French I Advanced

 

Standard 1.2, 1.3 Communication: Communicate in languages other than English

Standard 2.1 Cultures: Gain knowledge and understanding of other cultures

Standard 3.1, 3.2 Connections: Connect with other disciplines and acquire information

Standard 4.1, 4.2 Comparisons: Develop insight into own language & culture

 

 

Estimated Time Range:

August to June

 

ENDURING UNDERSTANDINGS

 

The student will understand that:

1.

There are linguistic and extra-linguistic distinctions in formal and informal forms of address in French

2.

Different currencies and customs govern consumers’ transaction in French speaking countries.

3.

Grammatical gender as well as  personal gender characterize describing people,places,  and things in French

4.

Differences and similarities exist between societal aspects of daily living in the U.S. and those in the French-speaking world (ie.shopping, schools, sports)

5.

It takes time for social change to bring about linguistic change

6.

Verb conjugation in French is elaborate

7.

Some verb tenses involve the use of auxiliary verbs

8.

Within a verb conjugation several forms may sound the same

9.

Travel in Europe is rapidly evolving because of technological, historical and social events.

10.

Meaning is expressed through context

11

French is not a phonetic language

12

Language allows for both self-expression and communication

13

Conventions of speaking and listening are different from reading and writing

 

 

SAMPLE ASSESSMENTS

Tests/quizzes

Compositions

Dictation

Q & A sessions

Conversations

 

 

 

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

1.

Why is it important for a non-native speaker of French to know cultural customs for interpersonal interactions in a French speaking place?

2.

How would your life change if you were an exchange student to a French-speaking country?

3.

How do French contemporary fashion and eating habits show both the influence of French tradition and the American style of mass production?

4.

Why is mass transportation so successful in Europe?

5.

How does expression of dates and counting numbers reflect cultural values?

6. 

In what ways is French more precise than English, in what ways is it more ambiguous?

7.

What relationships exist between grammatical gender and  personal gender in French?

8.

What are grammatical gender and number, as concepts?

9.

What does it mean to refer to something as an idiomatic expression?

10.

What does it mean to use circumlocution when speaking French?

 

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

 

The student will be able to:

1.

greet and say goodbye to one another (vocabulary)

2.

ask who someone is and identify a person (interrogative pronouns, verb “to be”, vocabulary)

3.

ask where something is person (interrogative pronouns, verb “to be” in the present tense, vocabulary)

4.

name and describe the location of people, places and objects (prepositions, vocabulary)

5.

ask how much something costs (numbers, interrogative pronoun)

6.

understand numbers from 1 to 60 (numbers)

7.

Use the irregular verb “to have” in the present tense

7.

identify and use some common expressions of politeness (vocabulary)

8.

order food and drink at a café (vocabulary, interrogative expressions and commands)

9.

describe people, places & things (regular & irregular adjectives)

10.

express differences between French and American schools (reading, realia)

11.

identify and discuss school subjects (vocabulary)

12.

use the French system (ie. calendar, schedules) for telling time (vocabulary, realia)

13.

use regular, common “-er” verbs in the present tense

14.

qualify and quantify people, places and things (interrogative, demonstrative adjectives, possessive adjectives, definite/indefinite articles, partitive articles)

15.

express affirmatively and negatively possessions, preferences and activities (negation, vocabulary, vouloir, pouvoir)

16.

tell a story related to family and home environment (vocabulary)

17.

express what people are going to do (immediate future tense)

18

compare U.S. and French habits related to food (vocabulary, readings, realia)

19.

Use regular, common “ir” and “-re” verbs

20.

Demonstrate idiomatic expressions with “faire”, “avoir” (vocabulary)

21.

Assume the role of a passenger traveling by air, rail and subway in a French-speaking country. (vocabulary, realia)

22.

Use regular, common “-ir” verbs

23.

Use irregular verbs (sortir, partir, dormir, servir)

 

 

SUGGESTED RESOURCES

Schmitt/Lutz Bienvenue, Glencoe, Macmillan/McGraw-Hill, ’98,  and ancillary materials(video, transparencies, etc)  ISBN 0-02-636678-9

French and Quebecois realia

French board games

 

SUGGESTED CONNECTIONS

Health and/or medical careers

Political science careers

Foreign service careers

Teaching careers

Tourism/travel related careers

International business/diplomacy careers

Communications careers(international postal/telephone/translator/interpreter)

Service careers(international au pair/customer service/food service)

Careers in film, theater, television, and the arts

Bilingual municipal services