Overview
FREN 100: French for Beginners I is designed for students who wish to begin learning French. This course will familiarize students with the foundations of the French language and will help them to develop the four basic language skills of reading, writing, listening comprehension, and speaking. By the end of the course, students will be able to ask and answer a variety of questions. Students will also learn how to compose simple sentences that are grammatically correct and to express themselves in simple French.
Outline
FREN 100 follows the first six chapters of Chez Nous and the first half of French in Action. These two texts are the basic grammar and vocabulary building components of FREN 100.
Learning outcomes
When you have completed FREN 100, you should be able (both orally and in writing) to do the following in French:
- Participate in simple conversations about yourself
- Describe family members, their relationships, and everyday activities
- Describe people’s appearances, personalities, and daily routines
- Express likes and dislikes
- Discuss family structures across the Francophone world
- Describe sport and leisure activities
- Talk about university life in general and courses of study
- Talk about jobs and the workplace
- Discuss clothing and fashion
- Speak and write about food, meals, a variety of dishes, and shopping for food
- Speak and write about the importance of cuisine in the French-speaking world
Evaluation
To receive credit for FREN 100, students must complete and submit all five written assignments and achieve a minimum weighted average of 50%, as well as a minimum grade of 50% on the final written examination. Students must also complete and submit all four oral assignments and achieve a minimum weighted average of 50%, and a minimum grade of 50% on the final oral examination. Students must achieve a minimum course composite grade of D (50 %).
| Activity | Weight |
| 4 Written Assignments (6% each) | 24% |
| 1 Composition Assignment | 6% |
| 4 Oral Assignments (3% each) | 12% |
| Final Oral Examination | 8% |
| Final Written Examination | 50% |
| Total | 100% |
The final examination for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Scullen, Mary Ellen, et al. Chez nous: Branché sur le monde francophone. 5th ed., LingroLearning Publishers, 2024.
Capretz, Pierre J., with Barry Lydgate, Béatrice Abetti, and Marie-Odile Germain. French in Action: A Beginning Course in Language and Culture: The Capretz Method Part 1. 3rd ed. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2012.
Other Materials
All other course materials are offered online.
Special Course Feature
Each lesson in the French in Action textbook has a corresponding video component that students are required to watch. Students can watch these videos online or borrow them from Athabasca University Library.