Introduction

Welcome to French Online!
Bienvenue au cours "Le Français en ligne!"

| Why study French? | How French Online works | How to study |

Why study French? Back to top
French is a world language, spoken on every continent except Australia. On the World Wide Web, French-language sites are outnumbered only by English ones. This diversity means that French is an excellent window on the world and also a language you can use almost anywhere you go. It is a language long associated with the arts and with intellectual excellence, but today it's also a language of technology, as France has taken the lead in fields like aerospace and telecommunications. Perhaps the best reason to study French is one it shares with other languages: it gives you a chance to see the world with other eyes, to communicate with many who would otherwise be mute to you, to hear other people's stories and expand your own horizons. Learning another language allows you to 'think outside the box', when the box is your native tongue and, in the case of English, a smotheringly dominant world view. If you commit to learning another language and to understanding the uniqueness of other cultures, you will never be the same.
How French Online works Back to top
French Online is built almost entirely in Web pages, so the interface is the browser you're probably used to. That is, you click on buttons, icons and links to move from one page or section to another, hear sounds, watch video clips and do exercises. These tips will help you spend more time learning French and less time figuring out how the program works:

It's color coded.
Red words link to sound files. When you click on a red word, you'll hear it pronounced by a native French speaker.
Green words link to sounds and translations. When you roll the mouse over a green word, its definition appears at the bottom of the screen. When you click on it, you'll hear the word pronounced by a native speaker.
Blue words take you to other pages (exercise pages, for example).

It's divided into modules, and each module is divided into sections.
Each module is organized around one main theme and covers both cultural and linguistic knowledge. For example, Module 1 is all about Paris. You'll learn words and expressions you can use during your visit to Paris and later to other areas, as well as lots of cultural information about Paris and its history.

Every module has required sections and one supplementary section.
The supplementary section is called "Suppléments," and it has its own icon at the top right of the module's main page. All the other icons are required sections. If you get through the required sections faster than expected, you can explore "Suppléments." It has all kinds of interesting tidbits related to the main theme of the module.

How to study Back to top
French Online is designed to take you about the same amount of time each week as would a regular classroom class, with one huge difference: you can schedule it to fit your needs. Learning that would normally take place in a classroom from 10 to 11:30 AM can happen in your dorm at four in the morning, if that's the best time for you. There are, however, required activities each week which you must complete, including 1) the weekly class meeting, 2) on a rotating basis a 20-minute meeting with a language assistant , the instructor or with a classmate at the Table française (date and time will be given in class), and 3) chat sessions at a mutually convenient time.

The work you're required to do is listed below. There is also a work plan for each module which contains the instructor's suggestions for how to progress through the module. If you choose not to follow the recommended plan, you should still make sure to set aside about 8 hours each week for this class. Spreading the hours out, rather than doing all the work in one or two huge chunks, will help you learn better (it's also less stressful for you!)

At all times, students are expected to abide by the University policy on academic integrity. Cheating and or plagiarism will not be tolerated. Please refamiliarize yourself with the policy . In case of doubt, consult with your instructor.

Materials Fee: A $50 Materials fee is required from all enrolled students to help maintain and upgrade the on-line materials. It is to be paid by check or money order to the Department of Modern languages (BH160--see Sue Connelly).

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		Welcome to French Online! Bienvenue au cours "Le Français en ligne!"
		\| Why study French? \| How French Online works \| How to study \|
		Why study French? Back to top French is a world language, spoken on every continent except Australia. On the World Wide Web, French-language sites are outnumbered only by English ones. This diversity means that French is an excellent window on the world and also a language you can use almost anywhere you go. It is a language long associated with the arts and with intellectual excellence, but today it's also a language of technology, as France has taken the lead in fields like aerospace and telecommunications. Perhaps the best reason to study French is one it shares with other languages: it gives you a chance to see the world with other eyes, to communicate with many who would otherwise be mute to you, to hear other people's stories and expand your own horizons. Learning another language allows you to 'think outside the box', when the box is your native tongue and, in the case of English, a smotheringly dominant world view. If you commit to learning another language and to understanding the uniqueness of other cultures, you will never be the same. How French Online works Back to top French Online is built almost entirely in Web pages, so the interface is the browser you're probably used to. That is, you click on buttons, icons and links to move from one page or section to another, hear sounds, watch video clips and do exercises. These tips will help you spend more time learning French and less time figuring out how the program works: It's color coded. Red words link to sound files. When you click on a red word, you'll hear it pronounced by a native French speaker. Green words link to sounds and translations. When you roll the mouse over a green word, its definition appears at the bottom of the screen. When you click on it, you'll hear the word pronounced by a native speaker. Blue words take you to other pages (exercise pages, for example). It's divided into modules, and each module is divided into sections. Each module is organized around one main theme and covers both cultural and linguistic knowledge. For example, Module 1 is all about Paris. You'll learn words and expressions you can use during your visit to Paris and later to other areas, as well as lots of cultural information about Paris and its history. Every module has required sections and one supplementary section. The supplementary section is called "Suppléments," and it has its own icon at the top right of the module's main page. All the other icons are required sections. If you get through the required sections faster than expected, you can explore "Suppléments." It has all kinds of interesting tidbits related to the main theme of the module. How to study Back to top French Online is designed to take you about the same amount of time each week as would a regular classroom class, with one huge difference: you can schedule it to fit your needs. Learning that would normally take place in a classroom from 10 to 11:30 AM can happen in your dorm at four in the morning, if that's the best time for you. There are, however, required activities each week which you must complete, including 1) the weekly class meeting, 2) on a rotating basis a 20-minute meeting with a language assistant , the instructor or with a classmate at the Table française (date and time will be given in class), and 3) chat sessions at a mutually convenient time. The work you're required to do is listed below. There is also a work plan for each module which contains the instructor's suggestions for how to progress through the module. If you choose not to follow the recommended plan, you should still make sure to set aside about 8 hours each week for this class. Spreading the hours out, rather than doing all the work in one or two huge chunks, will help you learn better (it's also less stressful for you!) At all times, students are expected to abide by the University policy on academic integrity. Cheating and or plagiarism will not be tolerated. Please refamiliarize yourself with the policy . In case of doubt, consult with your instructor. Materials Fee: A $50 Materials fee is required from all enrolled students to help maintain and upgrade the on-line materials. It is to be paid by check or money order to the Department of Modern languages (BH160--see Sue Connelly). Back to top