Language
AP French
Note:Ìý ***Parts of this work are to be submitted during the summer, not all at the end***.
- Review the formation and use of all regular and irregular verbs found in the Blume/Stein FrenchÌýThree Years Workbook(found in the Appendix) in the following tenses: présent, impératif, passé composé, imparfait, conditionnel, futur proche, and futur simple.
- Keep a journal in which you write twice a month over the course of the summer, for 20 minutes each session.Ìý This work should be without any outside help, human or artificial.Ìý This work is intended to be your natural writing. Sessions should be dated, double-spaced, and hand-written.Ìý If you have access to a Microsoft Surface over the summer, you may use your stylus.Ìý If you do not, write your journal on lined paper, download the document Microsoft Lens document scanner app (for Apple or Android), and use it to photo/scan/send the resultant document as an email attachment . Do not simply take a photo of your paper.Ìý Two journal entries (20 mins of writing each) should be submitted on/before:Ìý July 1, August 1, and September 1 (dates=Easthampton time zone). The subject of at least one of the journal entries each month should be a new French song, article, or film, podcast, or social media posting of your choosing which you have seen over the summer and have reflected upon.
For non-native French speaking students, the goal for summer listening work is exposure, understanding the essential at first, and increasingly more.ÌýÌý When you write your journal, note what you listened to, talk about what it was about, and/or the experience of listening, or whatever else strikes you.
(Podcast suggestions are included below, some with web addresses, but all are available on usual podcast platforms.). Email your journal entries as Word/Google Document attachment toÌýsmichalski@williston.com.
Podcasts specifically made for French language learners:
One thing in a French DayÌýÌý(Super short, quick, and clear pronunciation)
Francais à la UneÌý(Woman reads the first page of French newspapers, 5-10 mins an episode)Ìý
Fleur-de-lis:Ìý a French podcast.Ìý (The host speaks slowly and clearly with a Quebecois accent.)Ìý
Francais AuthentiqueÌýÌý(Good regular speed French but made for language learners.)
News In Slow FrenchÌý(Slowed news in French but not painfully so.Ìý If you choose this one, I recommend it AND eventually others, to practice listening rate, but it’s an excellent option)
A long list of many best language learner podcastsÌý
General Podcasts, for any French speaker:
Choses à savoir (2-3 minutes each)
Grand reportage (20 mins) Current events
Transfert – true stories of a wide variety/length, in people’s own voices.
French language podcasts on Slate.fr , including a sort by length/interest functionÌý
List of the current top French language podcastsÌý
AP Spanish
Read an article from an online Spanish newspaper each month (June, July, and August) and submit a summary of the article, including the day the article was read and the name of the newspaper, to Mr. Simpson atÌýnsimpson@williston.com. In addition, email the answers to the following questions:
- Why did you choose to read this article?
- What did you learn from the article?
- What did you think about the article?
Online newspapers:Ìý,Ìý,Ìý, or any other e-publication from a Spanish-speaking country.
You should also read a short story of your choice in Spanish and be ready to share your thoughts about it during the first week of classes.
Optional Departmental Recommendations
Films:
Spanish:
- Entre NosÌýdirected by Gloria La Morte and Paola Mendoza, NR
French:
- Le Petit Nicolas,Ìýdirected by Lauren Tirard, PG
Latin:
- The Seven Wonders of Ancient Rome,ÌýDiscovery Channel documentary narrated by John Shrapnel, 2004