Prerequisite
The prerequisite for French 507 is completion of French 506, taken at the University of Texas at Austin, with a grade of C or better. Students who took French in high school, French 506 at another college, or at The University of Texas at Austin prior to spring 2010 are required to take a placement exam. A schedule of administration dates for the placement exam may be obtained from the Division of Instructional Innovation and Assessment, 2616 Wichita, 471-3032, or at www.utexas.edu/academic/mec/cbe/testperiod.html.
Course and Objectives
French 507 is a four skills language course in which you will expand the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing as you explore the French language and culture with Français interactif, the first year French program developed at the University of Texas. Completion of French 507 with a C or better qualifies you to enroll in a second-year French course (FR 612).
Required Materials
• FR 507 text , Français interactif Part II available at qoop.com. Go to the textbook page of the new Français interactif site for a direct link to qoop : http://www.laits.utexas.edu/fi/textbook
Please make sure that you order Part II of the textbook. The cost is $19.05 in black and white or $44.41 in color. Don't worry that you do not have the textbook on the first day of class, as we will be doing review exercises (distributed through Blackboard) for the first week.
• First Year French website: Francais interactif (http://www.laits.utexas.edu/fi/) includes
• videos (vocabulary, interviews and culture) downloadable mp4 files or podcasts.
• recorded vocabulary lists and phonetic examples: downloadable mp3 audio files or podcasts.
• links into Tex’s French Grammar (http://www.laits.utexas.edu/tex): grammar explanations, audio files in mp3 format or podcasts, interactive exercises, a verb conjugation reference, and a verb tutor.
Recommended
• Compact Oxford Hachette French/English Dictionary ISBN 0-19-864535X (at the Coop), which is required for upper division French classes. Word Reference.com is also an excellent online dictionary.
Grading
Exams (five @ 100 points): 50% = 500 points
Preparation & Participation: 20% = 200 points
Speaking Exams (2 @ 50 points): 10% = 100 points
Listening Comprehension exam: 05% = 050 points
Final Exam (written; 2 hours): 15% = 150 points
100% =1000 points
Preparation/Participation
Daily preparation and persistent, active participation in class are essential to your success in learning French. Your teacher will make specific assignments for each day.
The preparation/participation grade includes your performance on activities in the classroom and occasional quizzes. Most daily homework and participation grades will be valued at 10 points each. No late homework will be accepted. If you are not in class to get the assignment(s) due the next day, it is your responsibility to contact your instructor or another student in the class to get the assignment.
Students are expected to assist in maintaining a classroom environment that is conducive to learning. In order to assure that all students have the opportunity to gain from time spent in class, unless otherwise approved by the instructor, students are prohibited from engaging in any form of distraction. Inappropriate behavior (cellular phones, eating or drinking, tardiness, making offensive remarks, sleeping, overt inattentiveness, etc.) shall result, minimaly, in a request to leave class.
Computer Lab : MEZ 2.104
You will be required to do daily homework using the Français interactif website.
Access to computers for individual study is available in the Liberal Arts ITS media lab in MEZ 2.104. Liberal Arts ITS media lab operating hours:
M-Th 8 a.m.- 7:45 p.m., F 8 a.m.- 4:45 p.m., Sunday 3 p.m.- 6:45 p.m.
Attendance
Regular attendance is absolutely necessary for success in French 507. You are allowed a total of five absences without penalty during the semester. All absences count. In addition to lowered preparation/participation grades, a penalty of 10 pts (or 1% of your final course grade/ up to 10%) will be deducted for each absence after 5 in the semester.
Exams
The five exams will contain a variety of listening, reading, and writing activities. Each exam covers one chapter, lasts 50 minutes and is valued at 100 points. There are also two five-minute speaking exams. Note carefully the dates of these exams, as there are no make-ups.
The final exam will be Thursday, Dec 9 from 7 p.m. -10 p.m. contingent upon Registrar Scheduling. A makeup will be given on Friday, Dec 10 from 7-10 p.m. for students with verified schedule conflicts. Please notify your instructor to obtain course supervisor's permission.
Course supervision
If you have any questions about French 507, please consult your instructor or the course supervisor, Karen Kelton, HRH 2.106A (471-5511, kkelton@mail.utexas.edu).
The Department of French & Italian offers many services to beginning students, including free tutoring in the French Department. Your instructor will announce tutorial center hours during the second week of classes. You will also be invited to films and activities sponsored by the French Department. Your instructor will announce these and other events throughout the semester. Bienvenue! We hope you will enjoy learning French.
The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students, Services for Students with Disabilities, 471-6259, http://www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/ssd/