FRENCH 203

Automne 2021

sakai.duke.edu

Instructor: Sandra Valnes Quammen

Office: Languages 106
Email / Phone: slv2@duke.edu / (919) 660-8436
Office hours: Monday 11:30-12:30, Tuesday 9:00-10:00, and by appointment

What is this course about?

French 203 is the first half of the two-semester sequence of intermediate French. This course offers you a contextualized
review of the fundamental structures of the French language that you have studied in your previous course(s). By
exploring real-life situations and contemporary issues, you will refine these skills and be able to communicate with
more accuracy.
Is this course right for me?
If you have taken French 102 at Duke, you are eligible to be enrolled in this course. You are also appropriately placed
if you’ve had a recent SAT II score of 490-580 and/or if you have taken 3 to 4 years of French in high school. If you
still have questions about your course placement, please reach out to your instructor. If you don’t meet any of the above
criteria for course placement, please contact the course coordinator Dr. Christelle Gonthier (gonthier@duke.edu)
immediately. Please note that his course doesn’t allow any auditors.

How will this course be taught?

This course is taught exclusively in French and meets three times a week. We will have a few asynchronous sessions to
help you further explore cultural topics and practice new material in a more autonomous manner. In order to ensure your
progress in this unusual context, course delivery is subject to change: Depending on risk factors, your instructor might
decide to turn face-to-face sessions into Zoom sessions. Please know that the quality of your learning experience will
remain our first priority.

What will I learn in this course?

Each module of Cosmopolite 3 will help strengthen specific linguistic skills and expend your capacity to have complex
conversations. This course will also help you better navigate francophone environments through practical and tangible
topics. You will be able to discuss subjects such as tourism, education and career building. You and your classmates will
also reflect on your attitudes toward sustainability, media influence, culture and innovation. While working towards the
goal of expressing personal interests, ideas, aspirations and opinions, you will also learn about how these topics are
perceived in the French and Francophone world, and make comparisons with your own culture.
For more details, please read the course objectives at the end of this document.

Because circumstances are continually evolving, please note that we might have to make a few adjustments to this syllabus.
Any change will be announced in class and on Sakai as early as possible.

What required texts and materials do I need?

Textbook: Cosmopolite 3 B1 Méthode de français, Anais Mater, Emilie Mathieu-Benoit, Nelly Mous (2017
Hachette-FLE). ISBN 978-2-01-513547-2
Workbook: Cosmopolite 3 B1 Cahier d’activités, Anais Mater, Emilie Mathieu-Benoit, Nelly Mous (2017
Hachette-FLE). ISBN 978-2-01-513548-9

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 Grammar: En super forme By Simone Renaud, Jean-Luc Desalvo (Canadian Scholars’ Press, July 2018)
Print ISBN: 9781551309972. E-version also available. This textbook is also used in French 102.

Online: Sakai (http://sakai.duke.edu) All information pertaining to the course (daily homework, assignments,
policies and procedures, grading rubrics, etc.) will be posted to your course’s Sakai page. Check this
site daily!

Suggested materials: Reference: https://www.laits.utexas.edu/fi/

Site de grammaire interactif en anglais de l’université d’Austin au Texas.
Dictionary: http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english-french

How will I be evaluated?

Calculation of Grades Grading Scale
Preparation and participation 20% A+ 98-100 C- 70-72
Homework 15% A 93-97 D+ 68-69
Quizzes (4 “contrôles”) 20% A- 90-92 D 63-67
Writing/Blogs 5% B+ 88-89 D- 60-62
Video Journals 15% B 83-87 F 59 or below
Cultural Project 5% B- 80-82
Debate 5% C+ 78-79
Final Exam 15% C 73-77

Your lowest participation grade will be dropped. Grades are not curved in French 203. If you have concerns about your course grade, don’t hesitate to contact your instructor.

