Français I (Period 3AC)

French 1 Honors Course Description

This is a beginner course in the French language.  Throughout this course, we will work on developing language proficiency around three modes of communicative competence reflecting real-life communication.  The three modes of communication, which align with the course standards, are interpersonal communication, or two-way interaction with someone else; interpretive communication, the ability to understand and interpret a spoken or written message or text (listening or reading); and presentational communication, the ability to present information in either a written or oral format.  

 To achieve this goal, students will be introduced to basic French vocabulary and expressions, structures and grammar, the differences between formal and informal French, and the geography and cultures of the French-speaking world. Topics covered include: greetings, introductions, numbers, alphabet, age, days & the date, classroom objects, classroom requests & commands, likes & dislikes, agreeing & disagreeing, interests & activities, describing people (personality & physical descriptions), giving & asking for opinions, family & pets, careers, telling time, weather & seasons, making & accepting/refusing invitations & suggestions, making plans, and asking & answering questions.  We will also explore French music, French holidays and festivals, and French film.

 Students in this course engage in a cultural exchange with a classroom in Paris, France.  Each student gets paired with a French pen pal!  We exchange letters and photos with each other, teach our French friends about life in the United States, and learn about life in France.