This course offers an introductory study of the language, giving grounding in basic communication skills, vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar sufficient to become functional at an elementary level, both in written and spoken French (e.g. learning tenses necessary to operate in the past, present and future). It introduces the reading of authentic short texts and provides listening practice to enable students to deal with everyday situations as well as to develop knowledge and understanding of French and francophone cultures and societies.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Communicate in basic French;
2. Understand and reproduce aspects of French pronunciation, including vowels, consonants, and basic intonation;
3. Compose short written texts;
4. Describe aspects of the world in French, including family, work, studies and physical appearances; express preferences; make comparisons;
5. Read and understand short authentic texts;
6. Listen to/watch and understand short audio and video extracts;
7. Appreciate aspects of contemporary francophone life and society and demonstrate awareness of the similarities and differences between their first cultures and francophone cultures.

Examination Material or equipment

For in-class assessment items, students generally need no materials other than paper and a pen or a pencil. Booklets and other test materials will be provided.

Required Resources

Required Resources

Required books and equipment:

         Textbook: Chez nous: Branché sur le monde francophone, 4e Pearson New International edition

         Access code for registration with www.myfrenchlab.com: To purchase directly from Pearson. Please see Wattle for details.

These books and the website access cover both FREN1003 and FREN1004.

In order to complete your online hour on www.myfrenchlab.com, you may require a headset, particularly if you conduct this hour on campus. The Co-op Bookshop stocks Logitech headsets for reasonable prices.

Recommended Resources

You may find the book English grammar for students of French by Jacqueline Morton to be a useful resource, particularly in order to better understand the terms and concepts of English and French grammar. (You will also find on Wattle a Glossary of Grammatical Terms. We will expect you to know this information.)

If you wish to buy a dictionary, Collins Robert offers an excellent English-French/French-English version. Oxford also has good dictionaries. We recommend that you avoid the small pocket dictionary format, and ask that you NOT bring dictionaries to class (This includes online translators on your phone – do not use these!!)

The Departmental Library (W3.31 Baldessin Precinct Building) also holds a number of bilingual dictionaries for your use, and the Chifley library has many resources.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	See Wattle for detailed course calendar.

Tutorial Registration

Enrolment: Students are required to enrol in one Group (e.g., FREN1003, Group 1) and attend that Group only. While the material covered in each class will be the same, each will be taught by a different instructor and will thus develop its own rhythm and atmosphere. For this reason, classes are NOT interchangeable – you must attend the class you enrol in. 

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
In-class test 1	10 %	01/01/2029	03/03/2029	3,4,5,6,7
In-class composition	15 %	01/01/2029	03/03/2029	3,4
In-class test II	20 %	01/01/2029	03/03/2029	3,4,5,6,7
MyFrenchLab oral assessment	15 %	01/01/2029	03/03/2029	1,2,4
MyFrenchLab homework	20 %	01/01/2029	03/03/2029	1,2,3,4,5,6,7
Weekly online hour	10 %	01/01/2029	03/03/2029	1,2,3,4,5,6,7
Participation	10 %	01/01/2029	03/03/2029	1,2,3,4,5,6,7

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website. Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Examination(s)

Each of the scheduled tests in FREN1003 is treated as a formal examination, i.e., if you must miss a test for reasons of illness, you must contact the course convenor in advance or within 72 hours of the test date and provide a medical certificate justifying your absence. Failure to do so will result in a ZERO for that assessment item. 

In order to pass the course, you must obtain a final result of 50%. If you have completed all of the assignments and obtain a result between 45 and 49, you have the right to a supplementary exam. If you have not completed all the assignments, you are not entitled to this supplementary exam.

If you receive a mark PX (45-49%) in this course, the course convenor will contact you via your official ANU email address shortly after final marks are released. Notification by email is taken to have been served on the day it would have been delivered in the ordinary course of email transmission.

The supplementary exam for students receiving PX in FREN1003 will take place during S2 Orientation week (time and place TBD). Eligible students wishing to sit the supplementary exam will be required to make themselves available at this time.

Assessment Task 1

In-class test 1

This test will cover the grammatical and lexical material covered in the weeks prior to the test. It will include a listening component, grammar/vocabulary assessment, and a writing assessment. You will be assessed on your mastery of language elements taught in class (e.g., grammar and vocabulary), and on your ability to read, listen to, and compose short texts.

