FRENCH 1B: HOMESTUDY

Modern Language Learning has progressed tremendously in the last decade. Increases in technology have provided a great variety of tools to assist and speed up the learning process. Unfortunately, the abundance of materials and media can sometimes seem overwhelming.

It will take you a while to figure out the different components of the course. However, once youπve completed one chapter, you will understand how the tools work. Youπll find that the succeeding chapters will be faster and easier to follow.

In an effort to simplify the usage of the media tools that accompany the textbook, this reference guide has been compiled for you. It lists the contents of all of the recorded media, except the optional CD-ROM. Keep these charts out when beginning a new lesson, so that youπll see what material in the textbook has been recorded. Itπs extremely important to listen to the recorded material as many times as possible.

THE VOCABULARY CD's

There are two vocabulary CD's that came packaged with the Lab Audio Program. These vocabulary CD's contain recordings of all of the vocabulary listed at the end of each chapter. We'll be using only the first Vocabulary CD for French 1B (CD#9); CD#8 contains the vocabulary for French 1A.

It is highly recommended that you listen to the vocabulary tape for each leÁon at least once before beginning work on the lesson. While you won't remember most of the meanings of the new vocabulary until you've worked with the words in context, you'll be more likely to learn them sooner.

The end of the chapter list can also serve as a reference. When you come across a new word in a lesson that you don't understand, but looks familiar, you can quickly check the meaning by referring to the list at the end of the chapter. Since vocabulary is so important in learning any language, it's recommended that you bookmark the vocabulary list for each chapter, perhaps with an index tab or other convenient place marker.

There are also both a French-English and an English-French lexicon at the back of your textbook (beginning on page A13) that contain most of the important vocabulary used in the book. You can also refer to the free dictionary that was most likely included your textbook package.

THE STUDENT AUDIO CDπs

The two Student Audio CDπs that came with your textbook contain a variety of recordings of material in the textbook that focus on pronunciation and oral response. We will only be using the first CD (Student Audio CD#1) in the French 1A course; the second will be used for French 1B.

The textbook sections recorded on the Student Audio CDπs are usually preceded by one of the following icons:

or

However, since itπs sometimes unclear as to what is actually recorded, a list of the recordings, their corresponding chapter, lesson, and page number have been included here.

Be sure to listen to these recordings as many times as possible, especially at the beginning of the course. The pronunciation habits youπll acquire early on are those that will most likely continue throughout your study of French. And it is very difficult to rid yourself of an incorrect pronunciation once youπve learned an incorrect one.

LAB AUDIO PROGRAM CDπs

The CDπs for the Audio Program are used with the Workbook/Lab Manual to complete the listening comprehension and speaking sections of the workbook. A small-print table of contents came with the complete package of course materials. If you didnπt purchase the Lab Audio Program with your textbook, or if you have trouble reading the smaller-print version, you may want to refer to the contents listed on the next two pages.

THE CHEZ NOUS VIDEO

Chez nous learning materials also include an optional video program. Students who would like to watch the Chez nous video can see it in the Language Lab or can check out a copy from the AV desk in the West Valley College library (for viewing in the library). The following is a list of titles of the video segments as they correspond to the textbook chapters covered in French 1B.