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Study Guidelines

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Study Guidelines for French 1201

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Success in FREN 1201 depends primarily on how you organize your time and structure your activities.  Students who do well have worked out effective study procedures and habits.  Students who do not do well usually fail to do something important.  The goal in FREN 1201 is to learn the basics of French by practicing the skills of listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing.  Therefore, there are a lot of different learning activities, including practicing pronunciation, listening for comprehension, studying vocabulary and grammar, reading for information, and basic writing for communication. The following suggestions will help you focus on those procedures that have proved to be effective in FREN 1201:

  • 1. You will need to spend a minimum of two hours preparing for each hour in class (see UNC Charlotte Catalog).  It’s not a good idea to do all the work in one sitting.  Break up the two hours into shorter sessions so you can focus and retain what you study.  Studies have shown that you retain the most material by studying in 30-minute sessions spread out throughout the day and right before going to sleep.  It may take you longer than two hours to learn the material.  Your job is to spend the amount of time it takes you to learn the material.
  • 2. Attend all classes and arrive on time (3 lates will count as 1 absence in calculating your class grade).  While you are in class, be ready to work.  If you have any questions or problems, contact your instructor right away.  If you wait until just before tests or other deadlines, it will be too late.
  • 3. Begin the study of each lesson in Voilà by previewing it to see what is coming.  Read the “En bref” chapter summary on the first page of each chapter, then leaf through the chapter.  Check the syllabus for assignments (they are due by class-time on the day under which they appear on the syllabus) and the class web page for pertinent material.  All underlined items on the syllabus are links to various class materials.  Always print out and bring to class a copy of the handout(s) for each chapter.  Links to these are on the syllabus as well as on the “Assignments” page of the class web site (http://pages.charlotte.edu/katherine-stephenson/courses/elementary-french-i/assignments/ ) under “In-Class Materials” or “Assignments.”  Make sure you have all the materials you will need for the chapter
  • 4. When studying vocabulary, first read over the items in the Vocabulaire section of the chapter in Voilà and look up the meanings of any words you don’t know in the vocabulary list at the end of the chapter. The Voilà ebook has not only a list of the Basic Vocabulary and Supplementary Vocabulary but also has online flashcards, audio links to the pronunciation of all the words in the lists and practice exercises to help you learn both lists, accessed by clicking on the icons at the top right of the page.  If you put a mark by each item as you learn it in the vocabulary list (either in the hardback text or on the Vocabulary sheet I provide a link to on the syllabus), by the time you’ve finished the entire chapter you can see if you have marked all the items in the list and have a chance to learn those you missed.  Also check to see if there is a link to any audio files for that chapter on the on-line syllabus.  Active-learning exercises are essential for truly learning a language.  Saying the vocabulary out loud is a particularly effective way to learn it.  You should also write out all the vocabulary on a sheet of paper, with the French on one side of the page and the English meaning on the other, so that you can cover either side to drill yourself on the material.  This sheet can be carried around with you to consult whenever you have a few free minutes.
    Then look at the exercises in the ebook following the Vocabulaire section, “Langue et Culture,” “Mots et usages,” “Mise en pratique,” etc., and do the activities with the icon containing an A and the image of a computer mouse and listen to any sections with the icon of a speaker (you do not, however, have to record yourself whenever that is indicated, just supply answers and/or repeat words or phrases and click “Submit”).  These exercises are also included in eSAM (iLrn Student Activities Manual) on the Assignment Calendar on the right frame of the ebook (at the top of this page make sure that “View assigned activities only” is not checked).  Some exercises will be self-correcting, a few won’t, but the point will be to help you learn the vocabulary and its usage through practicing in multiple ways.  If you’ve made any mistakes, go back to the text and study that particular material again.  These completed exercises must be submitted on the days indicated on the syllabus to get extra credit for doing them.  This is the best way to learn the language and allows you to get the most out of the class period, where you are expected to have prepared and done the initial learning of the assigned vocabulary and grammar. Once you submit an answer, it’s saved on the iLrn server and I have access to your work—I see your answers, grades, the date and time you worked on each, etc.  While eSAM (iLrn Student Activities Manual) supplies you with grades for your work, I only count that you did the exercises when they were due, before class, for extra credit.  So if you do all the ILrn exercises on time, your ILrn grade is 100.  If you don’t do them by the assigned date, you should complete them at some point during the chapter, or you’ll get a zero for that chapter’s eSAM exercises.  Doing homework is an easy way to bring up your grade. For further practice, do any other vocabulary exercises included on the Assignment Calendar on the right frame of the ebook. Some of these exercises are always included in the Software/Internet Activities due at the end of each chapter.