Value: 10%

Estimated return date: Week 8

Assessment Task 2

In-class composition

The composition will be 150-200 words. It will take place in the classroom in Week 10. You will be assessed on your mastery of language elements taught in class (e.g., grammar and vocabulary), and on your ability to compose a coherent, creative description. Composition subject to follow.

 

Assessment Rubrics: You will find the assessment rubric for this item on Wattle under “Course documents.”

Word limit: 150-200 words

Value: 15%

Estimated return date: Week 12

Assessment Task 3

In-class test II

This test will cover the grammatical and lexical material covered in the weeks prior to the test. This second test may be cumulative. It will include a listening component, grammar/vocabulary assessment, and a writing assessment. You will be assessed on your mastery of language elements taught in class (e.g., grammar and vocabulary), and on your ability to read, listen to, and compose short texts.

Value: 20%

Estimated return date: Appointments for feedback after two weeks

Assessment Task 4

MyFrenchLab oral assessment

The oral test will be a scenario (2-3 minutes) and recorded (not read!) on MyFrenchLab in Week 12. Please note that the instructions for this assessment item will be found on Wattle, but the recording will take place on MFL. You must follow the instructions posted on Wattle. You may record the text many times, but you may only submit it once. You will be assessed on your accurate usage of grammatical and lexical items and the clarity of your pronunciation. Scenario to follow.

 

Assessment Rubrics: You will find the assessment rubric for this item on Wattle under “Course documents.”

Value: 15%

Presentation requirements: see assignment sheet (to follow)

Estimated return date: Appointments for feedback after two weeks

PLEASE NOTE: Students are not permitted to ask for help from native speakers, tutors, family or friends if the task is to be submitted for assessment. Improper collaboration of this nature constitutes academic misconduct and will be dealt with in accordance with ANU policy

Assessment Task 5

MyFrenchLab homework

You will have homework on MFL after almost every class period (M-Th), and you will be expected to complete each week’s homework activities by the end of the week (Sun). Language learning requires regular effort and attention on your part. To succeed in your learning, you must be doing these activities as they are assigned. Your actual homework scores will not factor directly into your final mark, however; in other words, no need to panic if you do poorly on a given homework activity. What counts here is whether you are doing the weekly activities or not. If you do them all, you will receive full credit; if you do some of them, you will receive partial credit. That said, if you are consistently failing your homework activities, your instructor will want to know why this is happening, and you will most likely lose some credit. Please note that homework will be checked and recorded by your instructor every Monday; late work will not be accepted.

 

Value: 20%

Estimated return date: Instructor-graded activities will be marked within two weeks of due date.

Assessment Task 6

Weekly online hour

Every Monday you will complete the 4th virtual hour of the course on MyFrenchLab.com. This hour will most often involve reading and listening activities and must be completed by 11:59 pm on the Monday in question. This includes Week 1’s online training videos, which must be completed by the end of Week 3. Please note that late submission of online activities will be automatically recorded by the program and will not count toward the total activities completed. 

Value: 10%

Estimated return date: Any material that must be emailed to your instructor is self-graded. Answers will be available on Wattle every Tuesday. Instructor-graded activities will be marked within two weeks of due date.

Assessment Task 7

Participation

Language learning is a cumulative process and requires consistent effort on your part. This means coming to class prepared for that day’s content and actively taking part in all classroom activities. You are expected to:

1) have completed the preparation activities before coming to class (usually listening to thematic audio files, reading, and studying grammar points and vocabulary);

2) come to class and participate in pair and group work;

3) contribute to class discussion (usually by responding to instructor’s prompts);

You will be assessed on your communication skills, your pronunciation, the development of your language skills (e.g., grammar and vocabulary), and on your demonstrated understanding of francophone cultures.

Value: 10%

*In-class policies: Please note that mobile phones are not tolerated in the FREN1003 classroom. They must be out of sight for the entire 50-minute session. If you need to take/make a call during class, please excuse yourself quickly and quietly so as not to disturb others. Use of computers is not encouraged but will be accepted to take notes and/or consult the E-book. Your computer may not be used for any other reason, including email, social media, other classes, etc. Non-compliance will result in a ZERO for participation.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

Most of your assessment for FREN1003 will take place in class. The online hour, the homework, and the oral exam will be prepared at home and submitted on MyFrenchLab.

Hardcopy Submission

In-class tests and compositions will be completed and submitted in class.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Assessment items will be returned in class, in the instructor's office, or via MyFrenchLab.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Students may not resubmit assessment items.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students