French Program

Ms. Sabo
email: msabo@llesd.org

 

Dear Students and Families,

Bienvenus à la classe de français!  First-time students, welcome to French class!  Welcome back to continuing students! 

I am delighted to be your French teacher.  This is my fourth year at La Entrada.  You will have fun learning to understand, speak, write, and read la langue française.  I want you to have such a good time this year that you choose French again as an elective next year.

The overall goal of our French Program is for you to enter 9th grade with 2nd- or 3rd-year French proficiency.  I coordinate with French teachers at Menlo-Atherton High School to make sure we cover their required 1st- and 2nd-year content in our three years together.

As a speaker of several foreign languages, I am committed to your learning any world language.  By learning French, you are joining a community of about 310 million people worldwide who speak French, or who live in the 33 countries where French is an official language, or who are learning French.  Here are some additional compelling reasons to study French:

  1. You will learn the only native language (other than English) spoken on five continents and taught in every country in the world. 
  2. You will learn the second most frequently taught language in the world (after English).
  3. Your understanding of English vocabulary and grammar will improve.

 

Parents, please come to Parent Information Night (PIN) next Thursday, August 27th, at 6:30 p.m. to learn about the detailed curriculum for the three levels of French: 1a, 1b, and 1c (6th, 7th, and 8th grade).  At any time, please contact me with your questions or suggestions.

Required materials.  Please bring to class by next Monday, August 24th:

One time only.  I will store these in the classroom for use throughout the year:
_____1 textbook cover—REQUIRED IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A TEXTBOOK.
_____Lined, loose-leaf paper (200 sheets)
_____200 index cards (3 in. x 5 in. or 4 in. x 6 in., any color except white)
_____1 white board eraser (or small rag or old sock)

Every day:
_____3-ring binder (1-inch)
_____Dividers (one package, 8 write-on tabs)
_____2 sharp pencils (or mechanical pencils and lead) with erasers
_____2 blue or black pens
_____2 red pens (or other bright color for correcting work)
_____1 container white-out tape or liquid pen
_____1 highlighter, any color
_____2 dry erase markers (for white boards)
_____1 pad post-it notes, any color (27/8 in. x 27/8 in.)

 

email: msabo@llesd.org

Interesting French Websites and Activities:

FRENCH CUISINE:
http://www.frenchteachers.org/nfw/cuisine.html  Set up your own bistro style Parisian cafe on your school patio, and try the various French food-related activities listed here.

THE ATELIER -- FRENCH ARTS AND CRAFTS:
http://www.frenchteachers.org/nfw/crafts.html  Just can't make it to France for National French Week this year? Then bring France to you, in the form of posters, displays, costumes, murals, and more.

VISITE VIRTUELLE DU LOUVRE:
http://www.clta.net/lessons/french/louvre.html Here is a simple webquest-type of activity tovisit the famous Louvre and its amazing collection of art and artifacts.

LE MONDE FRANCOPHONE:
http://www.clta.net/lessons/french/mondefranc.html Another internet exercise, this one has students comparing and contrasting French speaking countries the world over--as France surely isn't the only contender for French Week festivities.

BEADED FRENCH FLAG PIN:
http://www.web-holidays.com/bastille/crafts/safpin.asp Using safety pins and colored beads, you can create French flag pins to distribute and wear for National French Week.

SAMPLE IDEAS:
http://www.soniccreations.com/teachermanuals.html Scroll halfway down this page to find sample ideas that would be great fun to celebrate National French Week. For instance, recreate a Versailles Palace ball, complete with cotton ball wigs, or set up a supermarket --with French prix and food labels of course.

LA BELLE FRANCE:
http://www.lessonplanspage.com/ssFranceActivities.htm  Make a relief map of France from clay, create a travel brochure for Normandy, Provence, Alsace, or any of the other regions of France, dress up as a famous French personage and relate their history... more ideas here to help you fete the French.

JOYEUX NOEL:
http://www.cstone.net/~bry-back/holidayfun/france.html See how Christmas is celebrated in France (and other French speaking countries). Follow up with a Buche de Noel; instructions here