Overview
FREN 101 continues the study of the basic elements of the French language acquired in FREN 100. Oral and written skills are developed through the study of vocabulary, grammar, and idiomatic expressions. This course will enable students to speak and write in simple French in a range of everyday situations. A basic knowledge of English grammar is very important since FREN 101 contains a major grammar component.
Outline
The Chez Nous textbook covers the basic grammar component of FREN 101 and includes:
- the -ir verbs
- reflexive verbs in the passé composé
- the use of the imparfait together with the passé composé
- questions with qui and que
- the verbs vouloir , pouvoir, devoir, and venir
- prepositions with names of countries, towns, cities, etc.
- depuis with expressions of time
- the futur simple
- direct and indirect pronouns
- the use of the conditional tense
- relative pronouns
- object pronouns
- questions with quel
- the pronoun y
- the verbs connaitre and savoir
- irregular verb conjugations and the use of prepositions
- the subjunctive
FREN 101 also follows the second half of the French in Action textbook, encompassing: Encounters, Occupations, Education, and Getting Around.
Both Chez Nous and French in Action form the basic vocabulary building component of FREN 101.
Learning outcomes
When you have completed French 101, you will be able to achieve the following in French:
- Write simple sentences that are grammatically and structurally correct.
- Speak and write about
- where you live: city life and country life
- cultural diversity in the Francophone world
- events and situations in the past
- weather and vacation activities
- your origins, beliefs, opinions, feelings, and values
- cultural activities
- travel in general
- making travel plans
- French/Francophone tourism
- important tourist sites in France and elsewhere
- significant life events
- diversity and identity in the Francophone world
- your health and well-being
- environmental and ecological concerns
- arts and media
Evaluation
To receive credit for FREN 101, students must complete and submit all five written assignments and achieve a minimum weighted average of 50%, as well as a minimum grade of 50% on the final written examination. Students must also complete and submit all four oral assignments and achieve a minimum weighted average of 50%, and a minimum grade of 50% on the final oral examination. Students must achieve a minimum course composite grade of D (50 percent).
| Activity | Weight |
| 4 Written Assignments (6% each) | 24% |
| 1 Composition Assignment | 6% |
| 4 Oral Assignments (3% each) | 12% |
| Final Oral Examination | 8% |
| Final Written Examination | 50% |
| Total | 100% |
The final examination for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Capretz, Pierre J., with Barry Lydgate, Béatrice Abetti, and Marie-Odile Germain. French in Action: A Beginning Course in Language and Culture: The Capretz Method Part 1. 3rd ed., New Haven and London, Yale University Press, 2013.
Scullen, Mary Ellen, et al. Chez nous: Branché sur le monde francophone. 5th ed., LingroLearning Publishers, 2024.
Other materials
All other course materials can be accessed online.
Special Course Feature
Each lesson in the French in Action textbook has a corresponding video component that students are required to watch. Students can watch these videos online or borrow them from Athabasca University Library.