FRIT F250
Student Survival Tips and Strategies

What can I expect from my French 250 course?

If you are a student in F250, here are a few things that you can expect from your course this semester:

1. Your instructor will encourage you to sit in a semi-circle in class, leaving all empty desks in the periphery of the room. This seating arrangement is important because it allows you to see your classmates and your instructor, and it promotes communication in the classroom.
2. Your instructor will speak only French in class, and will expect you to do the same. You are in French 250 because you have proven that you are capable of asking basic questions in French and generally getting your point across using the French that you already know. Put it to practice in class!
3. Your instructor will ask you to refrain from eating, drinking, chewing gum, and lounging (i.e. - putting your feet up on an empty desk) in class. These activities should be reserved for outside of the classroom, as they interfere with speaking and learning French correctly and effectively.
4. If you are absent, your instructor will expect you to find a way to turn in your homework on the day it is due (either by giving it to a classmate/friend/roommate to bring to class, or by turning it in to your instructor's mailbox in BH 642).* In order to be considered for an excused absence, you will be expected to show written documentation of your absence to your instructor. This does not guarantee that your absence will be excused. Your instructor will make a decision based on the documentation that you provide, and may ask you for additional information as necessary.  *Remember to write your instructor's name, in addition to your own, on top of the work that you turn in to your instructor's mailbox. You should also have one of the FRIT administrative assistants stamp and initial your paper with the date and time you bring it into the office.

Your section of French 250 may be different from your friend's section of French 250. This is because each French 250 section has a different instructor whose teaching style may not be exactly the same as your instructor's. Your instructor also has the option of slightly modifying the French 250 syllabus to meet the individual needs of your class. Therefore, your section may not follow the French 250 syllabus in exactly the same order as your friend's section. Exam and oral presentation dates, however, will remain the same for all sections of French 250.

How can I succeed in my French 250 class?

Success with your instructor

1. Talk to your instructor. Go to his/her office hours at least three (3) times during the semester.
2. Be specific when talking to your instructor. Bring notes and questions with you. The more specific you can be, the better your instructor will be able to help you.
3. Make an appointment and/or contact your instructor as soon as you realize that you are having difficulty with a certain concept. Don't wait until you get a low grade on a quiz, assignment, or exam and then try to "catch up".
4. In class, don't expect to understand every word that your instructor says. Try to feel comfortable by making sure that you are getting the general ideas. Remember that your instructor may not be able to tell from your facial expressions whether or not you "really" understand something. If you do not communicate your difficulties to your instructor, s/he may think that you are simply unprepared for class. Speak up in class: let your instructor know that something was unclear for you. Chances are good that at least one of your classmates has the same concern.

1. Consult the F250 web site often and print out all necessary materials, keeping them for your reference throughout the semester.
2. Read your F250 syllabus each day, and not just at the beginning of the semester. Make special note of exam dates and plan ahead for them.
3. Make sure you understand exactly what you will be doing each day in class. If you don't understand, contact your instructor and/or a classmate in your own section.
4. Don't fall behind in your work. Language learning is cumulative: it builds on itself. Contact your instructor if you need additional help with certain concepts.
5. Don't skip over concepts in the textbook that you think you have already learned or those that require you to listen to the CD/audio materials. Reinforcement is the key to successful language learning.
6. If you are having trouble understanding fundamental grammar terms (nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.), consult an English grammar book. The best place to look is in the section of the bookstore or library for foreigners who are learning English.

Each week, your instructor will grade you on your class participation for the week based on the guidelines layed out on the course information page.  How do you make sure that you are getting the best grade possible for participation each week?

1. Go to class prepared each day. Don't expect to just "pick it up" from someone sitting near you.
2. Keep track of the ways you participate in each class, including the questions you answer, the questions you ask, and the questions you could have answered if you had been called on.
3. If you are shy and/or nervous in class, talk to your instructor in office hours about how you can let him/her know that you are still prepared and participating in class.

A student who earns a participation grade of 10 speaks only French during the entire class lesson, is as accurate as possible in his/her use of French, and makes every opportunity to incorporate new vocabulary into his/her responses. This student uses the group time effectively, completes the task successfully, listens to his/her partner(s) during the group work task, and is able and willing to respond for the whole group when the instructor asks for a group response. Finally, this student volunteers nearly every time the instructor asks for a response, whether or not s/he is actually asked to respond each time.
 
 
 

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