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Chez Mme.Harvey
Holmes Junior High School
1220 Drexel Drive
Davis, CA 95616
About Me
I graduated from UCD with a BA in French and English literature after having spent my junior year abroad studying in Montpellier, France. I continued my studies at UCD in the Department of Linguistics completing both a TESOL certificate and a MA in Applied Linguistics. During that time, I taught both ESL and French at UCD and later at River City High School in West Sacramento and Dixon High. In addition, I taught Language Development at Cal State Sacramento. I returned to France in 1987 to teach English and improve my French fluency.
I began teaching at Holmes Junior High in 1993 and have been here ever since. My assignment over the years has included English, French, Spanish and ELL. I participated in the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program in 2000-01 where I was able to continue my work as both a teacher and student of language while living and teaching English at a junior high school in France.
I am married and have two children who both attended Davis schools and belonged to Davis Water Polo Club. My son currently attends Cabrillo Community College in Santa Cruz where he also plays water polo and surfs, and my daughter will begin her sophomore year at University of St.Andrews in Scotland where she also plays club water polo.
My husband, once a geo-technical civil engineer, now teaches math at DaVinici High School. In our free time, the entire family enjoys windsurfing, skiing/snowboarding, cycling and traveling to Europe and Mexico. In addition, I swim regularly with Davis Aquatic Masters where I have been a member since 1985.
Websites to Visit
Mme. Harvey's favorite websites for French:
General Course Information:
Course Description:
Learning a foreign language requires daily practice and exposure to the target language. Attendance and class participation are, therefore, essential to having a successful and rewarding experience. In this class, we will listen to and speak French daily through stories, conversations, and role-playing activities. Your enthusiasm for these activities is required and will ensure your progress.
Natural Approach
Emphasis on:
- Communicative competence & oral proficiency
- Reading comprehension of authentic cultural material
- Expressive writing
- (Note: grammatical correctness is taught and encouraged, but communicative competence is a priority).
Textbook and Materials
- French I – C’est à Toi – Level 1 (EMC Publisher)
- French II – C’est à Toi – Level 2
- French III – C’est à Toi – Level 3
- Spanish 1A - Avancemos- Level 1 (Holt-McDougal)
- Exercise workbook (all classes)
- 6x9x1"Spiral Notebook/Journal Levels 2&3
- 81/2 x 11" Spiral Notebook Levels 1 and 1A
- Pens: blue, black and red
Projects
- Illustrated Journals (Fr.1, Sp`1A)
- Fashion Show (Fr.1,Sp`1A, )
- Cultural Presentations (Fr.1, Sp`1A,)
- Thematic posters, postcards and cartoons (Fr.1&2, Sp`1A, )
- Commercials (Fr.2)
- French /Spanish Meal & menus(Fr.1&2. Sp`1A)
- Romeo & Juliette (Fr 3)
- Harry Potter (Fr 3)
- Theatre presentations with costume (Fr.2 and 3)
- Class newspaper (Fr 3)
- Entertainment guide (Fr.3)
Cultural Components
- Songs – traditional and popular
- Games – grammar/vocabulary
- Video components to C’est à Toi and Avancemos textbook series
- Films - to be announced (all in original language with English subtitles)
- Festivals
- Mardi Gras
- Poissons d’Avril
- Noel
- Mexican Independence Day
- Dia de los Muertos
- Cinco de Mayo
- Correspondance – with French students by regular mail or e-mail (Fr.2 and 3)
- Cuisine – traditional recipes provided for students to prepare at home
- Supplemental Literature/Poetry
- French Exchange with Dole, France (grades 10-12) French 3 and beyond
Grades: Grades will be computed on a point system with 90-100%=A, 80-89%=B, etc.
- Class work/homework/projects (30%)
- Written/oral quizzes and tests (50%)
- Oral fluency, presentations and participation (20%)
. Parental Support:
1) Enforce/encourage homework/daily practice.
2) Help them with daily study skills to become successful (i.e. “quiz” them on vocabulary
and show them how to use flash cards/study lists to memorize and retain information.)
3) Broaden their interest in learning a foreign language by taking them to French films,
theatre, concerts, restaurants, art exhibits, cultural events, or browse Newsbeat
(downtown Davis) for foreign magazines and newspapers that interest them.
Extra Credit Options
FRENCH/SPANISH EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENTS
The following enrichment assignments will be accepted for extra credit from 10-20 points, depending upon the depth of the submitted work. Extra credit will ONLY be accepted by students who have completed all class work and exams. Please select the language you are currently studying to complete your EC assignment (French or Spanish)
FILMS: Watch a French/Spanish movie (in French/Spanish language with English subtitles) and write a summary of the film (no more than one page!). Include the basic plot, whether you liked it or not and why, and what you learned about French/Spanish culture.
Some movies, in English, but about French culture would be acceptable for extra credit. Movies such as Chocolate, or any historical film (Les Misérables, etc) are examples
MAGAZINES: Buy a French language magazine at Newsbeat and either:
-Read an article and write a brief summary of it (in French or English) telling what you learned about French culture…
-Skim the ads and make a list of 15-20 words that you learned (cognates accepted) Cut out ads and mount them on paper, along with translated vocabulary.
FOOD: Follow a French recipe (in English or in French) and serve it to your family. Then, turn in a ½ page summary of what you did and how it turned out (in French or English). Have a parent sign it.
RESTAURANT: Have a meal at a French restaurant. In a ½ page or more, describe your experience…what you ate…your opinion of the food/presentation, etc.
MUSEUMS: Visit a museum that is showing a display related to French culture. This could be paintings, sculptures, or anything historical. Keep an open mind that displays of Francophone countries and states (Africa, Europe, Canada, Louisiana) are also appropriate. In a ½-1 page summary, describe your experience
INTERNET: Explore and discover some cool sites relating to French culture or language. Print the Home Page and write the web address at the top. In ½ page, write what was valuable about that site for you.
In summary, anything you do to enrich/enhance your understanding of French culture may be accepted as extra credit. Most assignments are 10-20 points and the focus should be on the experience and how it relates to this course, not on what is turned in to me.
All assignments shall be due on or before the last week of the semester.
No more than 20 points total per semester can be awarded for extra credit work and ONLY after all make-up work has been completed.
If you have any questions, please e-mail me at: