This document outlines the expectations and requirements for a beginning French language course that meets twice a week and focuses on reading, writing, listening and speaking skills through a textbook and online platform. Students will be graded based on participation, homework, writing assignments, chapter assessments, and a final exam. The professor emphasizes respect, passion, and availability to help students learn French language and culture.

2.  Cover Units 1-6A of your book Espaces
 Consist of reading, writing, listening comprehension, and speaking the French
language at the basic level
 Provide information about the French and francophone cultures.
 Meet 2 days a week, Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:00 to 6:20pm with a 10
minute break.

3.  This course is more than just a course. It will provide you with new opportunities.
You can learn an entirely new culture and this can help you make new friends, learn
new ways of interaction, and also it can help you with your studies and your career.
 I am passionate about what I teach so I hope that you are passionate about you are
learning. I have my perspective on things but I will want to learn your perspective.
This will also teach me about the French language and culture.
 French is part of American history and it is all around you. On TV, in the
supermarket, in restaurants, and in your other classes, so learn find what is French
around you and think of why it is there.

4.  YES!
 You will be expected to spend 8 hours a week outside of class on homework for this
class. So yes, you do need to study a lot for this class.

5.  It is online, on the Espaces supersite. The website address is
vhlcentral.com.
 Your next homework is already due on August 24th (Sunday) at
midnight.
 On Wednesday, we will go to the lab so that you can set up your
online account and get started with your homework.
 NO late homework will be accepted. If you cannot do the
homework on time for one of the units, I will drop one of your
until homework grades so you should still be all right.
 It is also highly recommended that you get a French-English
dictionary. This will come in handy. I also recommend Lonely
Planet’s French book.

6.  On Blackboard, you can find a copy of your course calendar and course syllabus.
 You will have a total of 5 unit tests that will consist of a written component and a
speaking component. When we finish a unit, you will have a test on that unit. It is
about every 2 weeks or so.
 You will also have 5 Writing Assignments due. The due dates are on the course
calendar.

7.  In class part./contributions 10 %
 WebSAM & SuperSite 10 %
 Writing (at least 5 assignments) 15%
 Chapter Assessments 30%
 Final Assessment 35%
Your grading scale is the following:
- 90-100% = A - 80-89% = B
- 70-79.9% = C - 60-69% = D
- 59% or less = F - Credit = 73%
Participation
10%
Homework
10%
Writing
Assignments
15%
Chapter
Assessments
30%
Final Exam
35%

8. In-class contributions or
participation:
 The “A” Student comes to class and arrives on time with textbook, paper and pen every day; initiates and maintains
meaningful interaction during class time; shows leadership in group activities; avoids using English in discussions and
group activities; makes an effort to ask questions in French; is always prepared; attempts to use complete sentences
and elaborate on answers.
 The “B” Student shows willingness to participate; cooperates fully in discussions and group activities although may not
necessarily be the leader; answers readily when called upon; elaborates somewhat on answers.
 The “C” Student participates more passively than actively in class and group activities; occasionally resorts to use of
English; gives slightly elaborated answers; is not always fully prepared for class sometimes due to absences.
 The “D” Student seldom participates actively or engages in idle “chit-chat” with classmates; generally doesn’t
cooperate in activities (resorts frequently to English); commits many errors and makes little effort to correct
him/herself; is often absent and/or tardy and/or frequently when asked questions.
 The “F” Student is unprepared and rarely participates in class activities (sometimes due to excessive absences, chronic
tardiness, etc.); is not able to answer questions and almost never uses French.
 EACH DAY, YOU WILL RECEIVE 5 POINTS FOR PARTICIPATION. 5 IS AN A AND 2 IS A D. If you are absent, you will receive a 1
or an F.

