Rencontres Teacher Guide
Teacher Curriculum Guide
Rencontres et Connexions
French 1 • Novice-Mid Unit Mapping • 4-Week Framework
Target Level Novice-Mid
Unit Narrative & Scope
This unit guides beginner students from isolated words to simple sentence-level interactions. Students master French greeting rituals, share essential biographical information (name, age, origins, basic preferences), and learn to navigate the vital sociocultural structures of tu vs. vous and regional greeting protocols like la bise.
Essential Questions
- How do French speakers establish respect?
- How do I share my identity?
Focus: French-Speaking Worlds
Standards & Communicative Task Mapping
Interpretive Communication (1.a / 1.b) Novice-Mid
State Standard Standardized Function:
Identify traits of multiple cultures & communities and identify basic facts from authentic texts.
Unit Classroom Activity:
Students review visual student profiles from France, Senegal, and Martinique to extract names, ages, hobbies, and regional spelling variants.
Interpersonal Communication (2.b / 2.c) Novice-Mid
State Standard Standardized Function:
Respond to highly predictable, formulaic questions; ask basic questions to gather personal information.
Unit Classroom Activity:
Interactive "Speed-Dating" style peer interviews where students ask and reply about name, age, origins, and how they are doing.
Presentational Communication (3.b / 4.b) Novice-Mid
State Standard Standardized Function:
Provide simple, basic, prepared info in culturally appropriate ways using rehearsed gestures.
Unit Classroom Activity:
Students present a live or recorded personal video greeting, using appropriate eye contact, handshakes, or simulated la bise.
Intercultural Comparisons & Language (4.a / 6.a / 6.b) Novice-Mid
State Standard Standardized Function:
Compare typical practices and languages (cognates, basic idioms) of target culture and own culture.
Unit Classroom Activity:
Contrast informal tu and formal/plural vous via comic strips depicting family vs. professional contexts.
Rencontres et Connexions Curriculum Guide Page 1 of 2
Instructional Blueprint
Weekly Pacing & Core Content
Detailed scope of target vocabulary, syntax, and weekly milestones
Unit Duration 4 Weeks
Week 1 Salutations & Les Gestes
Greetings & Physical Boundaries
- Formulas: Bonjour, Salut, Ça va?, Au revoir.
- La Bise: Number of kisses by French region.
- Rehearsed gestures (verbal & non-verbal).
Focus: Respect and cultural distance
Week 2 Qui suis-je?
Sharing Identity Essentials
- Syntax: Je m'appelle..., J'ai ... ans, Je viens de...
- Interrogatives: Comment t'appelles-tu?, Quel âge as-tu?
- Number acquisition up to 31 (calendar ready).
Focus: Basic biographical sentence structure
Week 3 Tu vs. Vous
Navigating Social Norms
- Understanding linguistic politeness markers.
- Recognizing social status and setting clues.
- Scenarios: Doctor, Teacher, Peer, Grandparent.
Focus: Intercultural linguistic comparisons
Week 4 Mes Passions
Basic Likes & Dislikes
- Vocab: Le sport, la musique, le cinéma, les jeux.
- Expressions: J'aime, J'adore, Je déteste, Moi aussi.
- Cognate analysis: "le football", "la musique".
Focus: Extending simple personal exchanges
Integrated Performance Assessment (IPA) Design
1. Interpretive Tasks Le Blog Francophone
Students read three social media micro-bios of adolescents in Senegal, Belgium, and Tahiti. They identify 4 core biodata points and note linguistic cognates.
2. Interpersonal Task Le Café des Copains
Simulated classroom café setup. Students meet and interview at least three peers, asking predictable questions while adjusting register according to a persona card.
3. Presentational Task Vidéo d'Intro
Students record a 45-second video introduction for a future pen-pal, incorporating appropriate body language, greetings, and age/origins details.
Core Pitfalls & Misconceptions
- Tu vs. Vous confusion: English native speakers often miss the deep sociolinguistic weight of formality.
- Literal Translations: Using "Je suis 14" instead of "J'ai 14 ans". Plan explicit contrast lessons here.
- La Bise mechanics: Emphasize that it is cheek touching and air-kissing, not lip contact, to ease physical comfort concerns.
Differentiation Strategies
- Support Scaffolding: Provide visual reference card templates with phonetic spelling during interpersonal tasks.
- Extended Extensions: Introduce regional variants like "Wesh" (slang, France) and "Allô" (Quebec greeting) to high flyers.
- Multi-modal tasks: Allow alternative visual outputs like comics or labeled diagrams.
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Rencontres Student Checklist
Student Progress Portfolio
Je peux...! / Can-Do Tracker
French 1 • Novice-Mid Unit: Rencontres et Connexions
Level Target Novice-Mid
Nom (Name)
Classe (Class Period)
Date
Use this checklist to track your learning journey! Read each statement and evaluate your performance. Mark the checkbox when you can confidently demonstrate each skill in French.
Comprendre • Interpretive Mode (Reading & Listening)
Je peux reconnaître les salutations simples. I can recognize basic greetings and farewells (e.g., bonjour, salut, au revoir) in short audio recordings or messages.
Je peux identifier les faits biographiques. I can scan short student profiles to find key details such as names, ages, origins, and core hobbies.
Discuter • Interpersonal Mode (Conversation)
Je peux saluer et demander comment ça va. I can greet my peers, ask them how they are doing, and respond with simple formulas (e.g., ça va bien, pas mal).
Je peux échanger des détails personnels. I can ask and answer highly predictable questions about my name, age, and where I live (e.g., Tu t'appelles comment? J'ai 14 ans).
Présenter • Presentational Mode (Speaking & Writing)
Je peux me présenter dans un court message. I can write or record a brief self-introduction including my name, age, hometown, and a few activities I like.
Comparer • Intercultural Connections & Comparison
Je peux utiliser le registre approprié (tu vs. vous). I can select and explain the difference between informal "tu" (friends/family) and polite "vous" (teachers/adults) in French.
Je peux démontrer la bise ou un geste de salutation culturel. I can explain and act out culturally appropriate physical greetings (like hands-off cheek kisses or specific handshakes) based on regional French custom.
Mon Objectif Personnel (My Personal Goal):
Write one specific thing you want to practice or improve during this unit:
Rencontres et Connexions Student Checklist Page 1 of 1
