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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.
Green words link to translations. When you roll the mouse over a green word, its definition appears at the bottom of the screen. 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 the weekly class meeting, a 20-minute meeting with a language assistant or the instructor, and an evening chat session 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 [ http://gollum.mac.cc.cmu.edu/univ_policy/documents/Cheating.html]. In case of doubt, consult with your instructor.
Grading Guide Back to top
Grades will be continually posted and individually viewable on the WebCT Course Center.
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Category
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Ea
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Total
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Attendance
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50
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Participation
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40
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Oral interview
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100 |
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Writing
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150
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Preliminary Module test
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50
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| Module tests (4@100pts ea) |
100 |
400 |
| Oral tests (2@20pts ea) |
20 |
40 |
| Final exam |
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170 |
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| Total |
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1000 |
- Module tests Module tests occur at the end of each module and are taken either in the MLRC during class time or online at a mutually convenient time. Each test should last 45-50 minutes..
- Oral Tests will be taken in pairs with the instructor. Schedules will be posted on the WebCT Calendar.
- The Final Exam will be taken during the regular exam period in the MLRC, and will include a variety of components covering all the work of the class. It will last about 3 hours.
- Attendance at all meetings (as a class and as an individual) is required.. One unexcused absence is permitted. Two absences result in a loss of 25 points, three in a loss of 50 points. At the fourth absence the student will be asked to withdraw.
- Writing Writing is done in French only. It includes a variety of exercises: essays, reading comprehension, letter writing. At all times, precision of both vocabulary and grammar is desirable. Consult the work plan for details.
- Participation includes a variety of activities. There are Meetings with the instructor, a language assistant, and either a group of classmates or at the French table on a rotating basis, with one meeting each week. Meeting times and places will be posted on the WebCT Calendar. There will be a moderated Chat session at a mutually agreed upon evening hour; students are expected to participate at least 10 times. Students are required to post a message on the B-Board once a week. This category includes the all-important communicative activities which will allow you to practice what you are learning.
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 Vera Lampley).
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