French 331 Business French Spring 2009
MWF 1:50 pm-2:45 FAC 254 (updated daily)
Instructor: Nathan Love, Ph.D. (I.U.) 
Office: FAC 282 Office: 745-5909 E-mail: nathan.love@wku.edu
Office hours: MWF 10:15 am-11:00 am; TR 11:00 am-12:00 pm & by appointment
Web page: http://edtech.wku.edu/~nlove  Blackboard: http://ecourses.wku.edu

Required book: Business French: An Intermediate Course. Jean-Luc Penfornis.
ISBN: 0-618-61048-0 Houghton Mifflin, 2006. = BusFren

also published as:
français.com : méthode de français professionnel et des affaires. Jean-Luc Penfornis.
ISBN: 209-033171-2 CLE International (www.cle-inter.com) 2002.

Recommended books: Click to view. 

Recommended Web sites: Click to view. 
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F331 Business French is a course intended for those who have had some previous study of French, either three or more years in high school or F202. It concerns, especially, how to communicate in a business context. We are concerned with both communication within a company and without. The second emphasis of the course will be reinforcement of French language skills. Writing and speaking French are an integral part of upper division courses in the French program. (See my statement on teaching French.) F331 counts toward fulfilling the French minor and major. Through coursework, experience abroad, and other cultural encounters, the Modern Languages Program cultivates communicative skills and cultural awareness that prepare students at Western Kentucky University to be more knowledgeable and sensitive citizens of the global community.


  The course goals:
 
  1. Communication : Practice the various forms and conventions of business communication (oral and written) in French-speaking countries.
  2. Language : Develop an awareness of and greater mastery of linguistic structures essential to the business setting.
  3. Preparation : Gain confidence in communicating and in performing a variety of functions in French (internship, for example).
  4. Vocabulary & Reading : Read and discuss business texts in French.
  5. Expand intercultural knowledge: Develop an awareness of cultural difference, as well as social and economic factors that affect business in the French-speaking countries.
  6. Preparation: Become prepared linguistically to take DELF tests and more advanced French.

Books: Only Business French: An Intermediate Course is required; none of the others has been ordered, and may not, in any case, be readily available. Borrowings from the other business text books will be provided when appropriate, and will receive mention in the schedule or assignments below. The reference works will be useful to all advanced students of French, regardless of course work.


Participation and attendance: class attendance is mandatory, and participation is essential; speaking French at every opportunity will help a student with speaking and listening skills. Participation will solidify understanding of structure of the language and process of composing and editing written French. Students are to check Blackboard (http://ecourses.wku.edu) or my Web page (http://edtech.wku.edu/~nlove/331Business/f331spring2009.htm) and stay abreast of announcements, assignments and changes in the syllabus frequently. In the event that it is necessary to miss class, it is the responsibility of the student to find out what was covered and to learn the appropriate material. Upon returning to class students are expected to be fully prepared: ready to participate, to turn in assignments, and to take quizzes or exams as scheduled. When/if you miss a class meeting, you can be relatively certain that you missed at least one quiz (see below). If absent, one should contact me before the next class meeting – not to explain or excuse the absence, but in order to find out what was accomplished and, especially, what is to be prepared outside of class, unless you believe that you know with certainty what was missed and have no questions about it. To bolster participation you may elect to present to the class an exposé in addition to the two exposés that are obligatory.


Auditing An auditor is one who enrolls and participates in a course without expecting to receive academic credit. The same registration procedure is followed and the same fees charged as for courses taken for credit. An audited course is not applicable to any degree or certificate program. Regular class attendance is expected of an auditor. Other course requirements, which may be obtained in writing from the instructor, will vary depending on the nature of the course. Students interested in auditing a course should secure permission from the instructor and discuss course requirements prior to enrolling. Failure to meet course requirements may result in the auditor being withdrawn from the course at the request of the instructor. A successful audit will be recorded on the transcript with the designation AU. (from: Academic Requirements and Regulations, Undergraduate Course Catalog)


Assignments (or homework) will be posted on the timeline part of the syllabus below by means of a link on the date by which the assignment is due. Thus to know what is to be prepared for the January 9 class meeting, click on the link on "28 jan 09" below. (You will know when the assignment has been uploaded, as the date will appear in bold, and turn blue as a link upon passing the mouse over it.) There will be questions or assignments regularly posted on Blackboard or the Web page to be completed before the next class. Unless instructed otherwise, assignments are not printed out and handed in. The majority of the quizzes will cover these assignments.


