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French Language Courses

French Language Courses

FRENCH I

GRADE: 9-12 CREDITS: 10 COLLEGE RECOMMENDED? Yes

PREREQUISITES: None

French I will start off with some key language building blocks and use movement and songs to get some of the language into beginning students' body memory. Shortly afterwards, students will embark on their exploration of the language through storytelling. Much emphasis will be placed on acquiring the language through engaging stories and skits all in the target language. Students will start out with basic, high frequency words and build on this knowledge gradually through repetition and comprehensible input, very similar to the way they acquired their first language. There will be some emphasis on studying the grammar rules and spelling, but much less than in traditional language courses. Students will gain cultural knowledge through music, film, class discussions and readings.

FRENCH II

GRADE: 9-12 CREDITS: 10 COLLEGE RECOMMENDED? Yes

PREREQUISITES: Completion of French I with a C or better or consent of the instructor

During the second year of French, students will continue their acquisition of the language in much the same manner as in the first year course. This year there will be more emphasis on the past tense and other more complex structures. The stories that the students will help to create will help them solidify their prior learning while expanding their repertoires with new vocabulary and structures. Music, film, and discussions will continue to enhance their learning about the language and the culture of the dozens of francophone nations on six continents.

FRENCH III

GRADE: 9-12 CREDITS: 10 COLLEGE RECOMMENDED? Yes

PREREQUISITES: Completion of French II with a C or better or consent of the instructor

The storytelling approach to learning French will continue in the third year as well, with a little more practice on the past tense as well as more advanced grammatical structures such as the subjunctive mood, the future, and conditional tense. In addition, however, students will occasionally look at grammatical structures from a traditional point of view. Students will be expected to speak in French as much as possible, while having short conversations with partners and presenting additional information on culture.

 

IB FRENCH

GRADE: 11-12 CREDITS: 10 COLLEGE RECOMMENDED? Yes

PREREQUISITES: Completion of French II with a B or better or consent of instructor

During the two years of the International Baccalaureate Program, students will complete their inventory of advanced grammatical structure and verb tenses. At the same time, they will sharpen their speaking and writing skills in preparation for the oral and written examinations of the IB. Students will extend their knowledge of the literature, film, music, current events, and culture of the francophone world. Special emphasis will be placed on topics which are important to adolescents, such as technology, entertainment, social issues and the environment.

 

FRENCH I

GRADE: 9-12 CREDITS: 10 COLLEGE RECOMMENDED? Yes

PREREQUISITES: None

French I will start off with some key language building blocks and use movement and songs to get some of the language into beginning students' body memory. Shortly afterwards, students will embark on their exploration of the language through storytelling. Much emphasis will be placed on acquiring the language through engaging stories and skits all in the target language. Students will start out with basic, high frequency words and build on this knowledge gradually through repetition and comprehensible input, very similar to the way they acquired their first language. There will be some emphasis on studying the grammar rules and spelling, but much less than in traditional language courses. Students will gain cultural knowledge through music, film, class discussions and readings.

FRENCH II

GRADE: 9-12 CREDITS: 10 COLLEGE RECOMMENDED? Yes

PREREQUISITES: Completion of French I with a C or better or consent of the instructor

During the second year of French, students will continue their acquisition of the language in much the same manner as in the first year course. This year there will be more emphasis on the past tense and other more complex structures. The stories that the students will help to create will help them solidify their prior learning while expanding their repertoires with new vocabulary and structures. Music, film, and discussions will continue to enhance their learning about the language and the culture of the dozens of francophone nations on six continents.

FRENCH III

GRADE: 9-12 CREDITS: 10 COLLEGE RECOMMENDED? Yes

PREREQUISITES: Completion of French II with a C or better or consent of the instructor

The storytelling approach to learning French will continue in the third year as well, with a little more practice on the past tense as well as more advanced grammatical structures such as the subjunctive mood, the future, and conditional tense. In addition, however, students will occasionally look at grammatical structures from a traditional point of view. Students will be expected to speak in French as much as possible, while having short conversations with partners and presenting additional information on culture.

 

IB FRENCH

GRADE: 11-12 CREDITS: 10 COLLEGE RECOMMENDED? Yes

PREREQUISITES: Completion of French II with a B or better or consent of instructor

During the two years of the International Baccalaureate Program, students will complete their inventory of advanced grammatical structure and verb tenses. At the same time, they will sharpen their speaking and writing skills in preparation for the oral and written examinations of the IB. Students will extend their knowledge of the literature, film, music, current events, and culture of the francophone world. Special emphasis will be placed on topics which are important to adolescents, such as technology, entertainment, social issues and the environment.