How to do homework: vMost homework is for practice only. Attempt all questions/activities. vIf homework is for a grade, it must be complete when you walk in the door. Any work for a grade needs the heading (name, date, period, and activity in the top LEFT corner).
How to study for a world language: Language learning is a cumulative process. You need to study on a consistent basis in order to become proficient. You also need to study outside of class as the time provided in class is not enough to become proficient.
General Guidelines: vDo your studying in small chunks vTake breaks while studying to maximize attention and retention. vStudy every day! It’s more effective than cramming right before a test. vStudy in the manner that benefits you. vBe an active learner! Just looking at your notes is not engaging.
Specific Suggestions: vPractice saying new words out loud or writing them down. vStudy vocabulary several times a day for short periods of time vUse the Internet to access websites to make flashcards or review games. vUse the on-line review activities and practice quizzes. vThink of cognates. vUse mnemonic devices (ex: ROY G. BIV) vUse a diglot weave. Insert foreign words into English sentences until you get their meaning. Repeat a phrase like “I will toujours have trouble with vocabulary unless I study” for practice. vTry doing homework without your book or notes to see how much you remember. vPractice with a partner.
How to work with a partner or group:
For speaking/listening assignments: vSpeak in the target language!! vDo the activity at least two times, preferably more. The first time is for basic understanding. The second (and third, etc.) time to work on pronunciation and fluency.
For reading assignments: vRead the whole thing together unless otherwise instructed. vUse your reading strategies (previewing, skimming, reading for general understanding v. knowing each word, etc.).
For writing assignments: vBoth partners should contribute equally. This does not mean that you write half and your partner writes half. vBrainstorm, pre-write, and draft as much as possible in French. vOne person may be the scribe for the entire composition where appropriate.
For grammar activities: vBoth partners should contribute equally. Do not split up the activity—you’ve only done half the practice that way.
For big group projects: vEach person in the group is responsible to and for the other members of the group. vA partner being absent is no excuse for not having something to work on during a workday or when the project is due. vGet your partner’s e-mail or telephone number to coordinate.
How to read a passage in the target language: vRead titles, headings, and subheadings. vLook at any illustrations that accompany the text. vRead any notes and story-related questions before reading. vLook for any glossed vocabulary. vTry to figure out words from context rather than looking them all up. vRead first for a general understanding of the text. Read the second (and third) time for more specific information (and answers to any questions).
How to answer questions for a reading text: vUse your own words to answer the question. Don’t just copy directly from the text. That does not show you know what you’re talking—only that you can find the same word in a passage. vAnswer the question asked. “Who” questions need a person for an answer; ”When” questions need a time frame, etc.
How to write a composition in the target language: vStart with a web, outline, or some other pre-writing. A draft in English does NOT count. You write better in English than in the target language and writing pieces are often confusing when written and translated. vDo not look up a bunch of words in the dictionary. Use the vocabulary you know—the whole point of the activity—and practice the grammar previously learned. vOrganization counts! You need an introduction, body, and conclusion. This works for paragraphs and for essays. vEdit your work (or have a partner do it). Check for comprehension, clarity, sentence formation, verb conjugation, transitions, vocabulary use, etc. vUse a computer if possible (especially for the final). Follow MLA rules. Make sure to use accents (on computer or by hand). Not adding accents is like misspelling a word (and counts as such!). vIf the teacher has given you a rubric or scoring guidelines ahead of time, be sure to follow them. This will help you get the grade you want.
How to be academically honest: True learning comes from thinking and doing. Therefore, each student is expected to do his/her own work. In the case of academic dishonesty, the student would receive a zero for the activity. Examples of academic dishonesty include:
vCopying another student’s work homework or classwork (when it’s for a grade) vCopying another student’s quiz/test answers in part or in full vUsing cellphones, translators, or other electronics to complete any activity (especially a quiz, test, or writing assignment) vPlagiarism (turning in work using phrases, sentences, or even whole paragraphs from another person [author, source, book, native speaker, etc.] without credit or proper citation)
v Most homework is for practice only. Attempt all questions/activities.
v If homework is for a grade, it must be complete when you walk in the door. Any work for a grade needs the heading (name, date, period, and activity in the top LEFT corner).