Interactivités provide practice to reinforce what is presented or briefly reviewed during class. Interactivités will provide essential practice. They should also prepare students for quizzes, compositions, and the final exam. They may be part of what is assigned as homework.


Quizzes will be done in class, although most can be prepared for before class. There will at least one short quiz every class meeting. They will cover what has been assigned or recently presented. Quizzes over what is assigned will provide an indication whether the assignment has been completed and understood. Quizzes covering what has been recently presented during class will likewise provide an indication of your emerging skills, especially concerning grammar and composition. Some will be done as small group activities during class meetings. Among other things, they prepare a student for exams. As with Interactivités, quizzes are not busywork (none of us has time for that!); each one has a teaching or learning point behind it. Quizzes will be numerous; and may not be made up if missed. Since they will be numerous, you may well miss some or do poorly on others. Rather than drop a certain number of quizzes, your quiz average will be curved approximately ten percent to allow for the normal vicissitudes of life.


Student Engagement Activity / Project : CV et lettre de motivation en ligne. All Student Engagement Activities, university wide, you can -- and really ought to -- record at the WKU SEAT page.


Exams: Both exams are meant to gauge your progress toward the course goals with an efficient use of exam time. There will be no make up exams. If you anticipate a problem with taking an exam when it is scheduled, or if you should miss an exam, contact me at your earliest opportunity! The day and time of the final exam are established by the Registrar. Whereas there may be changes on the syllabus below, the day and time of the final exam are absolute. Please do not make plans, therefore, at variance with our scheduled final exam.


Expectations, in summary, are as follows. Students are expected 1) to study, do assignments, and prepare for class, 2) to attend class, contribute and participate during class, 3) avail themselves of resources, and to seek help from instructor when appropriate, including during office hours or by appointment, 4) to demonstrate knowledge and language skills in progress against what is expected, 5) to work, for instance, on pronunciation, listening comprehension and recognition of spoken vocabulary, 6) to submit by deadlines work required, 7) to turn in for a grade the student’s own work and, of course, not to permit work to be used by another for his/her graded assignments. 8) to stay abreast of announcements, assignments and changes in the syllabus at least three times each week. 9) to keep cell phones turned off and silent during class; to keep cell phones and other electronic devices capable of communication/data retrieval out of sight during all graded activities. The instructor is expected 1) to be prepared for teaching each class session, 2) to offer clear examples and explanations, 3) to encourage participation from students, 4) provide opportunities for you to hear, speak, write and read French and to offer, specifically, as much oral practice in class as possible, 5) to meet with students during office hours and by appointment outside of class, 6) to be fair-minded at all times, 7) to respect students, and their beliefs and opinions, 8) to challenge students to meet the course goals as fully as possible. (Click on statement on teaching to read my thoughts on the entire subject.)


Study some French every day without exception and you will discover why language courses used to meet daily. The best way to learn, to meet course objectives and to maximize benefits derived from study of French is without a doubt to study some French every day. You will not be particularly successful if you learn the material for the moment only. What you learn for a given day or for a given exam you will need to retain throughout the semester and specifically for the final exam which is cumulative.


Resources available include the textbook, consultations and assistance during office hours. I can find more resources for anyone needing more than these, and would be pleased to do so. 


        Course Grade -- sources & weights:
  • Project:
  • Quizzes & Worksheets:
  • Exam 1:
  • Final Exam:
20%
30%
20%
30%

Academic dishonesty: “Students who commit any act of academic dishonesty may receive from the instructor a failing grade in that portion of the course in which the act is detected or a failing grade in the course without possibility of withdrawal” (from the 2006-2007 online student handbook). Acts of academic dishonesty include the use of a translating device to complete writing assignments and failing to turn cell phones and PDAs off before taking an exam. Student work may be checked using plagiarism detection software. See Western's statement on academic dishonesty in the 2006-2007 online student handbook for more information. See the same source for university policy on plagiarism ‑ "To represent written work taken from another source as one's own is plagiarism. Plagiarism is a serious offense. The academic work of a student must be his/her own. One must give any author credit for source material borrowed from him/her. To lift content directly from a source without giving credit is a flagrant act. To present a borrowed passage without reference to the source after having changed a few words is also plagiarism." The use of online translation aids is strictly prohibited. Students enrolled may not assist one another on graded exercises.


