Final exam
Oral and written: a few suggestions for FRE 101
The requirements
The final exam is comprised of two parts: 1) an oral part and 2) a written part.
1) For the oral component you are to answer a few questions which we have practiced in advance. You will not know which questions will be asked. For this part of the test (oral) you and I will meet in Zoom, privately, just the two of us, and we will look at each other's face. The oral exam will be recorded and saved on Kaltura, housed at UMPI. I am looking to determine if you are able to a) communicate effectively, b) have learned the vocabulary, verbs and grammar introduced in the course, c) if your pronunciation is correct, d) make complete sentences.
2) For the written exam, a 500 word composition is to be done using only verbs, grammar, and vocabulary introduced in the course: present tense. Make sure you use complete sentences to get the best grade.
The written exam
The written exam requires attention to details.
The total written composition needs to have ...
- 500 words minimum. This is easy to check on your computer;
- because we are working with elementary details of the language, any elaborate vocabulary and verb constructions will not be graded because that is reserved for future courses;
- using the internet to translate is not allowed, asking others to help you write is not allowed. It does not represent your work, UMPI considers it plagiarism and it is not Academic Integrity. Also, I will know that your writing does not represent the 101 course level curriculum.
- the font size should be 12 pt.;
- leave only one space after periods or other punctuation marks; capitalize necessary words;
- set the margins of your document to 1 inch on all sides;
- indent the first line of each paragraph one half-inch from the left margin;
- create a header that numbers all pages consecutively in the upper right-hand corner, one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin;
- use only Times New Roman as a font.
- On the left hand corner type your name, the date, the course, the teacher name.
- Use a title which is centered.
Some possible topics ...
There are at least 7 topics in the Oli program at UMPI. You can look at the vocabulary introduced and then say something that applies to you, and connect the topics in a way that flows.
Your first paragraph should be about you as a person as an introduction: name, age, nationality, color hair, height, pets, hobbies etc. Make it relevant to the course you have been taking.
Your second paragraph can be about your family history, where they live and what they do for a living. How many there are, their names, their ages, etc. make it relevant to the course you have been taking.
Third paragraph can be about your likes and dislikes, colors, foods, things to do, etc. Make it relevant to the course you have been taking.
The fourth paragraph can be about where you live, what kind of stores there are, is it a small place or large, close to the mountains, lake or sea, etc. Make it relevant to the course you have been taking.
The final paragraph should be a conclusion of everything. Your studies, why you do what you do, etc. Make it relevant to the course you have been taking.
There is plenty to write about using the topics in the course. Just chat, in French. Pretend you are writing to a friend. Above all, use vocabulary, verbs and grammar and culture appropriate to the course you have been taking. You should not mention traveling to the moon if the chapter was teaching about traveling to the post office. It has to make sense based on the content of your course.
Faulty translation
Academic Integrity
The oral exam
It's hard to remember what to say because one is nervous and specially at a final exam so I suggest writing the monologue down on a piece of paper and then reading it and practicing it while you record it. It is very important that you practice the possible answers a few times so that it is not choppy, awkward, and it comes across as natural as possible, yet not fake.
Please practice recording several times so that it is as natural as you can make it.
Then you are ready to meet with me for the oral exam component.
For the oral exam I am looking to ...
- hear your pronunciation;
- see how smooth your phrases are;
- are you understanding the question in the prompt;
- are you correctly giving the proper information to the questions;
- is your sentence construction correct based on the vocabulary, verb and grammar introduced in the course;
- are you demonstrating confidence at the level of the language; either elementary or intermediate based on the course you are taking;
- you are not a native and no one is expecting you to speak like a native. This is only an introductory and intermediate course;
- be creative and be free with your answers based on the prompt. This is not the time to create "canned" answers. I am much more impressed with students who are natural in their responses than those who are "trying" to be perfect. Demonstrate that you can say complete sentences that other people will understand.
Final suggestions:
Unfortunately, when a student fails to abide by these check points, there may be delays on the grade, maybe the graduation is aborted, and these things cause hardship on one's nerves, unnecessarily, like possible academic probation, suspension and dismissal.
Buena suerte, bonne chance!
Anabela Ançã Mendes
Anabela Mendes has been teaching French, Spanish, ESL, and Portuguese for the past 25 years.
Location: Cell or text
Phone: 919.949.1365