Thank you for taking my French class! Here are a few things you need to know:

A – Supplies

French I, II, III and Intro to French– students must bring to class daily:

• iPad to be able to read the online French eBook
• Paperback French workbook (provided by the teacher and yours to keep)
• Folder – to protect your workbook and store additional papers
• Notebook used for class work and homework – you are highly encouraged to take notes in class.

French IV – students must bring to class daily:

• French text book (Manuel de Classe) and French workbook (Manuel de Préparation)
• A notebook used for class work and homework.

B – Classes and assignments

1 – Classes

• Class starts with a French prayer.
• French I, II, III and Intro to French classes are taught based on the textbook Bien Dit! and associated workbook.
• French IV class is taught based on the textbook Quant à moi and associated workbook. (Workbook provided by the teacher and yours to keep)
• At all levels, many activities encourage speaking. Listening comprehension activities are also included as part of the class work so that students get used to the spoken language. I encourage everyone to participate, and all students are regularly called on in order to practice their oral skills.

2 – Participation and pronunciation – 15% of quarter’s grade

• Every student is expected to participate and answer to the best of his/her ability when called on. French pronunciation is evaluated during everyday answers ans reading.
• A grade is given at the end of each quarter for effort of participation and accuracy of pronunciation.

3 – Written homework – 15% of quarter’s grade

• Written homework is given every day and is generally from the workbook. Regardless of homework assigned, students are expected to review their notes from the current chapter regularly.
• Daily homework is graded on completeness, not correctness. We go over homework in class so that students can correct their mistakes if needed.
• Assignments can be checked on this website and also on GradeBook.

4 – Quizzes and tests – Respectively 20% and 30% of quarter’s grade

• Either a test or a quiz is given every week. I generally do not give pop quizzes but students are expected to review their notes from the previous class – just in case.
• A quiz can be either a written or a listening comprehension quiz. A quiz is shorter than a test and is worth 20 to 30 points. A quiz does NOT take the whole period. After a quiz, teaching resumes.
• A test takes the whole period and is worth 50 points or more. Tests cover a larger knowledge area than quizzes (usually a whole chapter) and are weighted more in the overall grade calculation. Tests usually have a listening and a written part.
• In French I, the Lord’s prayer has to be known by heart and recited individually for a pronunciation grade that counts as a test grade for the first semester.

5 – Project – 20% of quarter’s grade

• The students are given one project per quarter.
• The project is related to a topic studied during the quarter and is graded on research and presentation: gathering information, typing facts in an organized manner, adding illustrations, organizing the work on construction paper and presenting it orally to the class.

C – Making up assignments

1 – If I miss a day of school, how do I know my assignments for the next day?

For graded assignments such as homework and exams, look on Powerschool where all assignments for the week are posted.
For missed class work, look on this site under your French level to see what is being covered during the week.

2 – If I miss an exam, how and when do I make it up?

If you miss the day of the exam and only that day, you and I will coordinate so that you make up the exam as soon as possible. You cannot make up an exam during YOUR own French class. During lunch or one of your study halls, you may come to the French classroom and take the exam. If I am not available at the time you can take your exam, I will make arrangements with another teacher or the office. If there is extra credit on the exam, you will not be entitled to it if you take the exam later than the assigned day for the class.

If you miss the review day just before an exam, you are still expected to take the exam on the day it is scheduled.

3 – What happens if I forget my homework?

Homework is very important to review the material taught in class or to prepare for an upcoming class. I check that the homework is DONE, not necessarily correct. a) We review homework right away in class. So… if you didn’t do your homework, you get a zero. If you follow the homework review in class and show it to me the next class, you get half of the credit. b) If you are absent the day we review homework, you temporarily get a zero until you can show it to me during your next French class.
Note that I will not ask you again for the homework, you will have to come to me and show me your work.