Students with disabilities who require accommodations (academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids or services) for this course must contact the Office for Student Disability Services in DUC A-200 of the Student Success Center in Downing University Center. Please DO NOT request accommodations directly from the professor or instructor without a letter of accommodation from the Office for Student Disability Services.


Grade for Major or Minor: Effective in summer 2006, students must earn a "C" or better in any Modern Language course included among those that count toward the major or minor in French, German, or Spanish. This policy applies to all students who submit a degree program after the end of the spring 2006 semester.


Changes: Changes to all matters above may become necessary, especially regarding the syllabus and/or the due dates of graded work. The instructor reserves the right to make such changes as he/she deems necessary. It is the responsibility of the student to obtain the most recent iteration of the syllabus either as posted on the Blackboard site for this course or as made available in the classroom.


1 lundi 26 jan 09 Introduction: communication dans des contextes de communication; LeFranComProf 1 : la communication dans les affaires [5,10,11,16] ; gestes et paroles ; objectifs de la communication ; verbes de la communication

2 mercredi 28 jan 09 BusFren 1 : Prise de contact 1) Faire le tour de la table 2) Engager une conversation téléphonique : 1 & 2 ; A. Le point de grammaire; LeFranComProf 2: Le travail administratif [17,18, 20, ppt] ; communication téléphonique

3 vendredi 30 jan 09 BusFren 1 : Prise de contact 3) Accueillir à l'aéroport 4) Accueillir dans l'entreprise B. Le bon choix [19] ; À la croisée des cultures [20] ; LeFranComProf 3: Le téléphone [31, 35] ; English telephone equivalents ; LeFranComProf 3: Le téléphone [30, 31, 35] ; fiches supplémentaires

4   lundi 02 fév 09 DELF : compréhension écrite un petit mot et document logement ; compréhension audio à l'aéroport

5 mercredi 04 fév 09 BusFren 2 : Agenda 1) Prendre rendez-vous [22, 23 ] 2) Changer de rendez-vous [24, 25 ] ; A. Le point de grammaire ; Astérix [20] ; création d'entretiens au téléphone à partir de messages

6 vendredi 06 fév 09 BusFren 2 : Agenda 3) Organiser son temps de travail [26, 27] 4) Communiquer son emploi du temps [28, 29] ; B. Le bon choix [31]; À la croisée des cultures [32] ; un mél ; une lettre ; la lettre commerciale : format, exercice ; corrigé ; pour écrire une lettre , corrigé

7 lundi 09 fév 09 BusFren 3 : Voyage 1) S'informer sur le lieu de destination [34, 35] 2) se déplacer en ville [36, 37] métro ppt , métro interactif ; A. Le point de grammaire [42] ; B. Le bon choix [43] ; À la croisée des cultures [44] ; Europe
8 mercredi 11 fév 09 BusFren 3 : Voyage 3) Trouver le bon chemin [38, 39] 4) Faire du tourisme [40, 41] ;compréhension, pp. 37&41 ; lettre commerciale : les éléments
9 vendredi 13 fév 09 DELF: compréhension écrite le roller , corrigé ; compréhension audio à la gare , corrigé ; cinq coups de fil

10 lundi 16 fév 09 BusFren 4 : Hôtel 1) Choisir un hôtel [45-47] 2) Réserver une chambre d'hôtel [48-49]; A. Le point de grammaire ; hôtel BBC ; hôtel compréhension auditive ; hôtels sur Internet: sites général, hôtel