How to study for a world language:
Language learning is a cumulative process. You need to study on a consistent basis in order to become proficient. You also need to study outside of class as the time provided in class is not enough to become proficient.
General Guidelines:
v Do your studying in small chunks
v Take breaks while studying to maximize attention and retention.
v Study every day! It’s more effective than cramming right before a test.
v Study in the manner that benefits you.
v Be an active learner! Just looking at your notes is not engaging.
Specific Suggestions:
v Practice saying new words out loud or writing them down.
v Study vocabulary several times a day for short periods of time
v Use the Internet to access websites to make flashcards or review games.
v Use the on-line review activities and practice quizzes.
v Think of cognates.
v Use mnemonic devices (ex: ROY G. BIV)
v Use a diglot weave. Insert foreign words into English sentences until you get their meaning. Repeat a phrase like “I will toujours have trouble with vocabulary unless I study” for practice.
v Try doing homework without your book or notes to see how much you remember.
v Practice with a partner.
How to work with a partner or group:
For speaking/listening assignments:
v Speak in the target language!!
v Do the activity at least two times, preferably more. The first time is for basic understanding. The second (and third, etc.) time to work on pronunciation and fluency.
For reading assignments:
v Read the whole thing together unless otherwise instructed.
v Use your reading strategies (previewing, skimming, reading for general understanding v. knowing each word, etc.).
For writing assignments:
v Both partners should contribute equally. This does not mean that you write half and your partner writes half.
v Brainstorm, pre-write, and draft as much as possible in French.
v One person may be the scribe for the entire composition where appropriate.
For grammar activities:
v Both partners should contribute equally. Do not split up the activity—you’ve only done half the practice that way.
For big group projects:
v Each person in the group is responsible to and for the other members of the group.
v A partner being absent is no excuse for not having something to work on during a workday or when the project is due.
v Get your partner’s e-mail or telephone number to coordinate.
How to read a passage in the target language:
v Read titles, headings, and subheadings.
v Look at any illustrations that accompany the text.
v Read any notes and story-related questions before reading.
v Look for any glossed vocabulary.
v Try to figure out words from context rather than looking them all up.
v Read first for a general understanding of the text. Read the second (and third) time for more specific information (and answers to any questions).
How to answer questions for a reading text:
v Use your own words to answer the question. Don’t just copy directly from the text. That does not show you know what you’re talking—only that you can find the same word in a passage.
v Answer the question asked. “Who” questions need a person for an answer; ”When” questions need a time frame, etc.
How to write a composition in the target language:
v Start with a web, outline, or some other pre-writing. A draft in English does NOT count. You write better in English than in the target language and writing pieces are often confusing when written and translated.
v Do not look up a bunch of words in the dictionary. Use the vocabulary you know—the whole point of the activity—and practice the grammar previously learned.
v Organization counts! You need an introduction, body, and conclusion. This works for paragraphs and for essays.
v Edit your work (or have a partner do it). Check for comprehension, clarity, sentence formation, verb conjugation, transitions, vocabulary use, etc.
v Use a computer if possible (especially for the final). Follow MLA rules. Make sure to use accents (on computer or by hand). Not adding accents is like misspelling a word (and counts as such!).
v If the teacher has given you a rubric or scoring guidelines ahead of time, be sure to follow them. This will help you get the grade you want.
How to be academically honest:
True learning comes from thinking and doing. Therefore, each student is expected to do his/her own work. In the case of academic dishonesty, the student would receive a zero for the activity. Examples of academic dishonesty include:
v Copying another student’s work homework or classwork (when it’s for a grade)
v Copying another student’s quiz/test answers in part or in full
v Using cellphones, translators, or other electronics to complete any activity (especially a quiz, test, or writing assignment)
v Plagiarism (turning in work using phrases, sentences, or even whole paragraphs from another person [author, source, book, native speaker, etc.] without credit or proper citation)