Faculty Syllabus

AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

FRENCH 1- FREN 1411- SPRING 2026

Course

French 1   FREN 1411 - 005       Synonym 16790

Professor

Name:       Annick Penant

Email:        apenant@austincc.edu

Course meeting:

Monday –Wednesday 10:00 am – 11:50 am

RGC            RG 30        Room 3204

Office hour

Monday - Wednesday: 12:00 pm – 12:50 pm

Adjunct office - Room 3174

Or by appointment

Course description

Credit Hours: 4

Classroom Contact Hours per week: 4

Laboratory Contact Hours per week: 0

Study of fundamentals of French: conversation, basic writing, listening and reading comprehension, vocabulary building, grammar, and culture.  

This is a beginning level course. In this course you will learn to read, write, speak, and understand French at a novice level, and will increase your knowledge of the culture of French-speaking regions around the world. There is no prerequisite for this course.

Course Rationale

In addition to offering the fundamentals of the French language, this course is intended to fulfill one semester of the World Languages requirement as needed for Associate Degree plans and transfer credit to four-year institutions. The number of courses required varies from discipline and institution.

Credit by Examination/High School Language Credit

If you are not sure if this course is the correct level for you, please talk to your professor.  You can earn college credit without taking this course by exploring all your options. You could easily be placed in the appropriate level, which could save you time and money.  You can earn credit for this course with the following:

High School AP or IB scores

Course Challenge Exams (ACCs in house exams for all languages)

The CLEP National Exam (French, German, and Spanish only)

Please be aware that there is not a financial penalty incurred for a level change at ACC. Please visit our departmental website for more information or talk to your professor:  http://sites.austincc.edu/fola/credit-by-exam/

General Education Student Learning Outcomes

Students will demonstrate competence in:

—    Critical Thinking

Gather, analyze, synthesize, evaluate and apply information for the purposes of innovation, inquiry, and creative thinking.

—    Teamwork

Consider different points of view to work collaboratively and effectively in pursuit of a shared purpose or goal.

—    Social Responsibility

Analyze differences and commonalities among peoples, ideas, aesthetic traditions, and cultural practices to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities

—    Personal Responsibility

Identify and apply ethical principles and practices to decision-making by connecting choices, actions and consequences

—    Communication Skills

Develop, interpret, and express ideas and information through written, oral and visual communication that is adapted to purpose, structure, audience, and medium.

Course Outcomes

The main objective of this course is to develop competencies that align with the general education goals of critical thinking, interpersonal skills, civic and cultural awareness, personal responsibility, and written, oral and visual communication, in the French language, at an appropriate level. The ability to understand and communicate and comprehend French will develop along with the knowledge of the vocabulary, grammatical structures of the language, and exploration of how culture shapes communication. Two to three hours a day should be dedicated for the study of French (at least two hours outside of class for each hour in class).

At the end of French 1411, students should be able to do the following:

CRITICAL THINKING:

• utilize context, cognates, and related familiar words to understand written passages.
• determine what information is important when reading or listening for the gist or for specific information.
• utilize brainstorming and appropriate sequencing and visualization techniques to organize their writing.
• utilize language creatively to talk about familiar topics.
• compare and contrast aspects of French society and discuss some advantages and disadvantages of each.

TEAMWORK (Interpersonal Skills):

• interview classmates and tell information about them.
• create dialogues with partners talking about their daily lives and other topics related to them.
• help one another with areas of difficulty.
• brainstorm in groups to organize tasks.
• share resources related to common interests.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (Civic and Cultural Awareness):

• compare customs when meeting and greeting people and explain how differences can lead to misunderstandings.
• utilize formal and informal speech correctly.
• compare and contrast aspects of French society with their own, and discuss advantages and disadvantages of each.
• compare values related to daily life.
• name countries where French is spoken and contrast differences between them.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY:

• show time management skills by successfully completing tasks on time.
• demonstrate effective study habits for language learning.
• state how learning French will be useful to them and improve their lives.
• name aspects of French language and culture of personal interest.

COMMUNICATION (Written, Oral and Visual Communication):

• utilize context, cognates, and related familiar words to understand unfamiliar material in written passages.
• determine what information is important when reading or listening for the gist or for specific information.
• utilize brainstorming, appropriate sequencing, and visualization techniques to organize their writing.
• exhibit conceptual understanding and control of courtesy expressions .
• interpret and express ideas in the present tense on familiar topics through written, oral, and visual communication.

Discipline-Level Learning Outcomes for French

At the end of the fourth semester of French, students should be able to:

CRITICAL THINKING:

• utilize a variety of reading or listening strategies for comprehension.
• draw inferences from information that has been presented.
• synopsize and synthesize the information from passages heard or read.
• utilize language creatively to make it relevant their lives.
• make comparisons and find contrasts among the different Francophone cultures and their own and explain different values.
• mention implications and applications of information they have read or heard.

TEAMWORK (Interpersonal Skills):

• complete a variety of language-based activities working in pairs and small groups.
• demonstrate the ability to negotiate meaning to complete language-based activities.
• demonstrate the ability to work in groups to achieve a common goal.
• demonstrate the ability to consider different points of view and work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (Civic and Cultural Awareness):

• compare and contrast different perspectives on cultural issues, customs, and traditions after reading or listening to passages in the French language.
• demonstrate some intercultural competence by correctly using formal and informal speech, changing registers as needed, and using gestures.
• mention some differences among the French-speaking countries.
• show awareness of current events in French-speaking regions and analyze their implications.
• state ways that studying French-speaking societies can help understand and improve their own society.
• explain the importance of knowledge of French culture for relationships between individuals, businesses, or nations.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY:

• demonstrate effective language learning strategies.
• state how learning French will be useful to them and improve their lives.
• name and investigate aspects of French language and culture of personal interest.
• explain the value of learning about other people and respecting  cultural differences.
• make appropriate decisions when interacting with people from different cultures.

