Frequently Asked Questions: French 251


1. Is the course taught in English or in French?
All courses are taught primarily in French. It’s an adjustment at first, but eventually it will feel natural. As adult learners, you are able to use non-language context clues (body language, situation, other visual cues) and cognates (similar-sounding words, like télévision) to help you. English borrows more from French than from any other language.

2. What if I have a question but don’t know how to ask it in French?
I encourage and will answer all questions. In class, try to ask in French; but if you’re stumped, just say, “En anglais, s’il vous plaît?”

3. How important is attendance?
To learn a foreign language, you really need to hear and practice the language every day. Attendance is essential and worth 15% of your final grade. Starting after the first week of classes, you are allowed 4 absences before your grade goes down a letter, so use them judiciously.

4. What if I’m absent and can’t turn in the homework?
Late assignments are marked down 10% for each day later (that is, after class time the day it's due); however, you may email your assignment the day it’s due. Homework and quiz grades comprise the homework grade.

5. What if I miss a test or quiz?
There are no makeups on tests or quizzes. I drop the lowest test grade and the three lowest quiz grades, so plan accordingly.

6. What are the hours of the Language Lab?
The lab (Heide 303) is open from 9 to 5, Monday through Friday.

7. Do I complete my regular homework assignments in the workbook?
If you like, but please do all homework to be turned in on a separate sheet of paper, typed. Please double-space so you can read any comments.

8. What if I had French before, but I didn’t learn anything?
I hear this a lot, but there are degrees of learning and you may know more than you think. If you’ve had two years of French in the last four years (including high school), you should have already taken the placement test to be at the proper level (if you haven’t, see #9 below). Students who take the course knowing way more than the others tend to get mind-numbingly bored at the slow pace, stop coming to class, and generally get Cs or worse. Also, if you take a higher level and get a B or better, you can get retro credits (up to 16) for the preceding courses in the sequence.

9. I didn’t take a placement test. How do I take one?
Call the Testing Center at 5613 or stop in at Roseman 2054 to set up an appointment. Please do this as soon as possible, as there is a limited number of spaces.

10. How do I improve my French outside of class?
Excellent question—glad you asked! Check out my web page , which has plenty of links to fun sites including French TV and radio, a BBC site where you can watch videos and test yourself, and lots of interactive grammar and comprehension exercises. Attend French Club meetings or weekly conversation hours. Try to listen to something in French every day, including watching French movies with subtitles. Also, even if you’re just walking around, try to use the French you’ve learned by identifying objects or making up simple sentences in French: C’est un arbre! Il est grand! (That’s a tree! It’s tall!)

11. Anything else?
Above all, have fun with it and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. It takes hard work, but soon you’ll be having conversations in French. Learning a second language also helps you with any subsequent languages and helps you understand your first one better (really!). So bon courage et bienvenue à l’étude de la langue française !!