le mardi 26 août (Tuesday, August 26)

After each class (by around 8 pm at the latest) I’ll post about what activities, sheets, etc. we did in class and what you should do for next time.

WHAT WE DID IN CLASS:

• Info cards (if you were absent/late, you can do this Thursday)
• Intro to what’s on our website
• Syllabus and course calendar
  • PowerPoint summarizing some key points
  • Make sure also to read the full syllabus and regularly check the calendar online.
• iLrn — info on how to buy it and sign up, how to do the exercises and use the eBook, where to go for help, etc.
• Useful expressions (Expressions utiles — keep this handy in class to help you speak in French)

• BOOK. Introduction in the book on where French is spoken
  • p. 2-3 and the Maps in the eBook on iLrn
  • A link which shows 77 countries where French is either spoken or is considered important culturally
• p. 6. Repeat « Contexte respectueux » (formal greetings)
  • I went around and greeted everyone (Bonjour ! Comment vous appelez-vous ? Je m’appelle Tom. Je suis de Memphis. etc.)
• p. 6 Repeat « Contexte familier » (informal greetings)
  • People greeted 3 classmates in French
  • Afterwards, a couple examples of Il s’appelle Tom (His name is Tom), Elle s’appelle Helen (Her name is Helen)

• Video clip of French class skit with Alec Baldwin and Adam Sadler (script; no good version of the video online—it’s part of the Best of Alec Baldwin DVD). Why real communication is more important than just parroting sounds!

WHAT’S FOR HOMEWORK AND REMINDERS

• By Wednesday at 11:59 pm
  • Get iLrn (and textbook if needed)
  • Set up iLrn account and sign up for our section (instructions here)
  • Do the two exercises in the Assignment Calendar on iLrn (S: 1-1-A S: A. Simple comme bonjour and  S: 1-2-1 S: 1. Formel ou familier?)
• Before class on Thursday
  • Continue with the course calendar. Make sure to check on there to see what’s coming up — what pages to read before class, any tests, etc.
  • For Thursday, for example, you should READ (not do the exercises on these pages, just read the pages over)
    • READ: Pratique de conversation, p. 7-8
    • READ: Perspectives culturelles, p. 9-10
    • READ: Thème, p. 11-14
    • READ: Structures 1.1-1.3, p. 26-29
  • In class on Thursday, as mentioned on the course calendar, we’ll do
    • Prononcez, p. 12