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MODERN LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT - FRENCH
Vouloir c’est pouvoir!
MISSION
The goals of the French Department are for all students to learn French in a meaningful context; reach a high level of fluency; develop a lifelong love of Canada’s other official language; and discover the richness and diversity of the francophone world.
OVERVIEW
French courses offered in the Senior School are conducted entirely in French. Our ability to do so is due to the AIM (Accelerated Integrated Method) used in the Junior school, which allows students to rapidly develop a very good degree of fluency. French courses in the Senior school meet, and exceed, the BC Ministry of Education Curriculum Guide, at all levels. The Ministry’s curriculum is enriched and accelerated wherever possible. In addition to using a variety of commercial programs to teach the basic curriculum, teaching literature through novels and film forms an integral part of our French language program. Through the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing, students develop their abilities in comprehension and production. Particular attention in all grades is paid to vocabulary acquisition, reading and listening comprehension, practice in communicating orally, and building writing skills. Students are encouraged and expected to participate orally on a regular basis.
PLACEMENT
Students in Grade 8, making the transition from the AIM of the Junior school to the more eclectic approach used in the Senior school, are not grouped by ability. Starting in grade 9, students are grouped into Regular or Advanced classes, by their demonstrated readiness and overall suitability for the demands of the courses. Both groupings cover the same basic content and may read one novel in common. Advanced classes differ in that they move at a quicker pace, and study is enriched through the reading of additional novels, with its accompanying, in-depth exploration of culture and language.
Course placement is determined by the French Department, in consultation with students, in the spring for the following school year; however, it is not fixed. Occasionally, students move between program groupings as they progress through the senior school. Changes may be made during the school year with teacher recommendation, in order to provide a best-fit learning situation for each girl.
Students new to York House will be assessed, either orally, or in writing, or both, by the Department Head, before being placed in the appropriate class. Grade 8 students with limited previous French instruction will be placed in a beginners’ class for some or all of their first year. Students with very strong skills may be accelerated, taking French one grade above their grade level.
TRAVEL AND EXCURSION OPPORTUNITIES
There is usually a trip to Paris planned for Grade 8 students during Spring Break. There may also be a trip to Quebec, including a visit to a francophone school, for Grade 10. The purpose of these trips is to immerse students in the French language, giving them the opportunity to use their French in real and meaningful situations, as well as to explore and experience francophone culture.
French 8 Beginners
Prerequisite: Limited exposure to French
Students who are new to York House, and who have had limited exposure to the French language, will be placed in a beginners’ class, where an eclectic approach, possibly including the AIM (Accelerated Integrated Method), is used to rapidly develop a very good degree of fluency. In addition, the teacher will introduce students to the language through units of reading and grammar. Depending on skills, abilities and the timetable, students may move from French 8 Beginners to French 8 before the end of their Grade 8 school year.
French 8
Prerequisite: French 7
This course is designed to build on the foundation of listening, speaking, reading and writing skills of students coming from the AIM (Accelerated Integrated Method) of the Junior school. Through a theme-based program, On y va! 2, which serves as the base text, students explore the themes of art, legends, travel and transportation, oceans, and our community. In French 8 emphasis is placed on vocabulary expansion, reading comprehension and the ability to write well-written sentences and paragraphs. The reading of one novel enriches students’ learning.
French 9
Prerequisite: French 8 or French 8 Advanced
This course is designed to continue building comprehension and communication skills in the four areas of language learning, with particular emphasis on writing well-written paragraphs. The program, Discovering French, provides a wide variety of individual and group activities in the four language areas, aimed at furthering students’ abilities. Themes include the daily routine, the environment, daily life in France, and traveling. Cultural components include the Arts, great moments in French history, and francophone music. Students may read a novel, as time and the group’s abilities permit.
French 9 Advanced
Prerequisite: French 8 or French 8 Advanced and teacher recommendation
Students study the same base material, using the same textbook, as those in French 9. In this advanced course, students deepen their skills through reading from a variety of additional texts, short stories and novels. At the end of French 9 Advanced, students will be asked to choose either Advanced French, or Pre-AP.
French 10
Prerequisite: French 9 or French 9 Advanced
This course is designed to continue building comprehension and communication skills in the four areas of language learning, with particular emphasis on the practice of a number of verb tenses, and writing well-written paragraphs and short essays. The program, Discovering French, provides a wide variety of individual and group activities in the four language areas, aimed at furthering students’ abilities. Themes include traveling in France, the French and their health, French cities, friendships and personal relationships, and studying and working. Cultural components include the French today, the French Antilles, francophone Africa, French in the New World, and great moments in French history. Students may read a novel, as time and the group’s abilities permit.
French 10 Advanced
Prerequisite: French 9 or French 9 Advanced and teacher recommendation
Students study the same base material, using the same textbook, as those in French 10. In this advanced course, students deepen their skills through reading from a variety of additional texts, such as short stories selected from Contes et Légendes de Québec, poetry and novels, such as Le Choc des cultures and Le Comte de Monte-Cristo.