How will I meet the goals of this

course?
o Daily preparation and active participation (20%)
You are expected to attend our class sessions fully prepared and ready to participate in all activities. Your
weekly participation grade will reflect your preparation, engagement and efforts in general. Active participation
means speaking only in French during class time, contributing significantly to group work and volunteering as
much as possible during our class activities. Occasionally, you will be asked to present a short recap of the
material covered in your homework. Elements that will be taken into account: preparedness, readiness to answer
questions, group work, engagement with the material, efforts demonstrated in your homework or in class,
individual progress.
See “Attendance” for additional information.

o Daily homework (15%)

 You will have daily assignments from the workbook (cahier d’activité), the textbook, En super forme (ESF), or
supplemental activities. Because the study of language is cumulative, it is extremely important that you not fall
behind in your work. For each class, plan to spend about 1 ½ hour per night completing homework, memorizing
vocabulary, and reviewing grammar. For asynchronous sessions, you will have much longer assignments as
they will include regular homework as well as new material and/or a project.
 SELF-CORRECTION: Workbook exercises must be completed, checked for errors (For ESF, keys are on
Sakai), and corrected in a different color before being turned in on Sakaï. Make sure you study and read
grammar and vocabulary structures before completing the homework activities and before self-correcting. You
can self-correct by changing the color of your font, crossing out parts of your answers, or highlighting. You can
also continue to handwrite your homework. If you do, make sure to take clear, non-blurry photos.
 SUBMISSION: Homework can either be submitted in hard copy at the beginning of each day’s class session, or
submitted via Sakai before class starts on the day for which it is assigned. For asynchronous sessions, you have
until Saturday 11pm EST.
Homework must be submitted in the format determined by your instructor in the “Devoirs” section of our
course site.
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 GRADING: Homework will be graded according to the grading criteria to be found on Sakai. It will be graded
randomly. Late homework will not be accepted. Any assignment turned in uncorrected, or simply copied from
the answer keys on Sakai (even partially), will receive no credit. Homework is not excused when you are absent
(whether your absence is excused or unexcused) and has to be turned in when you come back to class.

○ ”Contrôles“/ Quizzes (20%)

There will be 4 quizzes (contrôles) during the semester, based on the material covered in class and in our
textbook. These quizzes are designed as checks to show that you have mastered the main points of our modules;
they also serve as useful practice for the final exam. Please note that there is no make up quiz unless you can
provide a formal Dean’s excuse.

o “Écriture” / Blog posts (5%)

These shorter guided writing assignments will help you reflect on some issues discussed in class, practice new
skills, as well as assimilate grammatical aspects covered at the time. Instructions and due dates will be shared
with you on our Sakai. You will submit these “écriture” assignments in your “Blog” section on Sakai. You will
be asked to adhere to the same class policies when it comes to the Honor Code and refrain from using tools
which are not allowed in the completion of graded work (such as Google Translate, etc.). More on that below.

o Video Journals (VoiceThreads and Zoom) (15%)

At regular intervals during the semester, you will contribute to video projects (individually or in pairs). These
assignments will allow you to express your thoughts and/or engage with your classmates on a variety of topics
related to the themes and cultural components of materials in Cosmopolite 3. They will also serve as a forum for
oral practice in preparation for the end-of-semester oral assessment.

○ Cultural Project (5%)

Close to the end of the semester, you will spend some time working on a cultural research project. This project
will be split into 3 different assignments: a poster, a more in-depth visual-textual presentation, and an in-class
oral presentation. More information will be posted on Sakai.

o Debate (5%)
Near the end of the semester, you will sign up with a partner for your debate. Four topics will be given to you a
few days in advance, but you will only know which one is assigned to you as we start the test. Make sure you
prepare ahead with your partner to have adequate questions and to ensure the conversation flows with interesting
elements. It is not allowed to read or to recite any text. You will engage with your partner for about 6-7 minutes,
and your instructor will jump in the conversation for the last 3 minutes.

○ Final exam (15 %) Final exam will take place on Wednesday, December 8 (7pm-10pm). This will be
a comprehensive exam: it will cover material from Dossiers 1-8.

