The French language and French-speaking cultures. Open only to
students who have fewer than two units of high school French.
Emphasis is on conversational skills with attention to reading,
writing, and listening comprehension.
Athena Title
Elementary French
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
Students will identify a general topic and some basic information in French in both very familiar and everyday contexts by recognizing practiced or memorized words, phrases, and simple sentences in texts that are spoken or written.
Students will communicate in spontaneous spoken and written conversations on both very familiar and everyday topics, using a variety of practiced or memorized words, phrases, simple sentences, and questions.
Students will present information on both very familiar and everyday topics using a variety of practiced or memorized words, phrases, and simple sentences through spoken or written language.
Students will identify cultural products and practices to help them understand others’ perspectives.
Students will interact at a survival level in some familiar everyday contexts.
Topical Outline
Pronunciation: Vowels and consonants, silent consonants, rhythm, and intonation.
Morphology: Regular verbs in -er, -ir, and -re
Irregular verbs: ˆtre, avoir, faire, aller, prendre
Adjectives: Postnomial and prenomial, possessive, demonstrative
Articles: Definite, indefinite, partitive
Syntax: Declarative, interrogative, negative, and imperative sentences.
Tenses: Present, past, futur proche
Pronouns: Direct and indirect object (3rd person)
Vocabulary: Numbers, place names, the clander, time, weather
Culture: University life, family and friends, cooking and food, travel, the French-speaking world, transportation, communication.
