Why learn French?
Learning French can improve one’s English language skills, as about one third of English words can be traced to French.
French is spoken on five continents either as an official or widely spoken language. More than 220 million people in the world speak French. Many are close by: Canada, Louisiana, New England, the Caribbean, and South America.
French is a major worldwide diplomatic and business language.
French is the official language of many international organizations, including the United Nations, the European Community, the International Red Cross, and the International Olympic Committee.
Many companies in Tennessee, potential sources of future employment for students of French, are French-owned, or have substantial business in Canada, the United States’ major trading partner.
French Course Information
Below is information on each of the French courses offered currently at MLK: French 1A (7th grade), French 1B Honors (High School Credit for 8th grade students), French 2 Honors, French 3 Honors, French 4 Honors and AP French Language & Culture.
Information common to most courses:
Resources: The course textbook, “T’es branché?” EMC Publishing, LLC (St. Paul, MN) / Carnegie Learning, Levels 1 through 4, was adopted by MNPS in 2019 and is aligned with the state standards for World Languages, which are based on proficiency and evaluation of a student’s performance in the three communication modes: interpretive, interpersonal and presentational. All students have access to the extensive online resources that come with this textbook, as well as the video platform “Flipgrid” for speaking activities. Many of the resources used throughout the French curriculum are “authentic,” that is, designed for native French speakers, not necessarily learners of French, thus providing real-life situations with which students can engage and compare with their own community.
World Language Lab:
MLK’s digital language lab, funded by the PTSA, is used at least once a week by each class to hone students’ listening and speaking skills.
MLK’s French Honor Society:
This is a chapter of the National French Honor Society, sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF). Students are selected for induction into MLK’s French Honor Society after the third semester of their studies of French, including any High School Credit courses. At MLK, inductees are therefore usually in French 2 Honors / 9th grade at the time of induction. To be selected, a student must have maintained an “A” average in all high school work in French, including any High School Credit obtained in middle school. He or she must also commit to continuing their French studies through French 3H and be willing to serve our learning community, such as tutoring peers, leading French Club activities, participating in National French Week, fundraising and other events.
National French Contest:
Students at all levels except French 1A (7th grade) enter the annual National French Contest (le Grand concours), held annually by the AATF in February / March. The Concours was developed by teachers of French as a motivational activity, and it is also very useful practice. Students take a multiple-choice listening and reading assessment, competing against peers from across the nation for medals and certificates. Periodically, scholarships and travel awards are available for national ranking students in the advanced levels. The contest is administered during regular class time in MLK’s language lab. Students at MLK regularly receive national / state ranking recognition.
District Policy:
As per MNPS District Policy, grades in all French courses reflect students’ level of mastery at the time of assessment, and are determined using various forms of assessment, allowing students multiple opportunities to demonstrate mastery. For example, Integrated Performance Assessments (IPA), or parts thereof, may be used to evaluate students’ performance in the three communication modes listed above.
Guidelines for Honors Courses
Course guidelines are aligned with state and national standards. All courses, except French 1A (7th grade) include multiple components from the Tennessee Framework of Standards for Honors Courses. (None of the 7th grade Level 1A World Language courses at MLK are Honors).
French 1A (7th grade)
MLK uses the terminology “French 1A” to differentiate the course from “French 1B,” which is where students earn their first high school credit in French. As in all World Languages taught at MLK, students do not earn a credit in Level 1A but it is to their advantage to develop a strong base in the language to ensure their success going forward. Students taking French 1A are expected to continue to French 1B.
French 1A is an introductory course where 7th grade students begin to learn the basics of the French language and develop an understanding of the many cultures of the French-speaking world. Students learn to engage in conversation and written communication in French. The initial focus is to talk and write about themselves, friends and family, but this expands to other topics as the year progresses.
Students also explore the cultures of France and the French-speaking (francophone) world by learning about geography, foods, celebrations, and traditions.
Along with the course textbook, other resources appropriate for this level and age group, are incorporated into the curriculum to give students variety and a strong base.
French 1B Honors (French 1BH)
French 1BH is a high school credit honors course for 8th grade students as well as for high school students beginning their French studies. MLK uses the terminology “French 1B” to differentiate it from “French 1A,” an introductory course for those students who enter MLK in 7th grade. Students taking and passing the French 1B course are expected to continue to French 2H.
In French 1BH, students learn or expand on the basics of the French language (depending when they started their studies of French), engaging in conversation and written communication. As in French 1A, the initial focus is to talk and write about themselves, friends and family, but this expands to other topics as the year progresses. Students explore the cultures of France and begin to develop a deeper understanding of the vast French-speaking (francophone) world.
French 2 Honors (French 2H)
In French 2H, students are immersed in the French language and culture via engaging and interactive videos, dialogues, and presentations, the purpose being to develop further students’ communicative skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in French. Students also continue to experience the beauty and expressiveness of a language that is shared by different people and cultures throughout the world, exploring the cultures of France, Canada, Africa and other French-speaking regions.