  • 5. In class, listen and respond to the vocabulary drills.  These will have you use the vocabulary in a meaningful context, which also helps retention, and help you practice pronunciation.  Then, you will hear questions with the vocabulary in context so you can learn to use it in different situations. Then participate in the review activities and the oral exercises.  This is your best opportunity for practicing speaking French.  Do not be afraid of making mistakes.  The more you speak, the more you will learn.  Also, in class ask any questions you have about any of the material.
  • 6. Before the second class on vocabulary, review the vocabulary and listen to the audio links again to practice your pronunciation.  In class, participate in the review activities and the oral exercises.  This is your best opportunity for practicing speaking French.  Do not be afraid of making mistakes.  The more you speak, the more you will learn.  Also, in class ask any questions you have about any of the material.
  • 7. After class, once again review what you’ve studied so far in the lesson. The grammar of the lesson is presented in the “Structure” sections in Voilà.  Normally, there are 3 to 4 items to be learned.  To study grammar effectively, you should read through each item and take notes.  Summarize the material, putting it into a chart or schema if possible, as these visually interesting forms are easier to retain than prose.  These notes are also the best way to study for quizzes or tests and will form an effective review of the course material at any point during the semester.  Do the appropriate oral and written exercises with the icon containing an A and the image of a computer mouse and the icon of a speaker.  Do any other Structure exercises on the eSAM Assignment Calendar.  Again, if you have any mistakes, go back to the text and pick up what you missed the first time through.  Repeat #7 for each day spent on grammar.
  • 8. In class, we will usually do all the “Mise en pratique” exercises.  If you are worried about being able to respond in class, prepare these ahead of time.  This is followed by a variety of exercises—drills, questions, exercises or group work—to help you become familiar with the new item and be able to use it in speaking and writing.  Active participation means responding to every drill, question and exercise, either orally, if you are called upon, or in your head, if someone else is called upon.  You are not expected to understand every single word the professor or your classmates say, but you should be able to follow along.  Again, the more you speak, the more you will learn.
  • 9. By this time you know how well you’re doing.  If you are having problems, now is the time to consult with the instructor to try and resolve them.  Use email or make an appointment to meet during office hours.  If you find you need additional help, the University Center for Academic Excellence (330 Fretwell http://ucae.uncc.edu/) provides free tutorials on French grammar. Students can attend drop-in tutoring as often as they like, there are no restrictions to attending. No appointment required. See more at: https://ucae.uncc.edu/programs/tutorial-services/drop-tutoring#sthash.0RrkSyvv.dpuf . The schedule for French tutoring is at https://ucae.uncc.edu/programs/tutorial-services/drop-tutoring#Foreign Languages . You can call Tutorial Services in 318K Fretwell at 704.687.7845 or contact them online through their website at http://ucae.uncc.edu/tutorial-services.  See also their FAQ at http://ucae.uncc.edu/tutorial-services/faqs.  If there is tutoring in the LRC, the schedule is on its website at https://lrc.uncc.edu/tutoring-services.  There are also many exercises you can do using the computer software in the Language Resource Center.  These may be done before and/or after class.
  • 10. Review the lesson for the last class period(s) on a chapter.  There are numerous review exercises due on this day, so start working on them early and spread them out over several days.  Listen to the sample dialogue “Le français parlé” and learn the differences between written and spoken French discussed in the paragraph/s under the dialogue.  Prepare the “Echanges” or whatever section is indicated for the “Reading Guide” on the syllabus (whichever one is indicated on the syllabus), then do the Canvas Reading Guide exercises on it, and prepare the “Note de prononciation” section.  Finish the remaining written and oral exercises on the Assignment Calendar (whether they’ve been assigned or not) and those accessed by clicking on the Practice button on the right frame of the iLrn Student Activity Manual.  For example, use the self-tests (pre- and post-tests, accessed on the right frame of the iLrn Student Activity Manual) and the Web Quiz (accessed by clicking on Practice on the right frame of the iLrn Student Activity Manual) to review the entire chapter.  You will submit the quiz to the professor, but the grade will not be counted.  (Sometimes the Heinle & Heinle server gets overloaded, most often late in the day, so if your quiz doesn’t seem to submit, don’t keep pressing the submit button, because it might have gone through.  You can either print out the test and hand it in to me in class, or email me to see if I got it.  If I haven’t received it, then retake it, preferably early in the day, and send it again.)  Finally, prepare the composition on the ILrn Student Activities Manual (indicated on the syllabus), the section at the end of the Activités Ecrites called “Et pour finir.”  Complete all items in this section, making use of all your class materials, but not a dictionary, as you are only supposed to use vocabulary from the book in the composition.  Its purpose is to help you learn the vocabulary and grammar we are studying.  If you’ve had previous French, don’t use anything we haven’t covered in the course, for if you do, you will undoubtedly make mistakes and bring your grand down.  Furthermore, never use any English in your composition, or you’ll lose 5 points for each English word used. In class, you will be given a copy of the composition description and you will write what you can remember of the composition you have prepared, without using any of your materials.  This will provide a good representation of what you have learned in the chapter.  In class be sure to ask any questions you have on the chapter.
