ALLONS VISITER PARIS!

(10% of Final Grade)

(Presentation at the last class session of the semester)

You are going to role-play this scenario in groups of 2-3 people. Your conversation should last approximately 10 minutes, minimum!

Students in French classes are very lucky. The French have been very thorough about presenting a wealth of material about their country on the Internet and you can take a virtual tour there (money is no object!) without leaving either your home or the Media Center!

The Scenario:: You and your friends are planning a quick trip to Paris ("une visite-éclair") of 3-5 days. You each have different things you intend to do, but you want to get together as a whole group for at least two different activities--if you can agree on those activities and arrange a mutually convenient time.

PART I: The Conversation/Performance In Class (IN FRENCH):
This section is done with a partner or in a group.

Your conversation should cover the following topics:
--how long you're staying
--where your hotel is located (precisely!). Choose a real hotel and give the location.
--where the closest métro station is
--a description of your itinerary around the city (what you're seeing and why). What you
are going to do during your stay.
--how to get from at least one point to another on public transportation
--talk about and make suggestions about where to go, what to see, how to get there;
you might also include some things you will not do (e.g. if you're afraid of
heights, you might suggest to your friends that you not go to the top of the
Eiffel Tower or climb the bell towers of Notre Dame cathedral!)
--at least one person must disagree with the others about where to go and you
must negotiate the peace!
By the end of the conversation, you should come to an agreement about the place/activity for
which you will all meet together (including specific days and times).

Everyone is expected to contribute to the conversation and use a variety of expressions for discussing plans and expressing opinions/desires (such as hope, want, intend, need to do something; feel (not feel) like doing something; how to do something, get somewhere, etc.).

You may use notes (and maps, handouts, posters, etc.) for the specific details, BUT you may not use a script. This is a conversation (not a lecture!) in which you are talking to and looking at each other--not to the teacher!

Based on all the materials at your disposal (see below for specific instructions) in the Lab, you are expected to make your presentation and the details of your trip as specific as possible. You should use pictures, postcards, maps, printouts of internet pages, etc., to help us all visualize your trip. These materials will be available in class for your presentation.

While you can create a storyboard poster for your presentation and use any props you like, students are encouraged to prepare a computer presentation using Power Point, which might make it easier for you all to follow your conversational threads.

PART II: Written Report:
This report is an individual report that each student must submit.

All the printed and video materials you need will be available in the lab for you to consult. You may not take these materials out of the lab at any time. The lab staff will be informed that you will be coming in to ask for the "project materials" for French 113. You will sign them out and return them to a member of the lab staff.

In addition to getting you to explore some authentic materials in a variety of media and using those materials in your conversation in French, one other component of this project is equally important: A Written Report IN ENGLISH. While there is no minimum page length, it will be very hard to do this report in less than four pages ...

Your report must include the following:

--I am interested in getting a clear sense from you of what you have learned abut French cultural activities in Paris; what you learned about monuments, some of Parisian history, what is available to tourists (and to the French). I also want to get a sense of what you can find on the Internet to help plan your trip. What were some of the most useful sites you found? Why? How hard/easy was it to find information? If you find any interesting websites, include the complete URL so that they can be added to the French Resource Pages.

--Your report is to be printed out (double-spaced); you should include the full and complete internet page addresses you consulted (and a brief explanation of what was there) on the Internet. You can print out individual internet pages as well to show what information you have found, but your report cannot consist merely of printed internet pages, with no explanation by you. Handwritten pages will be turned back for no credit. Your report must be doublespaced and include all accent marks (typed in--NOT written in). Any internet pages you include in your report, will not count toward the four-page minimum.

--You must discuss all the materials (print, video, computer) that you used and evaluate them--were they helpful? difficult to use/understand? what did you find? There is an enormous amount of material out there and one of the objectives of this project is to introduce you to learning how to sort through such massive quantities of material in order to zero in on what is important for your specific project.

--What were some of the "surprises" out there? Many students are amazed at how comfortable they feel with the idea of traveling in France after they do this project, since they have gotten a real feel for the city and the resources available.

--Your report must also include a self- and group evaluation and include the following: How was it working with your partner(s)? What grade would you give them? yourself? What was it like working on this project? Do you feel more comfortable with the internet and information about Paris after the work you've done this semester?

--Evaluate your progress in French this semester. What would you have done differently for this course if you were starting all over again? Have your skills improved? What do you feel you need more work on in French? After 14 weeks and 56 hours of instruction, what do you feel you can do in French? Are you surprised, disappointed with your progress?

--At the end of your report, you must attach a Source List, where you give the full addresses of the internet sites you consulted, the video materials you consulted. You need not include the maps, department store guides or books you consult in the lab.

If you have questions or problems, send an e-mail or speak to your instructor immediately. Do not wait until the time of your presentation to explain that you had "problems."

A Note on Plagiarism: It is expected that all students will have read and understood the CUNY Policy on Academic Integrity (copies available in the lab and on the lab home page). Plagiarism is taking information (from books, brochures, articles, internet sources, etc.) without attributing it to its source. You are giving the impression that you wrote and thought up the ideas presented. Plagiarism is a violation of academic honesty and integrity. In a non-academic setting, plagiarism is similar to stealing--an illegal activity. In an academic setting, plagiarism has serious consequences and we take it very seriously: In the case of your final projects, it will result in an automatic failure for this section of your final grade, most likely an F in the course and you will be reported to the Vice-President of Student Affairs, according to the CUNY policy.

DO NOT WAIT UNTIL TWO DAYS BEFORE THE LAST DAY OF CLASS TO DO THIS PROJECT!!!!!!!! PRESENTATIONS WILL BE MADE IN CLASS DURING THE LAST CLASS SESSION.

You will hand in your written report and self-evaluation (in English) and a CD with your Power Point presentation on the day of the presentation in class.

Materials at your disposal in the Lab: This is just a sample. Look at the video/CD catalogue on the lab webpage.

Videos:
--Les Parisiens

--Treasures of France: Paris

--Paris Through the Ages

--Visitez Paris

--Versailles

--Des Racines et des ailes (a French TV program which takes you on a walk along the Avenue des Champs Elysées--considered the most
famous and most beautiful in the world).

You should look at a minimum of ONE video.

Printed Materials in the "Project Boxes" in the Lab:
Do NOT cut up these materials! Other students have to use them!

--Guidebooks in English and French
--Métro Maps
--City Maps
--Department Store Guides
--Museum Guides
--Pariscope and Figaroscope (for special exhibits, restaurants, museums, movies, theater, etc.)
--Postcards

Internet:
The French Home Page in the lab has many sites to explore. Check out the sections on:

ALLEZ-Y! ALLEZ-Y! ALLEZ-Y!

EXPLOREZ! EXPLOREZ! EXPLOREZ!

APPRENEZ! APPRENEZ! APPRENEZ!

AMUSEZ-VOUS! AMUSEZ-VOUS! AMUSEZ-VOUS!

BON VOYAGE!