A focus of French 2H is improving and assessing students’ skills in French in all three communication modes: interpretive, interpersonal and presentational. To this end, Integrated Performance Assessments (IPA), or parts thereof, are incorporated more frequently.
This is a particularly exciting year for Level 2H students, as, during the second semester, they are considered for induction into MLK’s French Honor Society, established through the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF). (See information that is common to most courses for further details).
During typical years (i.e., no pandemic), French 2H students might consider study abroad opportunities for the summer. Even if students cannot travel overseas for whatever reason, they can still offer to be host families for incoming exchange students, which is an excellent way to hone communication skills in French, to help French students improve their English skills, and, in many cases, to make lifelong friends.
French 3 Honors (French 3H)
French 3H is an elective course for students who already have two French credits, but students at MLK are encouraged to take a World Language past the minimum graduation requirement.
In French 3H, students continue to be immersed in the French language and culture. The course offers engaging and interactive videos, dialogues, presentations, and self-checks, the purpose being to develop further students’ communicative skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in French. As in French 2H, students continue to experience the beauty and expressiveness of a language that is shared by different people and cultures throughout the world, exploring or revisiting (virtually) the many French-speaking regions.
During typical years (i.e., no pandemic) members of French Honor Society taking French 3H can apply for study abroad scholarships offered by the AATF. In past years, students have chosen to be part of the Sister Cities of Nashville Exchange to Caen, for example. Even if students cannot travel overseas for whatever reason, they can still offer to be host families for incoming exchange students, which is an excellent way to hone communication skills in French, to help French students improve their English skills, and, in many cases, to make lifelong friends.
French 4 Honors (French 4H)
The French curriculum is designed so that students take AP® French Language & Culture (APFLC) in their fourth year of study after successfully completing French 3H (or equivalent experience). At most high schools, that means that students take APFLC in their senior year. However, those students obtaining credit in 8th grade, which is typical at MLK, who wish to continue their studies past the graduation requirement, complete APFLC in their junior year, leaving them with no French course to take as a senior. For some students, that is not an issue, but others expressed concern about having a gap before their postsecondary studies, especially if they intended to major or minor in the language.
Therefore, French 4H was designed to provide another year of French – to “spread” students’ French studies over their entire high school journey. It is also offered to those students who wish to continue their studies past French 3H but who elect not to take the APFLC course itself.
As APFLC is equivalent to an intermediate college-level course, French 4H is designed to prepare students for that course, although differentiation is made in terms of assignments, grading and resources.
Please see the AP French Language & Culture description for other details regarding French 4H, as both courses are similar in nature, expectations and opportunities. Of course, students in French 4H do not take the AP exam, or the (optional) practice exam.
AP French Language & Culture (APFLC)
The AP®1French Language & Culture curriculum is equivalent to an intermediate college-level course. As per the AP® French Language and Culture Curriculum Framework,2 the objective of the course is to allow students to demonstrate their proficiency at the Intermediate to Pre-Advanced levels in each of the three modes of communication: Interpersonal, Interpretive, and Presentational, as defined in the Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century.3
The instructional focus is for students to learn and use French in context, with communication being of primary importance. Therefore, the course is conducted almost entirely in French, and MLK’s digital language lab is used extensively. Culture in historical and current contexts is an integral part, not tested in isolation, but rather in comparison to the student’s own heritage.
Six instructional themes are the framework of the APFLC course: Families & Communities, Personal & Public Identities, Beauty & Aesthetics, Science & Technology, Contemporary Life, and Global Challenges. In these contexts, students are given ample opportunity to practice each of the learning objectives for the multiple choice and free response tasks in exam format in order to develop their language and communication skills.
A valuable resource used extensively is My AP Classroom (College Board) where students have access to tutorials for each of the exam tasks, as well as practice questions and assessments. This is also how AP exams are ordered, so students are asked to set up an account on My AP Classroom at the beginning of the school year for each AP subject they are taking.
Besides the course textbook and online resources, “T’es branché?” Level 4, EMC Publishing, LLC (St. Paul, MN) / Carnegie Learning, students also have access to a second textbook entitled “Thèmes” 2022 (second edition) by Vista Higher Learning, Boston, MA. This also offers an array of online resources and was funded by the PTSA.
In March or April, APFLC students are given the opportunity to take a full-length practice AP exam, using released exam materials. This is optional, but recommended, and can usually be accomplished on a regular school day, with Administration’s permission.
During typical years (i.e., no pandemic) students can apply to be host families for incoming exchange students, for example, via Sister Cities of Nashville’s exchange program with Caen. Hosting an exchange student is an excellent way to hone communication skills in French, as well as to help French students improve their English skills, and to make lifelong friends in some cases. Members of MLK’s French Honor Society taking APFLC may wish to apply for study abroad scholarships offered by the AATF if they intend to continue their studies of French at university.
Although universities are not required to give credit for AP courses, students who take APFLC often test into intermediate or advanced French courses at the postsecondary level.