Initiation au français -- Final project description

For the final project of this unit you will demonstrate that you can carry on a very basic conversation in French.
So far we’ve learned how to greet one another, say goodbye, and tell our birthdays --- I’d like you to show me 
that you’re a master of these interactions in a spontaneous environment. You will do this by participating in a
quick interview with me in pairs.

How it will work:

 You and a partner will come to the front of the class with me and choose a card from a box.
 The card will have a script on it for me to read to you. It will either be informal or formal; you will have to
decide based on the things I say to you. (NOTE: It will be very clear whether you should use VOUS or
TU.)
 You and your partner will decide which one of you wants to begin and I will read the prompt up to three
times.
 As long as you attempt to use French you will earn at least one point.

The interview will include the following prompts:

 Greetings: Each of you will be greeted and will have to respond in an appropriate way
(formal/informal/slang/time of day/etc.). Use what you know-- if you really wanted to say you were
“peachy” but can’t remember the expression, say what you do remember. 
 Goodbyes: I will say goodbye to each of you and you will have to respond in an appropriate way
(formal/informal/slang/time of day/etc.) -- Use what you know-- if you really wanted to say you were
“text me” but can’t remember the expression, say what you do remember.
 Birthday/Age: At one point I will ask each of you for either your age or your birthday. The focus here is
on the numbers which you already know so practice them -- know how to say, “I’m fourteen” or, “My 
birthday is the eleventh of October.”
 Introduction: One of you will have to make and introduction and the other respond to it. What I’m 
looking for here is that you use the correct form of YOU.
 Formality: Something that is different about French is that there is more than one way to say YOU.
We’ve practiced using both TU and VOUS so I’d like you to demonstrate how well you understand the 
differences by responding to my prompts appropriately.

Remember! This project is not for you to spend a lot of time stressing out over spelling and grammar. What you
should really focus on is practicing how to use the language -- this means rehearsing, practicing pronunciation,
and using the vocabulary we’re all familiar with. If you have questions about pronunciation PLEASE come talk
to me in class so that we can practice together.
Initiation au français -- Final project rubric

Student name: _______________________________

3 2 1

Pronunciation Words are Words are pronounced fairly It is difficult to understand the
pronounced accurately, a heritage student, the words sound more
accurately, a heritage speaker might have trouble English than French but the
speaker would understanding but a French student is clearly making an
understand the language learner would effort.
student easily enough. comprehend.

Greeting The student responds The student’s response is  The student’s response is 

to the greeting slightly unnatural (ex: irrelevant but an attempt is still
appropriately (VOUS responding with TU instead of made to speak French.
vs TU; ET TOI/VOUS) VOUS) but the general idea is
and in French. clear.

Goodbye The student responds The student’s response is  The student’s response is 

to the greeting slightly unnatural (ex: irrelevant but an attempt is still
appropriately and in responding with À BIENTÔT made to speak French.
French. when the first person said À
DEMAIN) but the general idea
is clear.

Birthday/Age The student responds The student struggles with the The student didn’t practice 
with their birthday/age numbers but their response is saying their birthday/age as
entirely in French. still fairly clear. well they should have but they
still attempt it and it is in
French.

Introduction The student responds The student introduces their The student needs a lot of
appropriately when friend/responds to the hinting in order to understand
asked who their friend introduction but could have what is being asked of them,
is/greeted as a new been more accurate (ex: they still use French to attempt
friend. switching to VOUS/TU). to reply to their prompt.

Formality VOUS/TU is used VOUS/TU is used correctly The opposite form of YOU is
consistently and once. used throughout the interaction.
accurately the entirety
of the interaction.

Classroom vocab The student responds The student responds The student responds
appropriately to the incorrectly to the prompt but incorrectly the first two times
classroom vocabulary correctly on the next attempt. but correctly on their final
prompt. attempt.

Total = __________/20
Initiation au français -- Sample interview cards

(There will be a total of ten to choose from, five formal and five informal)
Formal 1-F

1) Bonjour ! Comment allez vous ? … Je suis bien, merci.

2) Qui est votre ami(e) ? *point*

3) C’est un plaisir de faire votre connaissance. Comment allez vous ? … Très bien,
merci.

4) Aujourd’hui est mon anniversaire, ___(A)___ quand est votre anniversaire ? … Et

vous, ___(B)___ ? (Quand est votre anniversaire ?)

5) ___(A)___, prenez une feuille de papier.

___(B)___, j’ai besoin d’un stylo.

6) Bon, à demain ___(A)___ ! … Enchantée ___(B)___ ! …

Informal 1- I

1) Sault ! Ça va ? … Ça va bien, merci.

2) Qui est ton ami(e) ? *point*

3) Enchantée. Quoi de neuf ? … pas grande chose.

4) Aujourd’hui est mon anniversaire, ___(A)___ quand est ton anniversaire ? … Et

toi, ___(B)___ ? (Quand est ton anniversaire ?)

5) ___(A)___, prenez une feuille de papier.

___(B)___, j’ai besoin d’un stylo.

6) Bon, à demain ___(A)___ ! … Enchantée ___(B)___ ! …