○ Additional Cultural Component (extra-credit homework)

For extra credit, you may participate in up to two Francophone cultural events outside of class, e.g., online lectures, movies,
digital art exhibit, conversation table, etc. Each activity write-up can replace one missing or low daily homework grade. Your
instructor will announce suitable possibilities on Sakai, and events will also be publicized on the French@Duke Facebook
page. To receive credit for these events, you must write in French a one-page double-spaced review of the event, explaining
what it was about and how it expanded your knowledge of Francophone culture.
French@Duke : "Like us" on Facebook to stay connected with all things French happening at Duke
(including extra credit opportunities!) and much more.

REMINDER:
 All assignments are due by the beginning of class on the due date listed. Unless you are
excused, no late work is accepted, and no “make-up” assignments will be given. Please
keep all graded assignments until you receive your final course grade.

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  It is a violation of the Duke Community Standard to seek help from ANYONE OTHER
THAN YOUR INSTRUCTOR or to use TRANSLATION SOFTWARE in any form (e.g.: Google
Translate) in the completion of your assignments.
 Any violation of the Duke Community Standard will result in a 0 grade and the student
will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct.

ATTENDANCE :
Attendance is vital to creating a collaborative, supportive language-learning community, and is necessary in order
to make progress in the language. One unexcused absence will be allowed this semester; each additional
unexcused absence will result in a reduction of your final course grade by one percentage point. Arriving late to
class counts as a third of an absence. Students arriving more than 15 minutes after class starts are marked absent.
We also acknowledge the unusual nature of this semester and the potential complications that may arise.
 To help ensure your well-being and the well-being of those around you, please do not come to class sick.
We work frequently in small groups, and it’s not fair to everyone else to pass on a cold or worse.
 Please submit a STINF (Incapacitation Form) if you are unable to attend class in person.
 If your illness is such that you can still attend virtually, please ask a classmate to provide you access to
the class via their computer and Zoom., and you will still be able to receive credit for participation for
that day.
 If you are too ill to participate virtually, you should contact me about how to make up the work. (See
participation grade for more details.)
 For each missed class, you will be asked to complete a brief response to the course content. To avoid any
penalty in your participation grade, it is your responsibility to reach out to your instructor so that he/she
will explain what kind of work is expected from you to catch up.
Note that these options are only available for short-term illnesses. In the event of severe or long-term illness or an
emergency, it may be necessary to work with your dean about your options for a medical withdrawal, as
interpersonal, oral engagement in the classroom is an important part of your development in the French language.
Please check your email before class each morning. If I myself wake up with symptoms or need to
quarantine because of exposure, I will email you to switch the entire class to Zoom.
 Incapacitation/NOVAP forms: If you are incapacitated by a serious illness, please submit the University's
Incapacitation Form as soon as possible, and no later than the evening of the missed class. Abuse of this form
constitutes a violation of the community standard. If you are a member of a team and know you will need to be
absent from class for participation in a sports event, submit your team travel schedule signed and dated by your
coach at the start of the semester, and remember to submit the NOVAP form a few days before your scheduled
absence.

 Religious absences: You are responsible for making prior arrangements with your instructor to make up any work
missed (Religious Observation & Holidays)

 Rules for Video Recording Course Content: Student recording of lectures must be permitted by the instructor and
shall be for private study only. Such recordings shall not be distributed to anyone else without authorization by the
instructor whose lecture has been recorded. Unauthorized distribution is a cause for disciplinary action by the
Judicial Board. The full policy on recoding of lectures falls under the Duke University Policy on Intellectual
Property Rights, available here: https://provost.duke.edu/sites/default/files/FHB_App_P.pdf

SPECIAL ACCOMODATIONS:
Duke University is committed to providing equal access to students with documented disabilities. Students with disabilities may
contact the Student Disability Access Office (SDAO) to ensure your access to this course. There you can engage in a confidential
conversation about the process for requesting accommodations. More information can be found online at www.access.duke.edu.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION:

I take very seriously the mandate of respecting students of diverse backgrounds, identities, perspectives, and learning styles. All
members of this class are expected to contribute to a respectful, welcoming, and inclusive environment for other members of the
class. If at any point you feel disrespected, please contact me in private right away.

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I am committed to doing my best to ensure that you are able to do your very best work in this course, and look forward to meeting
with you to discuss how to best incorporate any necessary accommodations into the course.

