88thth Grade French Grade French ClassClass

Nichols Middle SchoolNichols Middle Schoolwith with

MADAME ZAMORMADAME ZAMOR

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Welcome!Welcome! Nichols School believes Nichols School believes

strongly in learning a second strongly in learning a second language.language. Students develop critical Students develop critical

thinking skills. thinking skills. Students begin to think in Students begin to think in

complex ways. complex ways. Students are asked to explore Students are asked to explore

different cultures and different cultures and perspectives developing their perspectives developing their skills in empathy and skills in empathy and understanding. (NOT weird. understanding. (NOT weird. Different.)Different.)

Students are going to learn Students are going to learn how to:how to: read Frenchread French write in Frenchwrite in French hear Frenchhear French understand Frenchunderstand French speak Frenchspeak French

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This is the end of French This is the end of French 11

Students will complete French Students will complete French 1. This program reflects the 1. This program reflects the guidelines for most high guidelines for most high school French 1 programs. school French 1 programs.

They will continue in the They will continue in the Upper School and can Upper School and can complete their language complete their language requirements:requirements: 99thth grade French 2 grade French 2 1010thth grade French 3 grade French 3

French 4, AP French and French 4, AP French and French 5 are optional in junior French 5 are optional in junior and senior year. and senior year.

Because of the 5Because of the 5thth grade grade program, our students have program, our students have been known to add another been known to add another language at the end of their language at the end of their sophomore year. sophomore year. Chinese, Latin, SpanishChinese, Latin, Spanish

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This is the end of French This is the end of French 11

In April, students will be In April, students will be programmed for next year. programmed for next year.

Based on their performance, Based on their performance, effort and discipline, students effort and discipline, students are placed in French Regular are placed in French Regular or Advanced.or Advanced.

Parents, in both sections, Parents, in both sections, students are challenged, but students are challenged, but we understand that some we understand that some students benefit from a faster students benefit from a faster pace. These are students pace. These are students who are placed in French 2 who are placed in French 2 Advanced. Advanced.

In the Upper School, classes In the Upper School, classes are conducted 80 to 100% in are conducted 80 to 100% in French. This is how I will French. This is how I will conduct 8conduct 8thth grade French. grade French.

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Important ToolsImportant Tools Required materials:Required materials:

Vocabulaire progréssif Vocabulaire progréssif du français pour les du français pour les adolescentsadolescents by Sylvie by Sylvie Schmitt (Clé Schmitt (Clé International, Paris)International, Paris)

Grammaire Grammaire progréssive du progréssive du français pour les français pour les adolescentsadolescents by Anne by Anne Vicher (Clé Vicher (Clé International, Paris)International, Paris)

Larousse Student Larousse Student English-French English-French DictionaryDictionary

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Important ToolsImportant Tools Students need daily:Students need daily:

a pen or pencila pen or pencil highlighter markerhighlighter marker Binders remain in class. Binders remain in class. A steady collection of A steady collection of

index cards should be in index cards should be in their locker. In class, their locker. In class, students will work with students will work with my powerpoint my powerpoint flashcards. flashcards.

They may bring their They may bring their cards to class to practice cards to class to practice with classmates, or they with classmates, or they may leave them at home may leave them at home to practice there. to practice there.

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Rules for classRules for class

Respect Respect Trustworthiness Trustworthiness Responsibility Responsibility Collaborate to Collaborate to

produce good work produce good work

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Grades will be based onGrades will be based on homework (practice homework (practice

flashcards every night)flashcards every night) completed workbook completed workbook

pagespages quizzesquizzes compositionscompositions blog postsblog posts revisionsrevisions group workgroup work trimester exams trimester exams

(November, February, (November, February, June)June)

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Vocabulary – Go for Vocabulary – Go for masterymastery

There are 1,100+ in the vocabulary book. These words are There are 1,100+ in the vocabulary book. These words are foundational and will be heard and re-used frequently foundational and will be heard and re-used frequently throughout the French program in the Upper School. throughout the French program in the Upper School.

Students must master this French vocabulary.Students must master this French vocabulary. Students must remember how to learn additional French Students must remember how to learn additional French

vocabulary. vocabulary. Lots of work with flashcards and daily practiceLots of work with flashcards and daily practice Students must study words from English to French. This is Students must study words from English to French. This is

in keeping with Upper School methods. in keeping with Upper School methods. There is no such thing as I can’t. A Nichols student can There is no such thing as I can’t. A Nichols student can

memorize, but everyone does so at their own pace. Some memorize, but everyone does so at their own pace. Some may have to study more than others. This is may have to study more than others. This is normalnormal as we as we are all different. are all different.