French 10 Pre-AP
Pre-requisite: French 9 Advanced and teacher recommendation
This accelerated course is designed for motivated students who enjoy French and have good to strong abilities in all four language skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing). In order to prepare students well for the next two years of the AP program, this first year serves as a time to address common difficulties that arise as we progress through the year. For this reason, the order in which the curriculum is covered and the resources used may change from year to year, in order to better answer the students’ specific needs. At the end of this year, students will have the necessary tools at hand to be able to write full-length narrative essays. Among many skills, AP students are given the opportunity to really develop their ability to spontaneously converse and debate about various subjects. Diverse resources, such as Reprise, En Bonne Forme, and Parlons Grammaire are used as a base in this course. In addition, we use many supplementary resources to enhance students’ skills and enrich their learning, such as short stories, literary excerpts, novels, and numerous Internet resources. The choice of reading materials may change from year to year, depending on the group’s common interests.
French 11
Prerequisite: French 10 or French 10 Advanced
This course is designed to continue building comprehension and communication skills in the four areas of language learning, with particular emphasis on mastery of the most common verb tenses, and writing well-written essays. The program Voyages 2 is used as a base text, and includes units on expressing oneself; travel and the francophone world; healthy living; being young adults; and looking toward the future. The program also includes a variety of cultural references to francophone literature, art and places. Teachers may use supplementary resources to enhance students’ skills and enrich learning, such as short stories and folk tales. Students may read a novel, as time and the group’s abilities permit.
French Advanced 11
Prerequisite: French 10 or French 10 Advanced or French 10 Pre-AP and teacher recommendation
Students study the same base material, using the same textbook, as those in French 11. In this advanced course, students deepen their skills through reading from a variety of additional texts, such as short stories selected from Contes et Légendes de Québec, poetry and novels.
French 11 Pre-AP
Prerequisite: French 10 Advanced or French 10 Pre-AP and teacher recommendation
This course is designed for highly motivated students who enjoy French and intend to write the Advanced Placement French Exam at the end of French 12 AP. In this course, students continue to build strong skills in all areas of the French language. Students develop many abilities, among them the ability to produce well-developed, well-nuanced narrative essays, using native-like grammar and syntax, as well as a wide range of vocabulary. As well, AP students further develop their ability to spontaneously converse and debate about various subjects, in a lengthy manner. The program En Bonne Forme is used as a base text, and many supplementary resources are also used to enhance students’ skills and enrich their learning, such as short stories, literary excerpts, novels, and numerous Internet resources. The choice of reading materials may change from year to year, depending on the group’s common interests and overall abilities, as well as current events happening at the time.
French 12
Prerequisite: French 11 or French 11 Advanced or French 11 Pre-AP
This course is designed not only to continue building comprehension and communication skills in the four areas of language learning, but also to synthesize and enjoy all the language students have acquired in previous years. Particular emphases in French 12 are placed on listening and reading comprehension, on writing well-written essays, and on preparation for the Provincial, or in-house final exam, which test competency in listening, reading and writing. (A speaking component may be added to the provincial exam for the 2009-2010 school year. This would be reflected in the in-house exam.) The program Voyages 3 is used as a base text, and includes units on careers, journalism and freedom of speech, technology and the French. The program also includes a variety of cultural references, such as education in France, famous French people, the French revolution and areas of France. Students read at least one novel, such as Jean de Florette or L’homme qui plantait des arbres. Teachers may also use supplementary resources to enhance students’ skills and enrich learning, such as short stories and folk tales, and students may complete an independent reading assignment.
Students will write the Provincial Examination, or a York House final examination, in June. A student may be invited to write the Provincial in January, on the recommendation of the teacher, if she maintains excellent standing in all aspects of the course between September and Winter Break.
* All students are expected to write the Provincial Examination that will count for 40% of their final grade. Students who choose not to write the Provincial Examination will be required to write an internal school examination to complete the course. The school examination will count for 25% of their final grade.
French 12 AP
Prerequisite: French 11 Pre-AP and teacher recommendation
“The AP French language is comparable in content and in difficulty to a course in French Composition and Conversation at the first-year college level.” (College Board, 2008)
This challenging first-year university course is designed for students who are highly motivated, enjoy French, and wish to write the AP exam. For this course, students should therefore already have a good command of all four areas of the language: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Among many skills, AP students further develop their ability to spontaneously converse and debate about various subjects, in a lengthy manner. In writing, students learn to produce logically developed and well-nuanced argumentative essays, using native-like grammar and syntax, and a wide range of vocabulary and idiomatic French. The program En Bonne Forme is used as a base text, and many supplementary resources are added to enhance students’ skills and enrich learning, such as short stories, literary excerpts, poetry, novels, and numerous Internet resources. The choice of reading materials may change from year to year, depending on the group’s common interests.
Students may be invited to write the Provincial in January, on the recommendation of the teacher. Students must write the AP Subject Exam in May to receive AP Credit for their course work. A minimum score of 3 or higher may grant the student university credits in this subject at some institutions.
*All students are expected to write the Provincial Examination that will count for 40% of their final grade. Students who choose not to write the Provincial Examination will be required to write an internal school examination to complete the course. The school examination will count for 25% of their final grade.
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