Course Description

Our online AP French Language course is an advanced language course in which students acquire proficiencies that expand their cognitive, analytical and communicative skills. The AP French Language course prepares them for the AP French exam. It uses as its foundation the three modes of communication (Interpersonal, Interpretive and Presentational) as defined in the Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century.

The course is designed as an immersion experience requiring the use of French exclusively. The online learning coach only uses French to communicate with students. In addition, all the reading, listening, speaking and writing is in French.

The course is based on the six themes required by the College Board, namely,

1. Global challenges

2. Science and technology

3. Contemporary life

4. Personal and public identities

5. Families and communities

6. Beauty and aesthetics

The course teaches language structures in context and focuses on the development of fluency to convey meaning. Students explore culture in both contemporary and historical contexts to develop an awareness and appreciation of cultural products, practices, and perspectives.

The course contains a forum where students share their own opinions and comments and comment on other students’ posts.

The course makes great use of the Internet for updated and current material.

Image: Rocamadour Castle on a hill, Dorgogne River Valley, Perigord Region, France; Thinkstock.com

Course Objectives

After completing this course, students will be able to:

• Listen, read, understand, and interpret a wide-variety of authentic French-language materials and sources.
• Demonstrate proficiency in interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational communication using French.
• Gain knowledge and understanding of the cultures of the Francophone world.
• Use French to connect with other disciplines and expand knowledge in a wide-variety of contexts.
• Develop insight into the nature of the French language and its culture.
• Use French to participate in communities at home and around the world.

DoDEA Foreign Language Standards may be viewed by clicking the link.

Image: Aged French cheese wheels stacked; Thinkstock.com

Course Organization

The course contains 10 units divided into two semesters. Every 2-3 weeks, a new sub-theme is introduced within the 6 themes required by the College Board. Within that theme, students work on all aspects of communication: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Activities include the three modes of communication: interpretive, interpersonal and presentational. Student work is continually assessed based on various writing and speaking assignments which are graded according to the AP guidelines. In addition, a final assessment is given at the end of each theme.

The course contains several AP exam practices or mock exams to get students used to the format of the test.

Each unit is based on an overall theme and highlights a specific francophone country or region of the French-speaking world. Each unit is divided into either two or three smaller lessons, each of which contains approximately thirty to forty different activities, practices, and assessments for students to participate in and complete.

The activities and assignments in this course are specifically designed to help students improve their skills in all French communicative areas and to prepare them for the AP Exam. Not only are the tests, midterms, semester final exams, and AP test practices structured to assess the students’ complete understanding of all the information presented and skills practiced, they give them great practice for the AP test.

Image: Low angle view of direction boards on a French city street; Thinkstock.com

Course Outline: Semester One

1. Module I: French, It’s My Choice!
   • Sub-themes:
   • The Advantages of French
   • French Programs of Study
   • Living in French-speaking Countries
2. Module II: Tourism in the Francophone World
   • Sub-themes:
   • Bon Voyage
   • At the Hotel
   • At the Restaurant
3. Module III: Communication Tools
   1. Sub-themes:
   2. Newspapers and Magazines
   3. Television
   4. New Media
4. Midterms and AP French exam practices
   
5. Module IV: Art and Architecture
   1. Sub-themes:
   2. Art
   3. Architecture
6. Module V: Industry and Science
   1. Sub-themes:
   2. Industry and Technology
   3. Science and Technology
7. Module VI: Fashion
   1. Sub-themes:
   2. Haute Couture
   3. Sports Clothing and Sneakers
8. Semester 1 Exam and French exam practices

Image: Shopping in Paris; Thinkstock.com

Course Outline: Semester Two

1. Module VII: International Organizations
   • Sub-themes:
   • The Olympic Games
   • Nongovernmental Organizations
   • Humanitarian Aid
2. Module VIII: Diplomacy
   • Sub-themes:
   • The Relations between the Moduleed States and France
   • Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical Companies
   • Multinational Companies
3. Midterms and AP exam practices
   
4. Module IX: International Business
   • Sub-themes:
   • Agricultural Industry
   • Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical Companies
   • International Companies
5. Module X: Life after High School
   • Sub-themes:
   • Leaving the Nest
   • A Sane Life
   • Money Matters
6. Semester 2 Exam and AP exam practices

Image: Arc de Triomphe detail showing French flag; ThinkStock.com

Required Materials

There is no textbook required for this course. All of the instructional content is available online within the Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS) in the AP French course.

Students will be provided a log in for the Pearson AP French website, which includes 2 AP French resources, activities and assessments.  Students will be assigned and expected to practice authentic listening, reading, writing and speaking activities from this website.