  • 11. A test is scheduled for each chapter.  The best way to review the material is not by reading in the text, but by reviewing the vocabulary list you have written out and the notes you took on the grammar,reviewing the corrected eSAM ILrn Student Activities Manual exercises, paying special attention to any mistakes you make, reviewing other homework and taking the sample test, either at home or in the LRC (see “Taking Quizzes in Canvas” for guidelines on taking regular and sample tests in Canvas).  You may take the sample test on each chapter as many times as you want, and the grade you get on it will not count.  (Be sure to ignore these grades, as Canvas cannot correct everything and these grades may well be very low.  On regular tests, I correct what Canvas cannot and I give you credit for things Canvas doesn’t.)
    Regular tests are taken in the LRC, at any time during the week allowed for taking tests (see syllabus) and during regular LRC hours (see LRC web site for posted hours of operation; also check the LRC Calendar on the LRC web site to see when classes are scheduled in the LRC so you can go at a time when there are no classes scheduled in the facilities, in case the noise level is more than you might be comfortable with).  You shouldn’t have any questions about the test if you take the Sample Test first, which shows you exactly how everything will be tested.
    Be sure to use Mozilla Firefox or Internet Explorer to take the test, as Google Chrome doesn’t function correctly for these tests.  To access accented characters, type in “character map” in the browser search box, which will provide a small box with all accented characters from which you can paste and copy the ones you need, and the box can be minimized and maximized as needed.
    While taking your test you may not talk to anyone, have any books or papers on the desk, or use any electronic devices, including phones.  LRC staff and cameras proctor testing, and I have access to everything students do while in Canvas.  It is each student’s responsibility to access the chapter test only in the LRC when taking it.  Anyone who accesses the chapter test before then and outside the LRC will receive a “0” for the test, WITHOUT EXCEPTION.  So outside of your LRC testing time be careful to click on the sample test only, which is clearly marked (e.g., Ch. 1 Sample Test), and not to accidentally click on the chapter test (e.g., Ch. 1 LRC Test).  Also, you may take the test in the LRC only once, even though, when you click on the test, the test title page will indicate “Attempts allowed: 3.”  I allow for more than one attempt in case something happens to the computer or browser while you’re taking a test in the LRC and the LRC assistant has to move you to another computer.  When that happens and you get back into the test, Canvas counts that as a second attempt, even though you haven’t clicked on submit for that test.  So the multiple attempts are only for when you have computer problems, and you must have the LRC assistant indicate this on the Test Verification Sheet. No make-up quizzes or tests are given.  If you have an excused absence for the entire week during which a test is available, I will simply not count that particular grade (e.g., you will have 7 test grades instead of 8) and the remaining grades will count more.  Anyone who doesn’t take the test during the assigned time and who doesn’t have an excused absence for the week will receive a “0” for that test.  Because you have a week to take the test, you must make sure you take it during that time.  I suggest you don’t wait until the last day possible to take the test, in case you get sick or something comes up to prevent you making it to the LRC, because I will not excuse students from a test when they wait until the last day to take it.
    You can expect the following on each test: (1) a series of recordings with questions/exercises to check your listening comprehension; (2) a section on the vocabulary and grammar of the chapter that includes a variety of test formats: question/answer, multiple-choice, blank-fill-in, brief composition, etc.; (3) a reading section followed by exercises and questions to assess your understanding of the passage.You will receive test results after everyone has taken the test in the LRC and I have had time to grade the tests.  To access test results once I’ve finished grading all the tests, go to the “Grades” link on the left frame of the course Canvas page.  This will give you a list of all your grades and you can click on the test you want to see and look at its answer key.  It is very important that you use this opportunity to learn whatever it is that you made mistakes on.  Try to determine why you made specific mistakes and adjust your study of the next chapter(s) accordingly.  Consult the instructor for help with any material you still don’t have down and suggestions on studying. There will be a comprehensive written final exam during exam week.
  • 12. This cycle is repeated until the end of the course.  However, throughout the semester you will be participating in other activities; for example, those related to the technology aspects of the course—exercises on the Internet, on computer software, and on film(s).  Check the syllabus for when work is to be completed or when practice is scheduled.