only applies to students who will not take any foreign language course at NC State. Native speakers CANNOT receive credit for FLF 101-202 if French is their native language.

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

• Pause-Café:  French in Review / Moving Toward Fluency.  Megharbi, Pellet, Blyth and Foerster, 2009.
• Workbook to accompany Pause_Café (Cahier d'exercices écrite et de laboratoire)
• Pause-Café Website:  http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072407840/student_view0
• French-English/English-French dictionary (Harper-Collins-Robert or Larousse recommended, size compact or concise)
• Folder or notebook with pockets (for syllabus, handouts, written work, tests)

ATTENDANCE:
Attendance is required and will be taken daily. You can make progress only if you hear and speak the language regularly. After three absences, your participation grade will be reduced by 1/3 grade for each additional absence (from A to A-, from A- to B+, etc.).  Beyond 3 absences, you will need a written excuse.  In case of an emergency (serious illness, injury, death or illness in the family, university duties, court attendance, or religious observance), please notify me as soon as possible. You are responsible for all work you missed and for any assignment announced on the day you were absent. Please get the e-mail or phone number of a classmate in case you need information after an absence. This policy is based upon NC State University Attendance Policy: http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/academic_affairs/courses_undergrad/REG02.20.3.php. 

Excessive absences may lead to an F.  Please note that it is absolutely essential to come well prepared to class and to participate actively as this accounts for 20% of your final grade.

HOMEWORK:

You should prepare each lesson before coming to class on the day indicated on the syllabus, in order to be ready to participate in communicative activities.

• Study and prepare the "blue pages" (182-272) as indicated in parentheses. Do exercises in the assigned sections and check answers in the A votre tour! Answer Key (pp. A1-A8).
• Read and prepare the assigned pages in the Pause-Café textbook.
• Complete the assigned exercises in the Cahier d'activités (CA). Check your written exercises in a different color using the Answer Key (pp. A1-A16).

Short writing assignments may be assigned.  Assignments are not accepted late unless an extension has been arranged beforehand. 

Check your NC State e-mail regularly:  some handouts or assignments will be sent by e-mail.

WRITTEN WORK AND ORAL PRESENTATION:

You will be asked to write three typed, double-spaced compositions in French, submitting a first draft and a final version for each.  Please note that you must submit both the first draft and final draft in order to receive full credit.  As is the case with homework assignments, all compositions should be turned in on time.

You will also give an oral presentation (film presentation) with a partner.  See dates on the syllabus.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: 

All work in this class will be subject to NC State standards of academic integrity. You will be asked to sign the Honor Pledge on each test and graded assignment : « I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this test/assignment ».  NO online/electronic translators, no help from tutors, teachers, friends, or native speakers are permitted for graded assignments. Please read the following information carefully : http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/student_services/student_discipline/POL11.35.1.php

QUIZZES AND EXAMS:

There will be 4 quizzes and two exams as well as a communicative final exam.  There will be no make-up for quizzes.  However, one quiz will be dropped.  Make-ups for the two major tests will be granted only if you are excused in advance with proper documentation.  

The final oral exam will be conducted (in pairs) during the scheduled Final Exam.

 GRADING:

This class will be graded according to the plus/minus grading system:

A+ = 97.0-100    B+ = 87.0-89.9   C+ = 77.0-79.9   D+ = 67.0-69.9

A   = 93.0-96.9   B   = 83.0-86.9   C   = 73.0-76.9   D   = 63.0-66.9

A-  = 90.0-92.9   B-  = 80.0-82.9   C- = 70.0-72.9   D+ = 60.0-62.9   F = 0-59.9

* PARTICIPATION:

Participation in class will be determined as follows:

A = Student is well prepared, attentive, always responds when called on and volunteers often with pertinent answers or questions.

B = Student is usually prepared, responds when called on and volunteers on occasion.

C = Student shows evidence of being unprepared on occasion, has trouble when called on and does not volunteer often.

D = Student is unprepared, inattentive, never volunteers, or comes to class late.

F = Student exhibits a lack of concern for the class, sleeps in class/does not pay attention, disturbs the class.

INCOMPLETE GRADES & LATE ASSIGNMENTS:
Incomplete grades will be given only when a student cannot complete the course due to unforeseeable circumstances beyond his/her control and has done most of the course work (types of work that can be made up would be for example a final exam, a quiz or two, or handing in a final paper).   For late assignments, the grade will be reduced by 1/3 grade for each day late (from A to A-, from A- to B+, etc.). In case of an excused absence, students will need to set up a timetable with me for the missing assignment(s).  

TUTORING

Free tutoring in foreign languages is no longer available at the Undergraduate Tutorial Center in Park Shops  http://www.ncsu.edu/tutorial_center/  .  Please come and see me if you are experiencing problems.

CHASS FOREIGN LANGUAGE COMPUTER LABS: 

The Laundry Lab (LAU 214:  Language and Computer Building at the corner of Stinson & Current Drives) is open Mon.-Fri. 8AM-9PM, Saturday 12-7PM, and Sunday 1PM-5PM;  the Withers Lab (WI 131)  is open Mon.-Fri. 8AM-5PM, closed Saturday and Sunday.  For more information, http://chasslabs.chass.ncsu.edu/laundry/home

DISABILITY SERVICES FOR STUDENTS:
Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with verifiable disabilities. Students must register with the Disabilities Services Office (DSO) at 1900 Student Health Center, Campus Box 7509, 515 7653, http://www.ncsu.edu/dso .  For more information on NC State's policy on working with students with disabilities, see:  http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/academic_affairs/courses_undergrad/REG02.20.1.php

DIVERSITY POLICY:
This course fosters free and open dialogue, the acceptance and discussion of different opinions, and mutual respect among class members. Please consult NC State Policies on Non-Discrimination.

SUMMER STUDY ABROAD IN FRANCE: 

The Study Abroad Fair will be held Thursday, Sept. 17 in Talley Ballroom.  For information about our summer programs inquire at the Study Abroad Office:   http://studyabroad.ncsu.edu/  or contact the program directors.

FRENCH CLUB:

Consider joining the French Club to get extra exposure to the language and culture.  You are welcome at any of the meetings which take place every other Wednesday at 4 PM in Withers. The instructor will let you know when the first meeting will take place this semester.

FLL HOME PAGE: 

http://fll.chass.ncsu.edu   Visit the Foreign Language Department homepage for more information about: the professional advantages of studying foreign languages--and French, in particular, the French Major and Minor at NC State, the Masters Program, and the Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's (ABM) Degree Program in French (in 5 years).  You will find useful links in the French Section homepage to learn more about French through the Internet.

ONLINE COURSE EVALUATIONS: 

Online class evaluations will be available for students to complete during the last two weeks of class from 8AM November 19 to 8AM December 9.  Students will receive an email message directing them to a website where they can login using their Unity ID and complete evaluations.  All evaluations are confidential.  Evaluation website:  https://classeval.ncsu.edu .  For more information:  http://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/UPA/classeval/   

EMPLOI DU TEMPS

Pause-Café :  French in Review/Moving Toward Fluency.  Megharbi, Pellet, Blyth and Foerster, 2009.  Price: $ 98.45 (new), or package textbook & workbook : $124.50 (new)

Cahier d'activités to accompany Pause-Café.   Price: $38.15 (new)

Pause-Café Website:  http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072407840/student_view0

• "Blue pages" (Explications grammaticales 182-272) are indicated in parentheses using the abbreviations for the seven communicative functions (D, C, P, Q, R, F, H) and Autres points de grammaire (APG).  Study and prepare the sections assigned for that day.
• CA = Cahier d'activités