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HONOR CODE AND PROGRESS:
 As a student of a foreign language, you are now more responsible for your own advancement in your
learning of French and for your own process of gaining the valuable skill of speaking a foreign language
– and being honest while doing so. Gaining language proficiency is a slow process, but one that is truly
rewarding and that will stay with you forever, no matter what grade you receive at the end of this
semester. One important step is not cutting corners when it would be “easier” or “faster” to do so.

 Learning French will require practice, trial and error. It is normal to make mistakes. Flawless grammar is
not what I’m looking for. I am interested in seeing your true level in order to give the most appropriate
feedback and help you hone the skills required to be proficient in French.

 As a result, using machine translators (such as Google translate) or asking for help from French-speaking
friends/family members when completing graded assignments are a shortcut which will not permit you
to gain any language proficiency. That is why it will not be permitted to submit any written work on
graded assignments that come from those forms of help. It would not only be unfair to other students, but
also detrimental to you and your own learning.

 If you have doubts, please ask your instructor about resources that are allowed. For example, you can use
online dictionaries such as Robert & Collin’s and Wordreference.com (but remember to read the full
contexts in which each word is used in order to know you are using the correct one).

 It is very easy to spot when even simple and short parts of sentence are not directly coming from your
voice, or your level. Please remember that you can also always ask me if you get stuck on a way to
express yourself in French. I also trust you to always find a way to circumvent those blocks and to
rephrase your thoughts with structures you do know. That is one of the most valuable communication
skills that you can develop in any language.

DUKE COMMUNITY STANDARD:

 Your participation in this course comes with the expectation that your work will be completed in full
observance of the Duke Community Standard, as well as the principles of academic integrity and
personal honesty. Duke University is a community dedicated to scholarship, leadership, and service and
to the principles of honesty, fairness, respect, and accountability. As a student, you’re committing to
uphold these principles, and to protect and promote a culture of integrity.

 Regardless of course delivery format, it is the responsibility of all students to follow Duke policies
regarding academic integrity, including doing one's own work, following proper citation of sources, and
adhering to guidance around group work projects. Ignoring these requirements is a violation of the Duke
Community Standard. If you have any questions about how to follow these requirements, please contact
Jeanna McCullers, Director of the Office of Student Conduct.

 You are expected to neither give nor receive aid in the completion of exams, quizzes, or any work
prepared outside of class that is to be submitted for a grade. It is especially important that you not get
help from anyone other than your instructor when writing blogs or completing assignments --with
the exception of in-class peer review activities. If you have any questions about your responsibilities
within this course, please do not hesitate to consult your instructor. If at any point during the semester
you decide you wish to consult a tutor, it your responsibility to let your instructor know.

 Student Obligation to Act: In accordance with the Duke Community Standard, students should act if
they witness another student or professor partaking in unethical academic behavior. Appropriate
responses include, but are not limited to: approaching the individual(s) observed, contacting the
professor or teaching assistant about the event, and/or notifying other faculty. For more information,
visit: http://studentaffairs.duke.edu/conduct/about-us/duke-community-standard

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 Programme du cours
Français 203 - Automne 2021

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 lundi 23 août mercredi 25 août vendredi 27 août
Introduction Dossier 1 Dossier 1
Ch 1 (présent) Ch 1 (présent)

lundi 30 août mercredi 1er septembre vendredi 3 septembre

Dossier 1 Dossier 1 SESSION ASYNCHRONE
Ch 1 (présent et impératif) Ch 5 (prépositions de lieu avec Dossier 1
villes/pays)

lundi 6 septembre mercredi 8 septembre vendredi 10 septembre

Dossier 1 Dossier 1 Contrôle 1
Ch13 (conditionnel) Ch 4 (placement adj)

lundi 13 septembre mercredi 15 septembre vendredi 17 septembre

Dossier 2 Dossier 2 Dossier 2
Ch14 (subjonctif) Ch14 (subjonctif) Ch 7 (négations)
Ch 1 (impératif)
Journal Vidéo 1
lundi 20 septembre mercredi 22 septembre vendredi 24 septembre
Dossier 2 Dossier 3 SESSION ASYNCHRONE
Ch 7 (négations) Ch 6 (comparatif/superlatif) Dossier 3
Ch 16 (relatifs + « ce »)
Ch 17 (celui)
lundi 27 septembre mercredi 29 septembre vendredi 1er octobre
Dossier 3 Dossier 3
Ch 9 (y, en, pronoms) Ch7 (ne que/ aucun) Contrôle 2