Students are responsible for this. Students are responsible for this. They will find great frustration with this course if they They will find great frustration with this course if they

have not master the vocabulary.have not master the vocabulary.

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Master French Master French vocabularyvocabulary

Study flashcards Study flashcards we make each we make each night.night. 15 to 30 minutes.15 to 30 minutes.

Study from English Study from English to French. to French.

Students have Students have practiced this practiced this method in class. method in class.

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Learning French Learning French GrammarGrammar

Students learn how to Students learn how to use use French sentence French sentence structure. They:structure. They: learn subject learn subject

pronounspronouns conjugate verbsconjugate verbs understand adjective understand adjective

placementplacement use key French use key French

idiomatic expressions idiomatic expressions and constructions and constructions

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Learning French Learning French GrammarGrammar

They need to:They need to: Notice and remember Notice and remember

the way sentences the way sentences are formed in French.are formed in French.

Understand the parts Understand the parts of speech in English of speech in English and French. and French.

Compare these Compare these sentence sentence constructions to constructions to English.English.

Write new examples Write new examples to practice grammar.to practice grammar.

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La Culture francophone dans le La Culture francophone dans le théâtre. théâtre.

(Francophone culture in theater.)(Francophone culture in theater.) Learn French with a Learn French with a

theme.theme. We will ask an We will ask an

essential question.essential question. Students will use Students will use

vocabulary & vocabulary & grammar from grammar from workbooks to workbooks to answer each answer each question. question.

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Let’s ask an essential question.Let’s ask an essential question. How do we show a francophone culture in theater?How do we show a francophone culture in theater?

Comment montrer une culture francophone dans Comment montrer une culture francophone dans le théâtre?le théâtre?

We will work with Ms. We will work with Ms. Olena this year to have Olena this year to have students speaking more students speaking more French by performing French by performing short plays in French.short plays in French.

Plays apply vocabulary Plays apply vocabulary and grammar we are and grammar we are studying. studying.

They are inspired by the They are inspired by the cultures we will study. cultures we will study.

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Let’s ask an essential question.Let’s ask an essential question. How do we show a francophone culture in theater?How do we show a francophone culture in theater?

Comment montrer une culture francophone dans Comment montrer une culture francophone dans le théâtre?le théâtre?

Students will also Students will also show comprehension show comprehension of text and culture by of text and culture by their ACTIONS rather their ACTIONS rather than systematically than systematically translating to translating to English. English.

We look at culture by We look at culture by observing and observing and answering the answering the following questions:following questions:

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• Which cultures are Which cultures are francophone francophone (French-speaking)?(French-speaking)?

• How would you How would you describe the people describe the people (or a person) from a (or a person) from a particular particular francophone francophone culture? culture?

• Where does he/she Where does he/she come from?come from?

• Where do they liveWhere do they live??

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• What language do What language do they speak?they speak?

• How do they How do they dress?dress?

• What do they What do they buy?buy?

• How do they live How do they live (what kind of (what kind of building do they building do they live in)?live in)?

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• What do they do?What do they do?• What do they eat?What do they eat?• How would you How would you

describe their describe their family?family?

• What do they have?What do they have?• What do they like?What do they like?

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• What don’t they What don’t they like?like?

• What can they do?What can they do?• What do they want?What do they want?

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MoviesMovies1. Movies are shown with curricular objectives in mind. 1. Movies are shown with curricular objectives in mind. 2. Movies are viewed in French with French subtitles. 2. Movies are viewed in French with French subtitles. 3. In order to observe francophone culture, we will 3. In order to observe francophone culture, we will watch the following movies:watch the following movies:

La Grande séductionLa Grande séduction Kirikou et La Kirikou et La

SorcièreSorcière LumumbaLumumba Anthony Bourdain’s Anthony Bourdain’s

No Reservation: No Reservation: Vietnam, ParisVietnam, Paris

Haïti EksperyansHaïti Eksperyans AmélieAmélie Banlieue 13Banlieue 13

Scènes Scènes de:de: La BoumLa Boum ChocolatChocolat IndochineIndochine

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Final WordsFinal Words1.1. Students will take the National French Students will take the National French

Exam. Exam. • In late February or early March. This In late February or early March. This

exam will help students compare the exam will help students compare the progress they have made in comparison to progress they have made in comparison to students at a similar level in the United students at a similar level in the United States. States. No studying is required.No studying is required.

• approximately $4.50 will be charged to approximately $4.50 will be charged to the student account.the student account.

2.2. If you have any questions, please do If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me via email not hesitate to contact me via email at at szamor@nicholsschool.orgszamor@nicholsschool.org or by or by phone at 716-876-3500.phone at 716-876-3500.