The University of Tennessee at Martin

Department of Modern Foreign Languages

French 451 (French for Business and the Professions); Sring of 2005, MWF 1-1:50 PM (in H407). Successful completion of French 341 or 342 or departmental permission prerequisite. Prof. TennesseeBob Peckham (427E Humanities -Tel. 881-7424. Home 587-6562. e-mail: bobp@utm.edu).

  Les examens CCIP seront en avril à Vanderbilt  

Pratiquons souvent

The course web site is your point of departure for all relevant assignments, so come frequently to the address below::

http://www.utm.edu/departments/french/f451.html

You may also need this basic information:

Dr. Peckham's office hours

MEDIA: Jean-Luc Penfornis, Affaires.com: méthode de français des affaires. (Paris: CLE International, 2003) + CD Audio.



OTHER PRACTICAL RESOURCES
Grand Dictionnaire French verb conjugator Dictionnaire d'Apprentissage du Français des Affaires
Make Accents with Your Computer Dictionnaires et glossaires Extensive French grammar resource


GOALS: French 451, "French for Business and the Professions" is a course refocused to meet more precisely the needs of students wanting to incorporate a knowledge of French language into a variety of future workplaces. It is devoted to the acquisition of linguistic proficiencies within the context of French and European business and professional scenarios, rather than being content or fact-focused. Our media will include the latest Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry approved coursebook (Affaires.com, 2003), a book targeting what is needed to pass the CCIP exams for the "Diplôme de français des affaires, 1er degré" or the "Certificat de français professionnel". Its six units deal with economic players, business creators, human resources, marketing, professional correspondance, and the bottom line. We will integrate a limited number of pertinant articles and videos. We will also build student compenence for speaking about their own chosen professions (not necessarilly in the business world), through independant reading of pertinant articles, viewing videos (where available), personally crafted vocabulary lists, and public discussion.

Our target proficiencies for participants are an ACTFL oral level of "Intermediate High" to "Advanced Plus", depending on entry level. Naturally, the language of the classroom will be French.

OBJECTIVES:
ATTENDANCE: Student attendees of physical classroom sessions are allowed 3 unexcused absences without penalty. EACH additional absence will result in the subtraction of half a point from their course grade (on 100 scale). For perfect attendance, 1 point will be added to the final grade. Those who will have regular absences because of scheduling difficulties must see me during the first two days of class.

ASSIGNMENTS will be specified in the lesson list below. All of those to be handed in 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.

French 451 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. 5 "bilans" = 500 points, 6th bilan (as final) = 100 points, "career day activities" = 150 points, class participation and homework = 150 points, class project - 100 points. There are a number of opportunities for extra credit. Besides the cultural events, conversation tables and extra TV5, I will offer 30 extra points on my 1000-point scale to anyone who will sign up for, study for and take (showing evidence for all 3) an appropriate CCIP (Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie) exam, which will be offered this Spring at Vanderbilt, and I offer a guaranteed "A" to the student who can pass the CCIP exam.

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

UTMartin University Policies and Procedures for Students
http://www.utm.edu/admin/s-handbook/policy.htm

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


CULTURAL EVENTS: The department strongly encourages those who will make use of a foreign language in their professions to reach an acceptable level of general cultural awareness. To this end, we have a CULTURAL EVENTS POLICY. Students qualify for extra credit by attending approved cultural events. They will be penalized for not attending a prescribed number of cultural events. PLEASE SEE DEPARTMENT'S CULTURAL EVENTS POLICY, on the handout or @ the following address:
Foreign Film Series evenings are cultural events (I insist you attend the French one):
HELP! Be honest with yourself and with me. If you have difficulty in this course, use your resource materials, and contact me ASAP. I want you to succeed.

TV 5: I will try to get some relevant off-air recordings of TV5 programs, but you can earn an extra credit point for each 150-word French summary of a business or profession-related program you saw during the semester on TV5

CONVERSATION HOUR: You are strongly encouraged to attend weekly conversation hours organized by the French Faculty. You can earn extra credit by attending three of these.

FRENCH CLUB: All interested students are encouraged to join the CERCLE FRANCOPHONE and to enrich their understanding of the French language and francophone culture by participating in its activities. Yes, you can earn extra credit this way.

*NOTE: "Any student eligible for and requesting academic accommodations due to a disability is requested to provide a letter of accommodation from P.A.C.E or Student Academic Support Center within the first two weeks of the semester".