WASATCH JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
French 1, French 2 and, French 3
DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
Instructor: M. Pierre Baigue
1 - INTRODUCTION
Born and educated in France. Resident of the U.S. since 1974.
Bachelor of Arts degree in French (1989), University of Utah.
Master of Arts in Teaching degree (1991), University of Utah.
21st year at Wasatch.
Consultation:Please email me to make an appointment.
Email: (Preferred) pbaigue@graniteschools.org
2 - OBJECTIVES OF THE FRENCH PROGRAM
The general title of the French program at Wasatch Junior High
School is: "A liberalizing cultural experience in foreign education
presented in an immersion environment."
The general objectives are:
A - Provide all students with a knowledge and practice of the tools
and techniques which would facilitate the natural learning of ANY foreign
language or simply beginning to communicate in it, ANYWHERE and
ANYTIME. At some point in the future, students will need to communicate
with others who do not speak English in one of the many world languages and
dialects. Their activities and the time frames have not yet been determined.
The class therefore uses the French language as a tool to develop skills
which will be used by all at some point in the future.
B - Provide all students with a knowledge of the culture of France
This includes everyday life, current events, history,
geography, literature etc. The students who do not continue their study of
the language after two years, are, therefore, given a meaningful and lasting
experience which enhances their liberal education.
C - Provide the students who will continue their study of the
language in High School and College with a solid background in French. The
learning method we use revolves around the idea that understanding the
spoken and written language is the first step in language acquisition.
Recent developments in theory can be summed up in these words: "We learn to
speak or write by UNDERSTANDING what we hear or read without speaking or
writing."
This course takes its foundation in the "Input Hypothesis" developed by Dr.
Stephen Krashen and others.
Though the instructor will use English at times, to tell cultural
stories perhaps or to explain the techniques, the majority of this content
based course will be taught in French. His responsibility is to make
himself "understood" by providing "comprehensible input." The
responsibility of the students is to "understand" and "remember". Being
positive and attentive, asking when the input is not comprehensible, and
participating in all classroom and home activities are essential.
TEXTBOOK! We have 40 copies of the textbook in the classroom. As a general
practice, we DO NOT use the textbook. Instead students make their own
(textbook) "portfolio" or French folder using printed materials provided by
the teacher. The stories, news transcripts, songs, verb definitions are all
considered "authentic" materials. They are not intended to teach "skills"
(including grammar) but rather foster the objectives of the class as
described above. We DO NOT formally teach grammar, the stories are not
simplified in any way and conform to the notion that the reading and
listening should have "intrinsic value". In addition, we DO NOT
use "flashcards" to build vocabulary. French is not English translated.
The students learn how to listen and read in the target language somewhat
the way they learned in their first language, the NATURAL WAY.
3 - REQUIRED MATERIALS
A three-ring individual binder as shown in class.
Handouts given in class.
A #2 pencil or mechanical pencil with eraser.
Occasionally, basic color pencils.
A yellow highlighter which should be brought to class.
4 - CLASS RULES
1 - Walk calmly in the room.
2 - Be seated and quiet by the time the bell rings.
3 - Have material ready on desk and use it to "warm up."
4 - No homework (French or other) or English reading can be done
during class.
5 - Raise hand to speak and wait for permission.
6 - No interruption of any kind.
7 - No chewing-gum, candy or anything else in the mouth.
8 - Pay attention and participate in all class activities.
9 - No writing, reading or passing notes to other classmates.
10 - No writing on desks.
11 - Always bring required materials.
12 - Be always 100% honest when taking tests.
In addition, for security reasons, no back-packs are allowed in the
classroom.
5 - INCENTIVES FOR APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR
1 - If you follow these rules, you will find it easier to be
successful in French.
2 - You will obtain a good citizenship grade.
3 - You will obtain individual recognition.
6 - CITIZENSHIP GRADING
The result of an evaluation by the teacher of the student's positive
and negative behaviors.
4 - No negatives and lots of positives.
3 - Few negatives and lots of positives.
2 - No negatives and no positives.
1 - Quite a few negatives and only a few positives.
0 - Lots of negatives and no positives.