COMMUNICATION (Written, Oral and Visual Communication):

• show effective written and spoken communication in French at the appropriate level using a variety of strategies and adopting the appropriate type of speech. 
• use listening strategies such as listening for the main idea and for specific details and asking for clarification.
• exhibit conceptual understanding and control of courtesy expressions and appropriate kinesics when speaking in French
• interpret and express ideas through written, oral and visual communication

Textbook and materials

You will need technology access, including microphone / recording capabilities, to complete your assignments for this course. If you don’t have it yourself, you can use the computers in the Learning Labs or Computer Labs at ACC during the hours they are open.

Textbook and Materials:

Either:

Horizons 7e (Manley, Smith, McMinn-Reyna, Prévost, Cengage publishing company)

Inclusive Access (Unless you opted out, you purchased access to the online materials when you paid your tuition and fees.)

[Instructors may require the print upgrade or make it optionl.] Print upgrade (ISBN 9780357092842). This is a loose-leaf hardcopy of the print textbook available to students with Inclusive Access at ACC bookstores for $46.95.

Or:

Horizons 7e (Manley, Smith, McMinn-Reyna, Prévost, Cengage publishing company) Loose leaf with Mindtap 4-semester access (ISBN 9781337807593) This is for students who opt out on Inclusive access.

If you opted out and purchased an access code for the online materials, be careful not to lose it. You will need it to register for the materials for FREN 1412 and FREN 2311.

For more information on inclusive access for the online materials Cengage Unlimited, go to:

https://www.cengage.com/student-training/mindtap/blackboard/ia-yes

Registering for materials in Blackboard

Follow these instructions to register for the class online in Mindtap,

• Log into Blackboard and click the link for our French 1411 course.
• Select the content area for Horizons Online Textbook and click on the course link with the Cengage icon.  
• If you already have a Cengage user name and password, use them to login. Otherwise create them and follow the directions online to complete the registration.

Instructional

In this course you will learn new grammatical structures and vocabulary to talk about the workplace, the arts, and current events, but there will also be a cyclical review of grammatical structures from previous French courses that are useful for everyday communication. Students' ability to understand and communicate in French will be enhanced as a result of the constant practice of the targeted grammatical structures and the acquisition of new vocabulary.  During class, the component of listening and speaking will be emphasized. Students are expected to come to class well prepared so that they can participate in the discussions. Students will be required to work in pairs and small groups. Active participation in the discussion groups is essential for the success of the class. The reading and writing component of the class will be mainly practiced at home. The SAM (Student Activities Manual) and reading/writing assignments will be helpful to continue developing these two skills. 

Student Technology Support

Austin Community College provides free, secure drive-up WiFi to students and employees in the parking lots of all campus locations. WiFi can be accessed seven days a week, 7 am to 11 pm. Additional details are available at https://www.austincc.edu/sts.

Students who do not have the necessary technology to complete their ACC courses can request to borrow devices from Student Technology Services. Available devices include iPads, webcams, headsets, calculators, etc. Students must be registered for a credit course, Adult Education, or Continuing Education course to be eligible. For more information, including how to request a device, visit http://www.austincc.edu/sts.

Student Technology Services offers phone, live-chat, and email-based technical support for students and can provide support on topics such as password resets, accessing or using Blackboard, access to technology, etc. To view hours of operation and ways to request support, visit http://www.austincc.edu/sts.

Grading   

Grades are determined as shown:

HOMEWORK                                                       15%                                A = 90-

QUIZZES                                                                10%                                B = 80-89

CULTURE PRESENTATION                              5%                                   C = 70-79 

WRITTEN EXAMS [4]                                                            40%                                D = 60-69 

ORAL EXAM                                                        10%                                F = below 60 

FINAL EXAM                                                        20% 

• DAILY GRADES will be made up of a daily quiz and homework.

There will be a quiz almost every class. Quizzes are based on the material from the previous class and the homework assignment. There are no make-ups for daily quizzes under any circumstances, but you lowest three quiz grades will be dropped.

You will submit online homework assignments for almost every class. You will find your assignments and due dates on the Mindtap site. Assignments not completed on the due date may be submitted for late credit of __%, as long as they are completed prior to the date of the exam over the material being practiced.

• Cultural presentation – You and your partner will choose a French city other than Paris and will do a 10-minute cultural presentation in English and French.

After you choose the city, you will be assigned a date for your presentation. Your presentation should use visual support such as PowerPoint and include:

a description of the city of choice (geography, climate, location, population, dialects), economy of the city, tourist attractions, monuments, museums…, famous people (music, literature, cinema, politics, history, etc.), traditional dishes, customs and celebrations, pictures and very short videos, etc.

• There will be four chapter exams, one after each chapter.

Make-ups and retests are not usually permitted. To qualify for a make-up, you must contact the professor prior to the exam time and supply written proof of emergency. If a make-up exam is granted for anything other than a verifiable emergency, 10 points will be deducted from the exam grade.

• There will be an oral exam.
• There will be a cumulative final exam covering the most important parts of the class. It may not be taken late or early.

AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

FRENCH 1- FREN 1411- SPRING 2026

Course

French 1   FREN 1411 - 005       Synonym 16790

Professor

Name:       Annick Penant

Email:        apenant@austincc.edu

Course meeting:

Monday –Wednesday 10:00 am – 11:50 am

RGC            RG 30        Room 3204

Office hour

Monday - Wednesday: 12:00 pm – 12:50 pm

Adjunct office - Room 3174

Or by appointment

Course description

Credit Hours: 4

Classroom Contact Hours per week: 4

Laboratory Contact Hours per week: 0

Study of fundamentals of French: conversation, basic writing, listening and reading comprehension, vocabulary building, grammar, and culture.  

This is a beginning level course. In this course you will learn to read, write, speak, and understand French at a novice level, and will increase your knowledge of the culture of French-speaking regions around the world. There is no prerequisite for this course.

Course Rationale

In addition to offering the fundamentals of the French language, this course is intended to fulfill one semester of the World Languages requirement as needed for Associate Degree plans and transfer credit to four-year institutions. The number of courses required varies from discipline and institution.

Credit by Examination/High School Language Credit

If you are not sure if this course is the correct level for you, please talk to your professor.  You can earn college credit without taking this course by exploring all your options. You could easily be placed in the appropriate level, which could save you time and money.  You can earn credit for this course with the following:

High School AP or IB scores

Course Challenge Exams (ACCs in house exams for all languages)

The CLEP National Exam (French, German, and Spanish only)

Please be aware that there is not a financial penalty incurred for a level change at ACC. Please visit our departmental website for more information or talk to your professor:  http://sites.austincc.edu/fola/credit-by-exam/

General Education Student Learning Outcomes

Students will demonstrate competence in:

—    Critical Thinking

Gather, analyze, synthesize, evaluate and apply information for the purposes of innovation, inquiry, and creative thinking.

—    Teamwork

Consider different points of view to work collaboratively and effectively in pursuit of a shared purpose or goal.

—    Social Responsibility

Analyze differences and commonalities among peoples, ideas, aesthetic traditions, and cultural practices to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities

—    Personal Responsibility

Identify and apply ethical principles and practices to decision-making by connecting choices, actions and consequences

—    Communication Skills

Develop, interpret, and express ideas and information through written, oral and visual communication that is adapted to purpose, structure, audience, and medium.

Course Outcomes

The main objective of this course is to develop competencies that align with the general education goals of critical thinking, interpersonal skills, civic and cultural awareness, personal responsibility, and written, oral and visual communication, in the French language, at an appropriate level. The ability to understand and communicate and comprehend French will develop along with the knowledge of the vocabulary, grammatical structures of the language, and exploration of how culture shapes communication. Two to three hours a day should be dedicated for the study of French (at least two hours outside of class for each hour in class).

At the end of French 1411, students should be able to do the following:

CRITICAL THINKING:

• utilize context, cognates, and related familiar words to understand written passages.
• determine what information is important when reading or listening for the gist or for specific information.
• utilize brainstorming and appropriate sequencing and visualization techniques to organize their writing.
• utilize language creatively to talk about familiar topics.
• compare and contrast aspects of French society and discuss some advantages and disadvantages of each.

TEAMWORK (Interpersonal Skills):

• interview classmates and tell information about them.
• create dialogues with partners talking about their daily lives and other topics related to them.
• help one another with areas of difficulty.
• brainstorm in groups to organize tasks.
• share resources related to common interests.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (Civic and Cultural Awareness):

• compare customs when meeting and greeting people and explain how differences can lead to misunderstandings.
• utilize formal and informal speech correctly.
• compare and contrast aspects of French society with their own, and discuss advantages and disadvantages of each.
• compare values related to daily life.
• name countries where French is spoken and contrast differences between them.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY:

• show time management skills by successfully completing tasks on time.
• demonstrate effective study habits for language learning.
• state how learning French will be useful to them and improve their lives.
• name aspects of French language and culture of personal interest.

COMMUNICATION (Written, Oral and Visual Communication):

• utilize context, cognates, and related familiar words to understand unfamiliar material in written passages.
• determine what information is important when reading or listening for the gist or for specific information.
• utilize brainstorming, appropriate sequencing, and visualization techniques to organize their writing.
• exhibit conceptual understanding and control of courtesy expressions .
• interpret and express ideas in the present tense on familiar topics through written, oral, and visual communication.

Discipline-Level Learning Outcomes for French

At the end of the fourth semester of French, students should be able to:

CRITICAL THINKING:

• utilize a variety of reading or listening strategies for comprehension.
• draw inferences from information that has been presented.
• synopsize and synthesize the information from passages heard or read.
• utilize language creatively to make it relevant their lives.
• make comparisons and find contrasts among the different Francophone cultures and their own and explain different values.
• mention implications and applications of information they have read or heard.

TEAMWORK (Interpersonal Skills):

• complete a variety of language-based activities working in pairs and small groups.
• demonstrate the ability to negotiate meaning to complete language-based activities.
• demonstrate the ability to work in groups to achieve a common goal.
• demonstrate the ability to consider different points of view and work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (Civic and Cultural Awareness):

• compare and contrast different perspectives on cultural issues, customs, and traditions after reading or listening to passages in the French language.
• demonstrate some intercultural competence by correctly using formal and informal speech, changing registers as needed, and using gestures.
• mention some differences among the French-speaking countries.
• show awareness of current events in French-speaking regions and analyze their implications.
• state ways that studying French-speaking societies can help understand and improve their own society.
• explain the importance of knowledge of French culture for relationships between individuals, businesses, or nations.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY:

• demonstrate effective language learning strategies.
• state how learning French will be useful to them and improve their lives.
• name and investigate aspects of French language and culture of personal interest.
• explain the value of learning about other people and respecting  cultural differences.
• make appropriate decisions when interacting with people from different cultures.