11 mercredi 18 fév 09 BusFren 4 : Hôtel 3) Séjourner à l'hôtel [50-51] 4) Adresser une réclamation [52-53]; B. Le bon choix [55]; À la croisée des cultures [56] ; à l'hôtel (vocabulaire); LeFranComProf 9: La communication avec les partenaires [102,103] ; LeFranComProf 7: Livraison, transport, assurance [80, 82] ; hotel-vocab. ; réservation d'hôtel pour notre Spring Break

12 vendredi 20 fév 09 DELF: compréhension écrite à l'hôtel ; compréhension audio à l'hôtel ; réservation d'hôtel pour notre Spring Break ; students-faculty ; corrigé

13 lundi 23 fév 09 BusFren 5 : Restauration 1) S'adapter aux traditions [58-59] 2) Passer commande [60-61] ; A. Le point de grammaire [66] ; commander en ligne ; dîner BBC ; le couvert à table ; réservation d'hôtel pour notre Spring Break plus note ; hôtel dialogue à compléter

14 mercredi 25 fév 09 BusFren 5 : Restauration 3) Travailler dans la restauration [62-63] 4) Faire des critiques [64-65] ; B. Le bon choix [67] ; le couvert à table ; Une cliente à la Casserole
15 vendredi 27 fév 09 Foreign Language Festival BusFren 5 : Restauration 3) Travailler dans la restauration [62-63] 4) Faire des critiques [64-65] ; grammaire : quantité et négation [132-33] ; étiquette

16 lundi 02 mars 09 DELF: compréhension écrite (français des affaires) cartes de visite ; compréhension audio dialogues divers ; débat : la restauration rapide ; French in Action restaurant Tante Georgette et un couple.
17 mercredi 04 mars 09 Révision
18   vendredi 06 mars 09 Premier examen - format

9 mars - 13 mars
Spring Break

19 lundi 16 mars 09 Premier examen - finir ; Projet ; la publicité française sur DVD ; projection de films français ; la vraie lettre
20 mercredi 18 mars 09 BusFren 6 : Entreprises 1) Découvrir l'entreprise [70-71] ; 2) Comparer des performances [72-73] ; A. Le point de grammaire [78] ; quelques entreprises françaises ; secteurs
21 vendredi 20 mars 09 DELF: compréhension écrite (français des affaires) la formation ; compréhension audio l'écologie ; la pub - résultats
Last day to drop a course with a W and to change from credit to audit.

22 lundi 23 mars 09 BusFren 6 : Entreprises 3) Réussir dans les affaires [74-75]; 4) Chercher des opportunités [76-77]; B. Le bon choix [79] ; Journal de la CCI de Brest
23 mercredi 25 mars 09 BusFren 10 : Points de vue 1) Lutter contre le chômage [118-119]; 2) Faire face à la mondialisation [120-123]; A. Le point de grammaire [126] ; le chômage & graphique ; organisation ; Nice : offres d'emploi ; offres d'emploi (bonjourdefrance) ; quelques abréviations utiles
24 vendredi 27 mars 09 DELF: compréhension écrite (français des affaires) Le tourisme et l'hébergement ; compréhension audio film : Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis ; Nice : offres d'emploi ; offres d'emploi (bonjourdefrance) ; quelques abréviations utiles

25 lundi 30 mars 09 BusFren 10 : Points de vue 3) Comparer des modèles éducatifs [122-123]; 4) Faire un tour de la presse [124-125]; le système éducatif en France ; de la maternelle au bacalauréat - ministère de l'éducation nationale ; B. Le bon choix [127]; À la croisée des cultures [128] ; Hatcher Lecture Series
26 mercredi 01 apr 09 BusFren 8 : Recherche d'emploi 1) Consulter les offres d'emploi (exemples) [94-95]; 2) Expliquer ses motivations [96-97]; A. Le point de grammaire [102] ; offres-site ; sigles ; les petites annonces ; poisson d'avril - article - fêtes
27 vendredi 03 apr 09 DELF: compréhension écrite le logement ; compréhension audio les CD

