They won't believe you're not French
Course in French Pronunciation, Diction, Phonetics, Dialectology

French 496 (Topics in French Language, CRN# 40848); Fall of 2009, MWF 1-1:50pm (in H407). Successful completion of French 222  or departmental permission prerequisite.  Prof. TennesseeBob Peckham (427E Humanities -Tel. 881-7424. Home 587-6562. e-mail: bobp@utm.edu). Your instructor has trained professionl opera singers and actors in diction, and is a former student of the famous French phonetician André Malécot.

Prof. Peckham's office, class and lab hours
http://www.utm.edu/departments/french/offhours.html

MEDIA: Dansereau, Savoir dire: cours de phonétique et de prononciation (Lexington, Mass: D.C. Heath. 1990) and web activities .

    French alphabet, IPA online, phonetics lessons,  tongue twisters, dialects, and texts.

    PRONOUNCE IT RIGHT IN FRENCH! Globe-Gate learning object (with TTS apps)

    Class projects: Kaïn: "Parle-moi d'toi"

GOALS & OBJECTIVES:  To give students the tools, knowledge, and training to allow a noticeable improvement in their French pronunciation, rhythm and the size of French utterances they can make without a hesitation breakdown. To allow them also to hear more of what others say and analyse how they say it. To make students aware of French dialects, patois and their origines. What we do is not a major issue in the ACFL speaking proficiency guidelines, but the projected change in linguistic behavior should allow students to surmount the pronunciation barrior of Intrermediate-Mid, which states: "Pronunciation may continue to be strongly influenced by first language..."

STRATEGIES: We will study the physiology of pronunciation (anatomy, flow, constriction and occlusion of air, points of articulation), study phonemics and the effects of context on phonemes (regressive and progressive assimilation, etc.), we will make French transcriptions of popular songs, snd IPA phonetic transcriptions of short passages, use digital recordings as models for our pronunciation, and Wimba voice tools for our own recordings, with attention at the syllabic, word, phrase, sentence and passage levels. If we have the time and interest, we will attempt some vidio lip-sync voice-overs, or make a short dramatic reading of a selection for several voices. We will listen to, describe and interpret French, patois and Creole from several areas where UTM students have studied, and learn the real history of the French language and its patois.

LANGUAGE: Since much of what we do will be to listen and transcribe, pronounce by immitation, the language of the class will geverally be French. There will be exceptions when we get into issues of historical linguistics and other technical areas.

ATTENDANCE: Student are allowed 3 unexcused absences without penalty. EACH additional absence will result in the subtraction of 5 points from their course grade (on 100 scale). There may be exceptions because of verifiable illness.Those who will have regular absences because of scheduling difficulties must see me during the first two days of class, and always bring me medical documentation of illness. If you have decided illness will keep you from coming to class, I ask that you contact me preferably by email. Use the word "sick" and the course number in the subject line.

If an emergency situation arises (such as complications from H1N1 Flu) and class is cancelled please check your UT Martin email account for instructions about the class.  If you are ill from swine flu, you will should follow the directions of the student health or from your doctor.  It is important, though, to realize that while there will be flexibility in the attendance policy these absences will count and you will still be held accountable for missed work.

ASSIGNMENTS will be specified in the lesson list below. All of those not in IPA symbols or recordings, will be typed or will be submitted in electronic form, as a Microsoft Word attchment or in the text of an email. All late assigignments (not officially excused) will cary a penalty to be determined by the situation and importance of the assignment. Consult the

French 496 Lesson List

GRADE SCALE & DETERMINATION: 90 -100 = A; 80 - 89 = B; 70 - 79 = C; 60 - 69 = D; below 60 = F. I use a 1000 point scale, so divide by 10.  Three exams (4 x 100=400),  four transcription or oral projects  (4 x 50=200), homework and class performance = 200,  final = 200 points.

GENERAL & ETHICAL EXPECTATIONS: We expect students to demonstrate a solid work ethic, and to conduct themselves as ladies and gentlemen, with the

    The University of Tennessee at Martin Student Handbook (latest edition)
    http://www.utm.edu/studenthandbook/

as a base-line minumum for their behavior. Anything else is unacceptable to this instructor.

EXTRA CREDIT: We will have a limited number of course-related extra-credit opportunities.

3336