Textbook

This course will use the Bien dit! level 3 textbook. As noted in the syllabus, it is available both as a traditional hardcopy textbook and as an online book.

There are some advantages in having the hardcopy version. Some students are simply more accustomed to studying from a regular textbook, some may want to reduce the time spent looking at a video screen, and some may not always have reliable internet access. These reasons and others may convince you to purchase the textbook.

All the textbook content relevent to the course is available in the online version, however. So purchasing the hardcopy is not required.

If you look over the table of contents for the textbook and skim through the pages, you will see that each textbook chapter is divided into sections. Below is a summary of each section.

Géoculture. Some chapters are preceded by Géoculture sections. You will learn about geography, art, architecture, food, and celebrations in these sections. In this course we will study La France, L’Afrique francophone, and L’Amérique francophone.
Chapter Opener. This gives an overview of what you will learn in each chapter.
Vocabulaire. The vocabulary sections focus on real-life situations and functional phrases to set a foundation for communicating in French. Large photos taken in real French-speaking settings help you create a context for the vocabulary you are learning.
Grammaire. Grammar is introduced using colors and highlighting to emphasize key points. Each grammar concept is introduced using the vocabulary previously learned in the chapter in order to create opportunities for real communicative situations.
Application. Here you can synthesize the vocabulary and grammar that you have learned. The Un peu plus sections either review or introduce a short grammar topic that builds on what you already know.
Culture. The culture sections describe products and practices in the francophone world. Lecture culturelle introduces you to a topic relating to the chapter vocabulary. Comparaisons challenges you to compare a francophone country with the United States. Finally, Communauté asks you to think critically about your own community. In addition, throughout the chapter there are Flash culture sections that provide brief cultural information in two or three sentences.

The textbook contains a video story that you can watch online called Télé-roman. You will learn the French language in context as the story progresses.
Lecture. Here you will read authentic texts in French. Every reading has a corresponding strategy to help tackle reading confidently, as well as pre- and post-reading activities.
L’atelier de l’écrivain. In this section, you are given a writing topic and then additional vocabulary and writing strategies to help you write about the given topic.
Prépare-toi pour l’examen. This section provides review activities, and grammar and vocabulary summaries for each chapter. There is also an online self-test.
Activités préparatoires. You are not assigned activities in this section; feel free to complete them for additional practice. This section is designed to prepare you for the AP French Language Exam.
Révisions cumulatives. These sections follow each chapter and offer connections between the material you have just learned and the material in previous chapters.
Chroniques. After every two chapters there are additional readings. They cover a wide range of topics. These readings are not assigned as part of your lessons, but feel free to read them to practice your reading skills.

Technology Requirements

Ability to listen to audio files (computer with speakers or headphones)
Ability to record yourself speaking using your computer (computer with sound card, microphone, headphones or speakers, sound recording software). Read Creating Spoken Audio Files on Your Computer for details.
Adobe Reader to download PDFs (free download at Adobe.com)
Firefox or Chrome web browsers are preferred.