Journal Vidéo 2
lundi 4 octobre mercredi 6 octobre vendredi 8 octobre
Fall Break Pas de cours Dossier 4
Ch 19 (participe présent et
gérondif)

lundi 11 octobre mercredi 13 octobre vendredi 15 octobre

Dossier 4 Dossier 4 Dossier 4
Ch13 (« si » clauses) Ch13 (« si » clauses) Ch13 (« si » clauses)

lundi 18 octobre mercredi 20 octobre vendredi 22 octobre

Dossier 4 Dossier 5 SESSION ASYNCHRONE
Ch13 (« si » clauses) Ch11 (inf. Passé) Dossier 5
Ch3 (temps du passé)
Journal Vidéo 3
lundi 25 octobre mercredi 27 octobre vendredi 29 octobre
Dossier 5 Dossier 5 Contrôle 3
Ch3 (temps du passé) Ch3 (temps du passé)
lundi 1er novembre mercredi 3 novembre vendredi 5 novembre
Dossier 6 Dossier 6 SESSION ASYNCHRONE
Ch16 (pronoms relatifs) Ch16 (pronoms relatifs) Dossier 6

Journal Vidéo 4 8
lundi 8 novembre mercredi 10 novembre vendredi 12 novembre
Dossier 6 Dossier 6 Dossier 8
 Final Exam: Wednesday, December 8 (7pm-10pm)

*Keep in mind that this schedule is subject to change. Any change will be announced in class.

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
French Language Program Tutoring
Beginning in the third week of the semester, the French Language Program offers free tutoring services for students enrolled in
French Language Program courses with French language faculty. Tutoring appointments are made on a first-come, first-served
basis based on instructor referral. If you believe that you would benefit from one-time or more frequent departmental tutoring,
please see me!

Academic Resource Center

The Academic Resource Center (ARC) offers free services to all students during their undergraduate careers at Duke. Services
include Learning Consultations, Peer Tutoring and Study Groups, ADHD/LD Coaching, Outreach Workshops, and more. Because
learning is a process unique to every individual, the ARC works with each student to discover and develop their own academic
strategy for success at Duke. Contact the ARC (arc.duke.edu) to schedule an appointment.

Peer tutoring can be a valuable avenue for speaking / listening practice, though please note that I strongly recommend seeing me
for a departmental tutoring referral if you find yourself struggling at any point in the semester.

Mental health and wellness support

Student mental health and wellness is of primary importance at Duke, and the university offers resources to support students in
managing daily stress and self-care. Duke offers several resources for students to seek assistance on coursework and to nurture
daily habits that support overall well-being, some of which are listed below
 The Academic Resource Center: (919) 684-5917, theARC@duke.edu, or arc.duke.edu,
 DuWell: (919) 681-8421, duwell@studentaffairs.duke.edu, or https://studentaffairs.duke.edu/duwell

If your mental health concerns and/or stressful events negatively affect your daily emotional state, academic performance, or
ability to participate in your daily activities, many resources are available to help you through difficult times. Duke encourages
all students to access these resources.
 DukeReach. Provides comprehensive outreach services to identify and support students in managing all aspects of
well-being. If you have concerns about a student's behavior or health visit the website for resources and
assistance. http://studentaffairs.duke.edu/dukereach
 Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). CAPS services include individual, group, and couples counseling
services, health coaching, psychiatric services, and workshops and discussions. (919) 660-1000.
https://studentaffairs.duke.edu/caps

Note: Good communication with your instructor is essential. I invite you to reach out to me as often as you need. I’m
here to help, so please take also advantage of my office hours!

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