FR 2120 Oral Exam. Where? In Gordy 325. How long? The oral exam will last about 7-8 minutes.

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1 FR 2120 Oral Exam When? There are 3 days devoted to the oral exam (see syllabus for dates). You will be given the day and time you must come to class. During the 3-day exam period, you need only come on your assigned day and time. You do not need to come on the other days of that period. Once a day and time have been given to you, you are required to come on that day at that time. Where? In Gordy 325. How long? The oral exam will last about 7-8 minutes. How much is it worth? The oral exam is worth 10% of your grade in FR You will be graded on a variety of criteria depending on the parts but for each part you will be graded not on what a native French speaker would produce but on what a FR 2120 student (who prepared adequately) is supposed to be able to produce. How to succeed? 1. Class time is your practice time: be very attentive and strive to volunteer often. 2. It is highly recommended that you practice the oral exam with a partner. Not only will it help you study better, but it will also make it more enjoyable. Important: The oral exam will be conducted entirely in French. Once the exam begins, it is in your best interest to use only French. No notes are allowed. Your instructor will record your oral exam. The files will be erased after 7 days; if you wish to discuss your performance in detail, make an appointment with your instructor on the same day you receive your score. 1

2 Procedure: Part I (20%): Poem You will be asked to read (NOT recite from memory) the poem "Il pleure dans mon cœur" (1874) by Paul Verlaine ( ) below. Listen to and practice reading the poem online. You will be graded on pronunciation (typically -0.5 point for each mispronounced letter). Il pleure dans mon cœur Comme il pleut sur la ville. Quelle est cette langueur Qui pénètre mon cœur? Ô bruit doux de la pluie Par terre et sur les toits! Pour un cœur qui s ennuie, Ô le chant de la pluie! Il pleure sans raison Dans ce cœur qui s écœure. Quoi! nulle trahison? Ce deuil est sans raison. C est bien la pire peine De ne savoir pourquoi, Sans amour et sans haine, Mon cœur a tant de peine. Literal translation It is crying in my heart As it is raining on the city What is this languor That soaks into my heart? Oh, soft sound of the rain On the ground and on the roof! For a heart that is troubled Oh, the song of the rain! It is crying without reason In this sickened heart. What! No betrayal? This mourning is without reason. It is indeed the worst pain To not know why Without love and without hate My heart has so much pain. Poetic adaptation Tears fall within my heart As rain falls upon the town What slow and somber hurt Thus seeps into my heart? Oh, gentle sound of rain On paving stone and roof! For a heart that feels such pain Oh, the gentle song of rain! Tears fall without reason Within this heartsick heart. What! No lover's treason? I mourn, then, without reason. It is the very worst of pain To never know the reason why, Without love, without disdain, My heart must hold such pain. 2

3 Part II (80%): Cartoons (les dessins) You will choose 4 cartoons out of the 12 given below and prepare each of the 4 you chose. On the oral exam day, you will tell your instructor which 4 cartoons you prepared and s/he will choose 2 of the 4 at random. You will then talk about those 2 cartoons. Note: The instructor will have all the cartoons printed and ready for you. How to prepare the cartoons: La description: describe the picture [At least 4 elaborate sentences]. Le message: explain what the cartoonist (le dessinateur) tried to say (What is the message?) [At least 4 elaborate sentences]. L'opinion: say what you think about the message and/or the art [At least 4 elaborate sentences]. Les questions: You will also be asked a few follow-up questions about the cartoons Sample (the picture below is not part of this oral exam, it is only a sample): Weak performance by a student : La description: "Il y a un homme et un oiseau avec une valise et des fleurs." Le message: "C est sur la pollution. Le dessinateur est triste. Il y a la nature. C'est un bon message." L opinion: "J aime le dessin parce que l homme est optimiste. C'est joli et triste. C'est un bon message." What's wrong with it? the answers are too short, the French is too basic, the ideas are not developed, there are repetitions Great performance by a student : La description: "Il y a un homme sur un banc. Un oiseau est sur son épaule et regarde dans la valise parce qu il y a de jolies fleurs à l intérieur. Derrière l homme, on peut voir de grosses usines qui émettent de gros nuages noirs de pollution. Le dessin est gris, noir et blanc excepté pour les fleurs qui ont beaucoup de couleur. " Le message: "Je pense que le dessinateur veut nous montrer les dangers de la pollution. Au lieu d avoir de grands parcs avec des plantes, cet homme doit se contenter d une valise remplie de fleurs. C est un parc miniature. Dans l avenir, nous risquons de devoir nous contenter d une nature miniature aussi : nous aurons des bancs sans nature. Nous devons agir vite pour éviter cette catastrophe." L opinion: "J aime beaucoup le dessin parce qu il est simple mais le message est très fort. Le dessin me fait peur parce que j aime la nature et la pollution est un véritable problème. D un autre côté, il est intéressant de voir que l homme du banc sourit. Peut-être que le dessinateur est optimiste et a de l espoir pour l humanité." Examples of follow-up questions I might ask for the sample cartoon: Qu est-ce que vous faites pour l environnement? Est-ce que vous plantez des fleurs? 3

4 Dessin 1: Dessin 2: 4

5 Dessin 3: 5

6 dessin 4: Derssin 4: Dessin 4: 6

7 Dessin 5: 7

8 Dessin 6: 8

9 Dessin 7: 9

10 Dessin 8: 10

11 Dessin 9: 11

12 Dessin 10: 12

13 Dessin 11: Dessin 12: 13