COMMUNICATION (Written, Oral and Visual Communication):

• show effective written and spoken communication in French at the appropriate level using a variety of strategies and adopting the appropriate type of speech. 
• use listening strategies such as listening for the main idea and for specific details and asking for clarification.
• exhibit conceptual understanding and control of courtesy expressions and appropriate kinesics when speaking in French
• interpret and express ideas through written, oral and visual communication

Textbook and materials

You will need technology access, including microphone / recording capabilities, to complete your assignments for this course. If you don’t have it yourself, you can use the computers in the Learning Labs or Computer Labs at ACC during the hours they are open.

Textbook and Materials:

Either:

Horizons 7e (Manley, Smith, McMinn-Reyna, Prévost, Cengage publishing company)

Inclusive Access (Unless you opted out, you purchased access to the online materials when you paid your tuition and fees.)

[Instructors may require the print upgrade or make it optionl.] Print upgrade (ISBN 9780357092842). This is a loose-leaf hardcopy of the print textbook available to students with Inclusive Access at ACC bookstores for $46.95.

Or:

Horizons 7e (Manley, Smith, McMinn-Reyna, Prévost, Cengage publishing company) Loose leaf with Mindtap 4-semester access (ISBN 9781337807593) This is for students who opt out on Inclusive access.

If you opted out and purchased an access code for the online materials, be careful not to lose it. You will need it to register for the materials for FREN 1412 and FREN 2311.

For more information on inclusive access for the online materials Cengage Unlimited, go to:

https://www.cengage.com/student-training/mindtap/blackboard/ia-yes

Registering for materials in Blackboard

Follow these instructions to register for the class online in Mindtap,

• Log into Blackboard and click the link for our French 1411 course.
• Select the content area for Horizons Online Textbook and click on the course link with the Cengage icon.  
• If you already have a Cengage user name and password, use them to login. Otherwise create them and follow the directions online to complete the registration.

Instructional

In this course you will learn new grammatical structures and vocabulary to talk about the workplace, the arts, and current events, but there will also be a cyclical review of grammatical structures from previous French courses that are useful for everyday communication. Students' ability to understand and communicate in French will be enhanced as a result of the constant practice of the targeted grammatical structures and the acquisition of new vocabulary.  During class, the component of listening and speaking will be emphasized. Students are expected to come to class well prepared so that they can participate in the discussions. Students will be required to work in pairs and small groups. Active participation in the discussion groups is essential for the success of the class. The reading and writing component of the class will be mainly practiced at home. The SAM (Student Activities Manual) and reading/writing assignments will be helpful to continue developing these two skills. 

Student Technology Support

Austin Community College provides free, secure drive-up WiFi to students and employees in the parking lots of all campus locations. WiFi can be accessed seven days a week, 7 am to 11 pm. Additional details are available at https://www.austincc.edu/sts.

Students who do not have the necessary technology to complete their ACC courses can request to borrow devices from Student Technology Services. Available devices include iPads, webcams, headsets, calculators, etc. Students must be registered for a credit course, Adult Education, or Continuing Education course to be eligible. For more information, including how to request a device, visit http://www.austincc.edu/sts.

Student Technology Services offers phone, live-chat, and email-based technical support for students and can provide support on topics such as password resets, accessing or using Blackboard, access to technology, etc. To view hours of operation and ways to request support, visit http://www.austincc.edu/sts.

Grading   

Grades are determined as shown:

HOMEWORK                                                       15%                                A = 90-

QUIZZES                                                                10%                                B = 80-89

CULTURE PRESENTATION                              5%                                   C = 70-79 

WRITTEN EXAMS [4]                                                            40%                                D = 60-69 

ORAL EXAM                                                        10%                                F = below 60 

FINAL EXAM                                                        20% 

• DAILY GRADES will be made up of a daily quiz and homework.

There will be a quiz almost every class. Quizzes are based on the material from the previous class and the homework assignment. There are no make-ups for daily quizzes under any circumstances, but you lowest three quiz grades will be dropped.

You will submit online homework assignments for almost every class. You will find your assignments and due dates on the Mindtap site. Assignments not completed on the due date may be submitted for late credit of __%, as long as they are completed prior to the date of the exam over the material being practiced.

• Cultural presentation – You and your partner will choose a French city other than Paris and will do a 10-minute cultural presentation in English and French.

After you choose the city, you will be assigned a date for your presentation. Your presentation should use visual support such as PowerPoint and include:

a description of the city of choice (geography, climate, location, population, dialects), economy of the city, tourist attractions, monuments, museums…, famous people (music, literature, cinema, politics, history, etc.), traditional dishes, customs and celebrations, pictures and very short videos, etc.

• There will be four chapter exams, one after each chapter.

Make-ups and retests are not usually permitted. To qualify for a make-up, you must contact the professor prior to the exam time and supply written proof of emergency. If a make-up exam is granted for anything other than a verifiable emergency, 10 points will be deducted from the exam grade.

• There will be an oral exam.
• There will be a cumulative final exam covering the most important parts of the class. It may not be taken late or early.

AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

FRENCH 1- FREN 1411- SPRING 2026

Course

French 1   FREN 1411 - 005       Synonym 16790

Professor

Name:       Annick Penant

Email:        apenant@austincc.edu

Course meeting:

Monday –Wednesday 10:00 am – 11:50 am

RGC            RG 30        Room 3204

Office hour

Monday - Wednesday: 12:00 pm – 12:50 pm

Adjunct office - Room 3174

Or by appointment

Course description

Credit Hours: 4

Classroom Contact Hours per week: 4

Laboratory Contact Hours per week: 0

Study of fundamentals of French: conversation, basic writing, listening and reading comprehension, vocabulary building, grammar, and culture.  

This is a beginning level course. In this course you will learn to read, write, speak, and understand French at a novice level, and will increase your knowledge of the culture of French-speaking regions around the world. There is no prerequisite for this course.

Course Rationale

In addition to offering the fundamentals of the French language, this course is intended to fulfill one semester of the World Languages requirement as needed for Associate Degree plans and transfer credit to four-year institutions. The number of courses required varies from discipline and institution.

Credit by Examination/High School Language Credit

If you are not sure if this course is the correct level for you, please talk to your professor.  You can earn college credit without taking this course by exploring all your options. You could easily be placed in the appropriate level, which could save you time and money.  You can earn credit for this course with the following:

High School AP or IB scores

Course Challenge Exams (ACCs in house exams for all languages)

The CLEP National Exam (French, German, and Spanish only)

Please be aware that there is not a financial penalty incurred for a level change at ACC. Please visit our departmental website for more information or talk to your professor:  http://sites.austincc.edu/fola/credit-by-exam/

General Education Student Learning Outcomes

Students will demonstrate competence in:

—    Critical Thinking

Gather, analyze, synthesize, evaluate and apply information for the purposes of innovation, inquiry, and creative thinking.

—    Teamwork

Consider different points of view to work collaboratively and effectively in pursuit of a shared purpose or goal.

—    Social Responsibility

Analyze differences and commonalities among peoples, ideas, aesthetic traditions, and cultural practices to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities

—    Personal Responsibility

Identify and apply ethical principles and practices to decision-making by connecting choices, actions and consequences

—    Communication Skills

Develop, interpret, and express ideas and information through written, oral and visual communication that is adapted to purpose, structure, audience, and medium.

Course Outcomes

The main objective of this course is to develop competencies that align with the general education goals of critical thinking, interpersonal skills, civic and cultural awareness, personal responsibility, and written, oral and visual communication, in the French language, at an appropriate level. The ability to understand and communicate and comprehend French will develop along with the knowledge of the vocabulary, grammatical structures of the language, and exploration of how culture shapes communication. Two to three hours a day should be dedicated for the study of French (at least two hours outside of class for each hour in class).

At the end of French 1411, students should be able to do the following:

CRITICAL THINKING:

• utilize context, cognates, and related familiar words to understand written passages.
• determine what information is important when reading or listening for the gist or for specific information.
• utilize brainstorming and appropriate sequencing and visualization techniques to organize their writing.
• utilize language creatively to talk about familiar topics.
• compare and contrast aspects of French society and discuss some advantages and disadvantages of each.

TEAMWORK (Interpersonal Skills):

• interview classmates and tell information about them.
• create dialogues with partners talking about their daily lives and other topics related to them.
• help one another with areas of difficulty.
• brainstorm in groups to organize tasks.
• share resources related to common interests.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (Civic and Cultural Awareness):

• compare customs when meeting and greeting people and explain how differences can lead to misunderstandings.
• utilize formal and informal speech correctly.
• compare and contrast aspects of French society with their own, and discuss advantages and disadvantages of each.
• compare values related to daily life.
• name countries where French is spoken and contrast differences between them.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY:

• show time management skills by successfully completing tasks on time.
• demonstrate effective study habits for language learning.
• state how learning French will be useful to them and improve their lives.
• name aspects of French language and culture of personal interest.

COMMUNICATION (Written, Oral and Visual Communication):

• utilize context, cognates, and related familiar words to understand unfamiliar material in written passages.
• determine what information is important when reading or listening for the gist or for specific information.
• utilize brainstorming, appropriate sequencing, and visualization techniques to organize their writing.
• exhibit conceptual understanding and control of courtesy expressions .
• interpret and express ideas in the present tense on familiar topics through written, oral, and visual communication.

Discipline-Level Learning Outcomes for French

At the end of the fourth semester of French, students should be able to:

CRITICAL THINKING:

• utilize a variety of reading or listening strategies for comprehension.
• draw inferences from information that has been presented.
• synopsize and synthesize the information from passages heard or read.
• utilize language creatively to make it relevant their lives.
• make comparisons and find contrasts among the different Francophone cultures and their own and explain different values.
• mention implications and applications of information they have read or heard.

TEAMWORK (Interpersonal Skills):

• complete a variety of language-based activities working in pairs and small groups.
• demonstrate the ability to negotiate meaning to complete language-based activities.
• demonstrate the ability to work in groups to achieve a common goal.
• demonstrate the ability to consider different points of view and work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (Civic and Cultural Awareness):

• compare and contrast different perspectives on cultural issues, customs, and traditions after reading or listening to passages in the French language.
• demonstrate some intercultural competence by correctly using formal and informal speech, changing registers as needed, and using gestures.
• mention some differences among the French-speaking countries.
• show awareness of current events in French-speaking regions and analyze their implications.
• state ways that studying French-speaking societies can help understand and improve their own society.
• explain the importance of knowledge of French culture for relationships between individuals, businesses, or nations.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY:

• demonstrate effective language learning strategies.
• state how learning French will be useful to them and improve their lives.
• name and investigate aspects of French language and culture of personal interest.
• explain the value of learning about other people and respecting  cultural differences.
• make appropriate decisions when interacting with people from different cultures.

