This class is designed for beginning French students with little to no prior knowledge. Students will start from the beginning to build their French vocabulary and grammar while focusing on being able to communicate. 

Please note that while I will make sure we follow the planned trajectory of vocabulary and grammar topics, some class sections may require extra practice on certain topics. Language learning is similar to building a house in that you must have a strong foundation in order to have a strong house. If I notice a group of students struggling with a topic, I will send out a class announcement letting families know that we will spend a little extra time on that topic. We will still have our new topics, but we will replace the last 10-15 minutes of class with varied practice activities (conversation, textbook exercises, games, etc.) I will also include some extra activities on the subject for students who need them. 

There is also a French Club that compliments this class through the study of French culture and media: https://outschool.com/classes/middle-school-french-club-level-12-ztfa9uRD?usid=cx5KcZag&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link


DESCRIPTION AND LESSON PLANS

This class will be taught using the flipped classroom method. Each week before class, students will be expected to watch a video where I will go over the vocabulary by teaching the French translations of English words, as well as a grammar point and any connecting vocabulary. They are asked to take notes OR look over the material a second time before class, just to make sure they're prepared. This method frees up class time for questions and more hands-on practice and engagement. In class, I will be using a "comprehensible input" method, by not using English for phrases students have previously heard/learned. If needed, I will also use drawings, hand motions, and modeling for those situations. Students will complete several group and break-out room activities* in order to practice the vocabulary and grammar from the video. We will also complete review activities to refresh previous vocabulary and grammar lessons.

*all break-out rooms will be closely monitored by me switching between rooms to keep students on-topic and help when needed


Week 1 - Se présenter (Introduce Yourself!)
Vocabulary - we will learn to introduce ourselves including how we're doing, name, age, country, and hobbies.
Grammar - we will learn about the French pronouns and talk about the difference between “tu” and “vous.”
In-Class -  We will go over the structure and rules of the class, as well as talking about student’s goals for the class. I will always start by allowing students to ask questions about anything that was in the video. Students will practice introducing themselves in French using the vocabulary, as well as pretending to be other characters. Students will complete an activity in breakout rooms to practice using the correct pronoun (tu or vous) and will practice dialogue in both scenarios. 

Week 2 - Mes Amis (My Friends)
Vocabulary - we will learn to introduce other people using“she/he/they,” including names, ages, countries, and hobbies. 
Grammar - we will learn about masculine/feminine nouns and their related articles, as well as how to say "this is"
In-class - I will always start by allowing students to ask questions about anything that was in the video. Then, students will interview a classmate in break-out rooms and then introduce that classmate to the class. Finally, students will choose a character and their sidekick from a book or movie. They will come up with an introduction for themselves as the main character, and then introduce the side character to us using he/she. 

Week 3 - La Personalité (Personality)
Vocabulary - we will learn to describe ourselves and others through physical appearance and personality. 
Grammar - we will learn the conjugation of ETRE and how to make adjectives agree with the gender of the noun.
In-Class - I will always start by allowing students to ask questions about anything that was in the video. Students will describe themselves, then they will interview a classmate about their best friend. We will go over the conjugations of ETRE, both verbal and written. Finally, students will work together in breakout rooms to come up with a character to describe. Then in the main room, they will describe the character and the other students will try to guess who it is. 

Week 4 - Que fais-tu? (What are you doing?)
Vocabulary - we will learn to talk about what we are doing in the present moment, learning common ER verbs.
Grammar - we will learn to conjugate regular “er” verbs using the present tense
In-Class - I will always start by allowing students to ask questions about anything that was in the video. Students will practice conjugating a variety of regular verbs in verbal and written form. Students will also complete a guided oral situation using the verbs they learned. Finally, we will use Kahoot to play a very simplified version of “Apples to Apples” using the personality adjectives we learned. 

Week 5 - Le Petit Déjeuner
Vocabulary - we will learn to talk about what breakfast foods we like/dislike, what we usually eat for breakfast, and our favorites. 
Grammar - we will learn about the word “de” in relation to food and its special grammar rules, as well as the slightly irregular conjugation of MANGER in the present tense.
In-Class - students will tell us about their breakfast habits, then they will discuss what foods they like and dislike in smaller breakout rooms. Finally, we will play an ER verb conjugation game.