In addition the following district and school policies will be followed:
1 Unexcused absence will result in no more than a "1" in citizenship.
2 or more Unexcused absences will result in a "0".
3 tardies in one term will result in no more than a "2" in citizenship.
4 tardies will result in no more than a "1"
5 or more tardies will result in a "0".
An ASD will be issued at the 3rd tardy, another one at the 4th and an
administrative referral will be sent to the administration at the 5th.
7 - ACADEMIC GRADING
Grades will be exclusively based on regular tests which will be
worth a number of points each.
Students who miss a test will be asked to make it up AFTER school,
Mondays through Fridays.
If a student is absent for more than THREE days, the test (or
portion of the test) covering the material studied during the absence may be
waived at the discretion of the teacher. He will inform the student upon
return from absence.
Each term grade may include extra credit for PARTICIPATION in class.
This extra credit will be given at THE END of the term and will only show on
the report card. This should motivate students to do better or to continue
in their participation. In real life, communicating with others in their
language requires a good attitude, friendliness, interest in the
discussions, and a bit of courage.
NO OTHER EXTRA CREDIT work will be granted.
The grading scale is the following based on the highest scores:
85 - 100 % = A- and A
70 - 84 % = B-, B, and B+
55 - 69 % = C-, C, and C+
40 - 54 % = D-, D, and D+
Grades will be updated on the Internet after each test.
Approximately 60% of students receive an A or A- in these classes.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If a student (or a parent) is concerned about the learning
taking place in the class and at home and, in the end, about the grade which
shows how much learning is taking place,the BEST THING to do is to visit
with the teacher after school. Student (and/or parent) and teacher can then
design an INDIVIDUAL PLAN for each student to achieve desired success.
Please make an appointment in person or by email. Thank you!
8 - ATTENDANCE
Regular attendance is of prime importance. Missed class instruction
due to absences cannot be regained through homework or other means. All
absences, for any reason, will invariably affect performance on tests. This
may or may not affect the overall term grade.
Disclosure statement regarding
Audio-visual materials
An integral part of the French program at Wasatch Junior High is the use of a
large variety of audio-visual materials.
These include popular music videos, game show, children programming, news
events, and films.
Some films are for instance:
In French 1, “The Man in the Iron Mask,” “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” “The Count
of Monte Cristo,” “Les Misérables,” “The Red Balloon,” “My Uncle.”
In French 2, “My Father’s glory,” “My Mother’s Castle,” “The one that’s
left,” “The Forgotten piano,” “Ponette,” “The Butterfly.”
In French 3, “Cyrano de Bergerac,” “Jean de Florette,” “Manon of the
Spring,” “Joyeux Noël,” “The Butcher,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame (a
musical),” “Thaïs (an opera).”
All the audio-visual materials have been carefully chosen to achieve the
objectives of the French program as explained in the disclosure statement.
In addition, all contents that could be considered inappropriate for Wasatch
students are edited out during viewing.
If any parent has questions or concerns regarding these materials, please
feel free to email the teacher at pbaigue@graniteschools.org. I welcome a
conversation about this matter either by email or by appointment at the
school.
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I, (print your name) _____________________________________________, parent of
________________________________________________, have read and understand
the “Disclosure statement regarding Audio-visual materials.”
Signature: _________________________________________ date: _________________
Dear Parent(s)
An important part of the French class is practicing at home. We call
it “MAINTENANCE.”
In the class we use a variety of texts (culture, news events, short stories
etc.)
Our purpose is to make these texts “come alive.” Your student is well trained
in how to do this.
When texts come alive, they need to be maintained or “repeated over and
over.” This is to be done at home. I have modeled this activity in class.
Maintenance should be done three (3) times a week for thirty (30) minutes
each time, out loud as when one rehearses and memorizes lines for a play or
musical.
Would you make sure that days and times are set aside at home for completion
of this activity? If possible, you should hear your student practice. If, for
instance, you paid for piano lessons, you would want your child to practice
the piano at home and you would hear it.
Please email me any questions or comments regarding this program.
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I, (print your name) _____________________________________________, parent of
_____________________________________________, have read and understand
the maintenance program. I will follow through.
Signature: ________________________________ Date: __________________