COMMUNICATION (Written, Oral and Visual Communication):

• show effective written and spoken communication in French at the appropriate level using a variety of strategies and adopting the appropriate type of speech. 
• use listening strategies such as listening for the main idea and for specific details and asking for clarification.
• exhibit conceptual understanding and control of courtesy expressions and appropriate kinesics when speaking in French
• interpret and express ideas through written, oral and visual communication

Textbook and materials

You will need technology access, including microphone / recording capabilities, to complete your assignments for this course. If you don’t have it yourself, you can use the computers in the Learning Labs or Computer Labs at ACC during the hours they are open.

Textbook and Materials:

Either:

Horizons 7e (Manley, Smith, McMinn-Reyna, Prévost, Cengage publishing company)

Inclusive Access (Unless you opted out, you purchased access to the online materials when you paid your tuition and fees.)

[Instructors may require the print upgrade or make it optionl.] Print upgrade (ISBN 9780357092842). This is a loose-leaf hardcopy of the print textbook available to students with Inclusive Access at ACC bookstores for $46.95.

Or:

Horizons 7e (Manley, Smith, McMinn-Reyna, Prévost, Cengage publishing company) Loose leaf with Mindtap 4-semester access (ISBN 9781337807593) This is for students who opt out on Inclusive access.

If you opted out and purchased an access code for the online materials, be careful not to lose it. You will need it to register for the materials for FREN 1412 and FREN 2311.

For more information on inclusive access for the online materials Cengage Unlimited, go to:

https://www.cengage.com/student-training/mindtap/blackboard/ia-yes

Registering for materials in Blackboard

Follow these instructions to register for the class online in Mindtap,

• Log into Blackboard and click the link for our French 1411 course.
• Select the content area for Horizons Online Textbook and click on the course link with the Cengage icon.  
• If you already have a Cengage user name and password, use them to login. Otherwise create them and follow the directions online to complete the registration.

Instructional

In this course you will learn new grammatical structures and vocabulary to talk about the workplace, the arts, and current events, but there will also be a cyclical review of grammatical structures from previous French courses that are useful for everyday communication. Students' ability to understand and communicate in French will be enhanced as a result of the constant practice of the targeted grammatical structures and the acquisition of new vocabulary.  During class, the component of listening and speaking will be emphasized. Students are expected to come to class well prepared so that they can participate in the discussions. Students will be required to work in pairs and small groups. Active participation in the discussion groups is essential for the success of the class. The reading and writing component of the class will be mainly practiced at home. The SAM (Student Activities Manual) and reading/writing assignments will be helpful to continue developing these two skills. 

Student Technology Support

Austin Community College provides free, secure drive-up WiFi to students and employees in the parking lots of all campus locations. WiFi can be accessed seven days a week, 7 am to 11 pm. Additional details are available at https://www.austincc.edu/sts.

Students who do not have the necessary technology to complete their ACC courses can request to borrow devices from Student Technology Services. Available devices include iPads, webcams, headsets, calculators, etc. Students must be registered for a credit course, Adult Education, or Continuing Education course to be eligible. For more information, including how to request a device, visit http://www.austincc.edu/sts.

Student Technology Services offers phone, live-chat, and email-based technical support for students and can provide support on topics such as password resets, accessing or using Blackboard, access to technology, etc. To view hours of operation and ways to request support, visit http://www.austincc.edu/sts.

Grading   

Grades are determined as shown:

HOMEWORK                                                       15%                                A = 90-

QUIZZES                                                                10%                                B = 80-89

CULTURE PRESENTATION                              5%                                   C = 70-79 

WRITTEN EXAMS [4]                                                            40%                                D = 60-69 

ORAL EXAM                                                        10%                                F = below 60 

FINAL EXAM                                                        20% 

• DAILY GRADES will be made up of a daily quiz and homework.

There will be a quiz almost every class. Quizzes are based on the material from the previous class and the homework assignment. There are no make-ups for daily quizzes under any circumstances, but you lowest three quiz grades will be dropped.

You will submit online homework assignments for almost every class. You will find your assignments and due dates on the Mindtap site. Assignments not completed on the due date may be submitted for late credit of __%, as long as they are completed prior to the date of the exam over the material being practiced.

• Cultural presentation – You and your partner will choose a French city other than Paris and will do a 10-minute cultural presentation in English and French.

After you choose the city, you will be assigned a date for your presentation. Your presentation should use visual support such as PowerPoint and include:

a description of the city of choice (geography, climate, location, population, dialects), economy of the city, tourist attractions, monuments, museums…, famous people (music, literature, cinema, politics, history, etc.), traditional dishes, customs and celebrations, pictures and very short videos, etc.

• There will be four chapter exams, one after each chapter.

Make-ups and retests are not usually permitted. To qualify for a make-up, you must contact the professor prior to the exam time and supply written proof of emergency. If a make-up exam is granted for anything other than a verifiable emergency, 10 points will be deducted from the exam grade.

• There will be an oral exam.
• There will be a cumulative final exam covering the most important parts of the class. It may not be taken late or early.

AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

FRENCH 1- FREN 1411- SPRING 2026

Course

French 1   FREN 1411 - 005       Synonym 16790

Professor

Name:       Annick Penant

Email:        apenant@austincc.edu

Course meeting:

Monday –Wednesday 10:00 am – 11:50 am

RGC            RG 30        Room 3204

Office hour

Monday - Wednesday: 12:00 pm – 12:50 pm

Adjunct office - Room 3174

Or by appointment

Course description

Credit Hours: 4

Classroom Contact Hours per week: 4

Laboratory Contact Hours per week: 0

Study of fundamentals of French: conversation, basic writing, listening and reading comprehension, vocabulary building, grammar, and culture.  

This is a beginning level course. In this course you will learn to read, write, speak, and understand French at a novice level, and will increase your knowledge of the culture of French-speaking regions around the world. There is no prerequisite for this course.

Course Rationale

In addition to offering the fundamentals of the French language, this course is intended to fulfill one semester of the World Languages requirement as needed for Associate Degree plans and transfer credit to four-year institutions. The number of courses required varies from discipline and institution.

Credit by Examination/High School Language Credit

If you are not sure if this course is the correct level for you, please talk to your professor.  You can earn college credit without taking this course by exploring all your options. You could easily be placed in the appropriate level, which could save you time and money.  You can earn credit for this course with the following:

High School AP or IB scores

Course Challenge Exams (ACCs in house exams for all languages)

The CLEP National Exam (French, German, and Spanish only)

Please be aware that there is not a financial penalty incurred for a level change at ACC. Please visit our departmental website for more information or talk to your professor:  http://sites.austincc.edu/fola/credit-by-exam/

General Education Student Learning Outcomes

Students will demonstrate competence in:

—    Critical Thinking

Gather, analyze, synthesize, evaluate and apply information for the purposes of innovation, inquiry, and creative thinking.

—    Teamwork

Consider different points of view to work collaboratively and effectively in pursuit of a shared purpose or goal.

—    Social Responsibility

Analyze differences and commonalities among peoples, ideas, aesthetic traditions, and cultural practices to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities

—    Personal Responsibility

Identify and apply ethical principles and practices to decision-making by connecting choices, actions and consequences

—    Communication Skills

Develop, interpret, and express ideas and information through written, oral and visual communication that is adapted to purpose, structure, audience, and medium.

Course Outcomes

The main objective of this course is to develop competencies that align with the general education goals of critical thinking, interpersonal skills, civic and cultural awareness, personal responsibility, and written, oral and visual communication, in the French language, at an appropriate level. The ability to understand and communicate and comprehend French will develop along with the knowledge of the vocabulary, grammatical structures of the language, and exploration of how culture shapes communication. Two to three hours a day should be dedicated for the study of French (at least two hours outside of class for each hour in class).

At the end of French 1411, students should be able to do the following:

CRITICAL THINKING:

• utilize context, cognates, and related familiar words to understand written passages.
• determine what information is important when reading or listening for the gist or for specific information.
• utilize brainstorming and appropriate sequencing and visualization techniques to organize their writing.
• utilize language creatively to talk about familiar topics.
• compare and contrast aspects of French society and discuss some advantages and disadvantages of each.

TEAMWORK (Interpersonal Skills):

• interview classmates and tell information about them.
• create dialogues with partners talking about their daily lives and other topics related to them.
• help one another with areas of difficulty.
• brainstorm in groups to organize tasks.
• share resources related to common interests.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (Civic and Cultural Awareness):

• compare customs when meeting and greeting people and explain how differences can lead to misunderstandings.
• utilize formal and informal speech correctly.
• compare and contrast aspects of French society with their own, and discuss advantages and disadvantages of each.
• compare values related to daily life.
• name countries where French is spoken and contrast differences between them.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY:

• show time management skills by successfully completing tasks on time.
• demonstrate effective study habits for language learning.
• state how learning French will be useful to them and improve their lives.
• name aspects of French language and culture of personal interest.

COMMUNICATION (Written, Oral and Visual Communication):

• utilize context, cognates, and related familiar words to understand unfamiliar material in written passages.
• determine what information is important when reading or listening for the gist or for specific information.
• utilize brainstorming, appropriate sequencing, and visualization techniques to organize their writing.
• exhibit conceptual understanding and control of courtesy expressions .
• interpret and express ideas in the present tense on familiar topics through written, oral, and visual communication.

Discipline-Level Learning Outcomes for French

At the end of the fourth semester of French, students should be able to:

CRITICAL THINKING:

• utilize a variety of reading or listening strategies for comprehension.
• draw inferences from information that has been presented.
• synopsize and synthesize the information from passages heard or read.
• utilize language creatively to make it relevant their lives.
• make comparisons and find contrasts among the different Francophone cultures and their own and explain different values.
• mention implications and applications of information they have read or heard.

TEAMWORK (Interpersonal Skills):

• complete a variety of language-based activities working in pairs and small groups.
• demonstrate the ability to negotiate meaning to complete language-based activities.
• demonstrate the ability to work in groups to achieve a common goal.
• demonstrate the ability to consider different points of view and work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (Civic and Cultural Awareness):

• compare and contrast different perspectives on cultural issues, customs, and traditions after reading or listening to passages in the French language.
• demonstrate some intercultural competence by correctly using formal and informal speech, changing registers as needed, and using gestures.
• mention some differences among the French-speaking countries.
• show awareness of current events in French-speaking regions and analyze their implications.
• state ways that studying French-speaking societies can help understand and improve their own society.
• explain the importance of knowledge of French culture for relationships between individuals, businesses, or nations.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY:

• demonstrate effective language learning strategies.
• state how learning French will be useful to them and improve their lives.
• name and investigate aspects of French language and culture of personal interest.
• explain the value of learning about other people and respecting  cultural differences.
• make appropriate decisions when interacting with people from different cultures.