Week 6 - Le Déjeuner et Le Dîner (Lunch and Dinner)
Vocabulary - we will learn foods commonly eaten for lunch and dinner.
Grammar - we will learn how to form the negative using "ne...pas"
In-Class - students will tell us about their lunch habits, then they will discuss what foods they like and dislike in smaller breakout rooms. Finally, we will play a Kahoot going over ER verbs.

Week 7 - Les Boissons et Le Dessert (Drinks and Dessert)
Vocabulary - we will learn different drinks in French.
Grammar - we will learn how to say "I would like" in order to ask for things more politely. We will learn how to conjugate the irregular verb BOIRE in the present tense.
In-Class - students will share the drinks they like and dislike, then students will create a restaurant role-play in breakout rooms.  We will then complete a group interview activity to review the conversational concepts we've learned so far.

Week 8 - Ma Famille (My Family)
Vocabulary - we will learn to talk about our families, including immediate and extended family members and pets
Grammar - we will learn how to conjugate the irregular verb AVOIR in the present tense, and how to count front 1-10.
In-Class - students will describe their families to the class. We will practice conjugating AVOIR in verbal and written form. Students will complete a break-out room activity to describe one or two family members in more detail.

Week 9 - La Chambre (The Bedroom)
Vocabulary - we will learn about furniture and objects that can be found in the bedroom.
Grammar - we will learn how to use "il y a" and colors
In-Class - students will describe their bedroom to us (they may also show us if they like). We will describe some photos together using "il y a." Finally, Students will complete a break-out room activity to play i-Spy in French. We will practice putting adjectives in the correct spot.

Week 10 - Chez Moi (My Home)
Vocabulary - we will learn the common rooms and furniture in a house.
Grammar - we will learn tonic pronouns and how to use them.
In-Class - students will describe their home to us (they may also show us if they like).  We will complete an exercise to practice using tonic pronouns. Finally, we will watch and discuss a simple video in French designed for beginners. 

Week 11 - En Ville (In Town)
Vocabulary - we will learn about different places in town in French and what you can do there (using ER verbs)
Grammar - we will learn how to conjugate the irregular verb ALLER in the present tense.
In-Class - students will describe their towns and what they can do there. Students will practice conjugating ALLER in verbal and written form. Finally, in breakout rooms, students will discuss where they like and dislike going.

Week 12 - Aujourd’hui (Today)
Vocabulary - we will learn the days of the week and months of the year, as well as how to ask for the day/month. 
Grammar - we will learn to count from 11-31 and how to put together dates in French (day/month/year)
In-Class - students will talk about what day and month it is that day, as well as what day and month they did something fun (note: students may NOT share birthdays, per Outschool's policy). Then, we will share our general routines on different days of the week. Finally, students will be asked to identify different dates in the French date style.

Week 13 - Les Questions (Questions)
Vocabulary - we will learn the question words (who, what, why, etc.)
Grammar - we will learn the yes/no question format and how to use it. 
In-Class - students will practice creating questions using the vocabulary that we know. Then, students will go into breakout rooms to discuss questions given by me. Finally, we will review any material students would like in preparation for evaluations.

Week 14 - Evaluations and Exams

For the end of the semester, students will be having evaluations. These evaluations are REQUIRED for all students in order to take the next semester. They will get some notes on what they did well and how they can improve, as well as mid-term grades (if applicable).

We will complete a listening activity with a Kahoot quiz in class, as well as some fun vocabulary and grammar games. (Only the Kahoot quiz will be graded, and will be graded on participation only)

As homework, students will complete the reading and writing portion of the exam on their own using Nearpod. This exam will be CLOSED BOOK, but students will be able to use their own notes.

Finally, students will each schedule a short, 15-20 minute meeting with me to have their speaking evaluation. We will have a 1-on-1 conversation where students listen to my questions and answer in French. It is very informal, and I give help when needed. This exam is NO BOOKS and NO NOTES, as I will be right there.