9.  - In my class, two words are very important:
 1. RESPECT: You should be respectful of me and of other classmates. This is a college course so
you should behave like a college student. This means that if you are put in a group with another
student, you should actively participate and do the work with the other student. You should raise
your hand and answer questions but not an excessive amount. Give other students an opportunity
to raise their hand as well. Also, be respectful of me, my time, and my classroom. This means
that you should not fall asleep in class, chew gum in class, text or check your email. You should
not be looking at your computer screen when we are doing an activity or when I am explaining
something. You should also be on time. Class starts at 4:00pm and ends at 6:20pm so you should
be here during the entire duration of class.
 2. PASSION: This is not just a class, this is something you are learning that can benefit you in the
future. Take the time to actually do your homework and learn French. Go beyond the classroom
and find French speaking persons online or in restaurants or other places. Watch French movies and
listen to French music. Read French websites to find information. The more you do, the more
informed you will become. Consider this a job and come to it with passion.

10.  When I talk about respect and passion, I am also talking about
your dedication to this class and your respect for class time. If
you are late, it will obviously affect your participation grade. If
you are absent, you cannot get a participation grade for the
day of your absence so you will receive an F in participation on
that day.
 If you are absent a total of 4 time, or 3 times in a row, you will
be dropped from the class. I will send you a warning by email
of course, but if you are absent 3 consecutive times or a total
of 4 times, you will be dropped.
 The same rule applies to tardiness. If you are more than 5
minutes late, or if you leave class 5 minutes early or more, this
will count as half an absence. If you are late 6 times in a row or
a total of 8 times, then I will drop you from the class.

11.  I love the French language and culture. I grew up in Europe and finished the French
school system. I even have a Ph.D. in French studies. As you can see, I am very
passionate about this culture and language and I would love to share my passion with
you. Since I am not necessarily of your generation and may not share your point of view,
my perspective may differ from yours, but I want you to learn French from your own
perspective. I am open to what you like and dislike and will want you to show me that
aspect of the French culture and language. I am also willing to learn from you, where
you come from, what your passions are.
 I am also available and here to help you learn French. If you put in the time and effort, I
will be here to help you. There are also other resources out there for you. You can go to
the library and work with a tutor. We are hoping to have a French conversation coach in
our language lab soon so that you can get help from the conversation coach as well.
 But, as long as you contact me before 10:00pm, I am available to help you via phone,
email, or text. I can even be reached on the vhlcentral.com page or on Skype:
Shahrzad.Zahedi@live.com

12.  The language lab is in OC
4701 on the Oceanside
campus
 The language lab is in
SEC508 on the San Elijo
campus
 The Oceanside lab hours
are:

13.  I will assign extra credit activities throughout the term and they will either be for
your participation grade or for your total course grade.
 If you meet and study with other students in the class, you will receive 5 points
each time you meet and these 5 points can go toward your participation grade or
your homework grade, whichever one is lower.
 I will assign other extra credit activities as well in the future and those will count
towards your midterm grades or your overall course grade.

14.  You can find your grades on Blackboard. Click on “My Grades” and you will see the
grades as soon as I post them. If you have any questions about your grades, please
come and see me any time.

15.  If you have a disability, you can be entitled to appropriate academic accomodations.
Please come and see me if you have been given a letter by the Disabled Students
Program & Services Office (DSPS) please email or show me the letter so that I am
aware.
 If you think that you have a learning disability and require academic accomodations,
please contact the Disabled Students Program & Services Office (DSPS) at (760) 795-
6658 as soon as possible. I can only accommodate you if the DSPS gives you a letter.

16.  Please turn around and ask 3 students to provide you with their contact information.
 This means that if a student misses class, they have the responsibility to follow up
with another student and ask what they missed. If the student misses a class and
asks you for information about what was covered in class, please be respectful and
take the time to help them out.
 Ask for the student’s name, email and phone.

17. Please sign the small piece of
paper to show that you have
understood what is expected
of you in this class and how
you will be graded.

18. Email: szahedi@miracosta.edu
Phone: 760-612-9108
Text: 760-612-9108
Skype: Shahrzad.Zahedi@live.com