COMMUNICATION (Written, Oral and Visual Communication):

• show effective written and spoken communication in French at the appropriate level using a variety of strategies and adopting the appropriate type of speech. 
• use listening strategies such as listening for the main idea and for specific details and asking for clarification.
• exhibit conceptual understanding and control of courtesy expressions and appropriate kinesics when speaking in French
• interpret and express ideas through written, oral and visual communication

Textbook and materials

You will need technology access, including microphone / recording capabilities, to complete your assignments for this course. If you don’t have it yourself, you can use the computers in the Learning Labs or Computer Labs at ACC during the hours they are open.

Textbook and Materials:

Either:

Horizons 7e (Manley, Smith, McMinn-Reyna, Prévost, Cengage publishing company)

Inclusive Access (Unless you opted out, you purchased access to the online materials when you paid your tuition and fees.)

[Instructors may require the print upgrade or make it optionl.] Print upgrade (ISBN 9780357092842). This is a loose-leaf hardcopy of the print textbook available to students with Inclusive Access at ACC bookstores for $46.95.

Or:

Horizons 7e (Manley, Smith, McMinn-Reyna, Prévost, Cengage publishing company) Loose leaf with Mindtap 4-semester access (ISBN 9781337807593) This is for students who opt out on Inclusive access.

If you opted out and purchased an access code for the online materials, be careful not to lose it. You will need it to register for the materials for FREN 1412 and FREN 2311.

For more information on inclusive access for the online materials Cengage Unlimited, go to:

https://www.cengage.com/student-training/mindtap/blackboard/ia-yes

Registering for materials in Blackboard

Follow these instructions to register for the class online in Mindtap,

• Log into Blackboard and click the link for our French 1411 course.
• Select the content area for Horizons Online Textbook and click on the course link with the Cengage icon.  
• If you already have a Cengage user name and password, use them to login. Otherwise create them and follow the directions online to complete the registration.

Instructional

In this course you will learn new grammatical structures and vocabulary to talk about the workplace, the arts, and current events, but there will also be a cyclical review of grammatical structures from previous French courses that are useful for everyday communication. Students' ability to understand and communicate in French will be enhanced as a result of the constant practice of the targeted grammatical structures and the acquisition of new vocabulary.  During class, the component of listening and speaking will be emphasized. Students are expected to come to class well prepared so that they can participate in the discussions. Students will be required to work in pairs and small groups. Active participation in the discussion groups is essential for the success of the class. The reading and writing component of the class will be mainly practiced at home. The SAM (Student Activities Manual) and reading/writing assignments will be helpful to continue developing these two skills. 

Student Technology Support

Austin Community College provides free, secure drive-up WiFi to students and employees in the parking lots of all campus locations. WiFi can be accessed seven days a week, 7 am to 11 pm. Additional details are available at https://www.austincc.edu/sts.

Students who do not have the necessary technology to complete their ACC courses can request to borrow devices from Student Technology Services. Available devices include iPads, webcams, headsets, calculators, etc. Students must be registered for a credit course, Adult Education, or Continuing Education course to be eligible. For more information, including how to request a device, visit http://www.austincc.edu/sts.

Student Technology Services offers phone, live-chat, and email-based technical support for students and can provide support on topics such as password resets, accessing or using Blackboard, access to technology, etc. To view hours of operation and ways to request support, visit http://www.austincc.edu/sts.

Grading   

Grades are determined as shown:

HOMEWORK                                                       15%                                A = 90-

QUIZZES                                                                10%                                B = 80-89

CULTURE PRESENTATION                              5%                                   C = 70-79 

WRITTEN EXAMS [4]                                                            40%                                D = 60-69 

ORAL EXAM                                                        10%                                F = below 60 

FINAL EXAM                                                        20% 

• DAILY GRADES will be made up of a daily quiz and homework.

There will be a quiz almost every class. Quizzes are based on the material from the previous class and the homework assignment. There are no make-ups for daily quizzes under any circumstances, but you lowest three quiz grades will be dropped.

You will submit online homework assignments for almost every class. You will find your assignments and due dates on the Mindtap site. Assignments not completed on the due date may be submitted for late credit of __%, as long as they are completed prior to the date of the exam over the material being practiced.

• Cultural presentation – You and your partner will choose a French city other than Paris and will do a 10-minute cultural presentation in English and French.

After you choose the city, you will be assigned a date for your presentation. Your presentation should use visual support such as PowerPoint and include:

a description of the city of choice (geography, climate, location, population, dialects), economy of the city, tourist attractions, monuments, museums…, famous people (music, literature, cinema, politics, history, etc.), traditional dishes, customs and celebrations, pictures and very short videos, etc.

• There will be four chapter exams, one after each chapter.

Make-ups and retests are not usually permitted. To qualify for a make-up, you must contact the professor prior to the exam time and supply written proof of emergency. If a make-up exam is granted for anything other than a verifiable emergency, 10 points will be deducted from the exam grade.

• There will be an oral exam.
• There will be a cumulative final exam covering the most important parts of the class. It may not be taken late or early.