28 lundi 06 apr 09 BusFren 8 : Recherche d'emploi 3) Rédiger un curriculum vitae [98-99]; 4) Passer un entretien d'embauche [100-101]; PourParlerAffaires 7: Étape 2 ; B. Le bon choix [103]; À la croisée des cultures [104] ; modèles de lettres avec CV ; CV1 et CV2
29 mercredi 08 apr 09 PourParlerAffaires 7: Étape 1 chercher un emploi ; LeFranComProf 5: Le courrier de l'entreprise [54, 58, 60, 61]; La candidature ; rédiger un CV ; les petites annonces et exercices ; lettre de motivation et exercice ; lettre de candidature spontanée et prise de contact par téléphone ; un CV en Flash !
30 vendredi 10 apr 09 TCF: Compréhension orale - Niveau A2 ; Structures de la langue - Niveau A2 ; Compréhension écrite - Niveau A2 ; D'où viennent ces épreuves TCF ? ; un CV modèle ; une lettre modèle ; lancement du Projet

31 lundi 13 apr 09 Conditions du travail : LeFranComProf 2 [25] & PourParlerAffaires 7: Étapes 3 & 4 [86, 87, 88, 89]
32 mercredi 15 apr 09 BusFren 7 : Travail 1) Répartir les tâches [82-83]; 2) Aménager l'espace de travail [84-85]; A. Le point de grammaire [90]; LeFranComProf 2: Le travail administratif [25] ; À la croisée des cultures [80] Kentucky Foreign Language Conference -- no class
33 vendredi 17 apr 09 TCF: Compréhension orale - Niveau B1 ; Structures de la langue - Niveau B1 ; Compréhension écrite - Niveau B1 ; Projet CV ; Kentucky Foreign Language Conference -- no class

34 lundi 20 apr 09 BusFren 7 : Travail 3) Résoudre les conflits du travail [86-87]; 4) Travailler à l'étranger [88-89]; B. Le bon choix [91]; À la croisée des cultures [92] ; lettre de motivation - conseils
35 mercredi 22 apr 09 BusFren 7 : Travail 3) Résoudre les conflits du travail [86-87]; 4) Travailler à l'étranger [88-89]; B. Le bon choix [91]; À la croisée des cultures [92]
36 vendredi 24 apr 09 TCF: Compréhension orale - Niveau B2 ; Structures de la langue - Niveau B2 ; Compréhension écrite - Niveau B2 ; Projet lettre de motivation

37 lundi 27 apr 09 BusFren 9 : Prise de parole 1) Pratiquer l'écoute active [106-107]; 2) Présenter des objections [108-109]; A. Le point de grammaire [114]; LeFranComProf 4: La communication interne [41] ; la réunion [44, 45, 52] ; le compte rendu [47] ; comment s'expliquer en réunion ; quelle réunion?
38 mercredi 29 apr 09 BusFren 9 : Prise de parole 3) Faire une présentation [110-111]; 4) Poser les bonnes questions [112-113]; B. Le bon choix [115] ; À la croisée des cultures [116] ; un mél récent (Culture)
39 vendredi 01 mai 09 TCF: quelques jeunes à la recherche d'un emploi (vidéo coup de pouce ) ; Compréhension orale - Niveau C1 ; Structures de la langue - Niveau C1 ; Compréhension écrite - Niveau C1 ; entretien d'embauche [100-101; 166-167] ; entretien d'embauche - petit format ; Projet affiché sur blog (after 12:00 mid-night no submissions will be accepted)

40 lundi 04 mai 09 faire le compte rendu [LeFranComProf 44, 45, 47] ; conseils entretien d'embauche ; l'interculturel : atelier - informer une équipe d'Amérciains qui vont travailler en France ; entretien d'embauche - grammaire ; entretien d'embauche - texte ; matériel pour le bureau
41 mercredi 06 mai 09 TCF: Compréhension orale - Niveau C2 ; Structures de la langue - Niveau C2 ; Compréhension écrite - Niveau C2 ; la réunion [44, 45, 52]
42 vendredi 08 mai 09 Révision

vendredi
15 mai 09 Examen final - format  1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

Changes to the foregoing may be deemed necessary by the instructor. It is the responsibility of the student to obtain the most recent iteration of the syllabus either as posted on the instructor's web page or as made available in the classroom.
Course Grade | Quiz Grades | Exam 1  | Final Exam | Projet  

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