What is Reading French 2000?

4 half courses

200 level for students with initially little or no French

300 level for students with high school French (French 20 or 30)

Develops reading proficiency - no speaking or writing

Web based autonomous learning - no classes

Grade based on Web activities, mid-term and final

Presently offered to U of C students only

University of Calgary Reading French 2000 is a set of 4 half courses designed to bring students with no knowledge of French up to good reading proficiency. It covers the reading skill only, with no requirement to speak, listen or write.

Studying for the courses can be done entirely on the Web. However you should print out any pages with lots to read, to avoid too much on-screen reading. The only obligatory attendance is the first orientation class, the mid-term examination, and the final examination, though for beginners, attendance at class for the first month is strongly recommended. Extensive Web Activities are assigned, to be completed (in English) in a Notebook. The grade is based on the work done in this Notebook, a mid-term examination and a final examination. (For more details, see individual course descriptions.) Notes, grammars and dictionaries are allowed for examinations (A French-English dictionary, for example).

Although we check the links regularly, you may well find some sites not available or not responding. This is unfortunately one drawback of the Web. If it happens, try again later. If not, let the listserv know and go on to the next link.

What is Autonomous Learning?

With autonomous learning, the learner takes on the responsibility for his or her own learning, rather than being taught by an instructor in regular classes. This sort of learning is flexible and can be very effective for mature, well-motivated learners who are conscientious and able to work independently. If you learn better by regular interaction with an instructor, deadlines imposed by someone else that you have to meet, and if you tend to do things at the last minute, you may be better with a regular course.

An autonomous learning course like this one makes available the learning materials and suggests a path through them, including a timeline and a set of activities. However, it's up to you to set yourself a schedule and keep to it. It's up to you to decide when you know something, when you understand, when you've assimilated. Some self tests are provided to help you make these judgements, but you are the judge.

Each of the four Reading French courses corresponds to a regular semester language course at the U of Calgary, which involves thirteen weeks with three 50 minute classes a week and a 50 minute laboratory period. Including class preparation and study assignments, following a regular language class requires about 6 to 12 hours work a week, and you should expect to spend about the same amount of time on each of these Web courses.

Before deciding if the Reading French Web course is for you, take this simple quiz. Based on your working habits and learning style, you will receive advice on whether or not you are likely to succeed in such a course.

For more information on the expectations and special requirements of Web courses and autonomous learning in general, visit the learner's section of the Federal Government's Office of Learning Technologies site.

Target Population

The first two courses in the sequence, French 235 and 237, are designed for complete beginners, who have no knowledge of French at all. They will also be the point of entry for those with just a couple of years of high-school French, who should find the first few lessons fairly easy. The courses are sequential, so you take 237 after 235.These two courses are not open to students with French 30. The second two courses, French 335, and its sequel, French 337, are designed for Canadian students with grade 11 or 12 French (French 20 or 30 usually). This level is reached after several years study, either in a core French curriculum or an immersion setting.

Why learn (more) French?

In Canada, French is obviously a useful language to know. If you plan on visiting Quebec or working there, or getting a job with the Federal government, or with many large corporations, knowledge of French is an asset. In addition, whatever your job, it may well be useful to be able to read newspaper and magazine articles in French, or more technical articles and works in your field. More generally, knowing another language expands your horizons, helps you to see things from other perspectives, and makes travel to countries where you can understand the language more enjoyable and rewarding.

Links on The Benefits of Learning Other Languages.

Why Learn French (U.S. view)

Apart from being one of Canada's two official languages, spoken by some 6 million people in Quebec and a million Canadian francophones outside Quebec, French is a major world language. It is one of the official languages of the European Union and widely used in African countries, many of which are former colonies of France. As students who take the courses will soon realize, there is a massive French presence on the World Wide Web.

Content and Outcomes

For detailed information on the content and outcomes of individual courses, consult the pages for each one by clicking on the appropriate number on the sidebar on the left. In general terms, the courses focus on reading strategies, dictionary skills, the acquisition of passive vocabulary and understanding the way French words fit together (grammar). The more advanced courses also work on text grammar, error avoidance, including so-called false friends, and the ability to seize on the main ideas in a text and express them clearly and unambiguously in English. Emphasis is placed on task-based learning, and actually using French to explore sites. Studying strategies and grammar serves as preparatory work. Students are required to use the Web extensively, visiting authentic French sites and writing the results of their tasks in a Notebook.