You are here: Home › Departments › Modern Languages › Department Policies

Policies and Expectations

DEPARTMENT POLICIES AND EXPECTATIONS

Classroom Rules

  • It is expected that students will show respect for each other, the teacher and for each other's belongings.
  • It is expected that all students will uphold all school rules, expectations and policies while in the classroom. (See student's agenda on school rules and expectations)

Homework

Some type of homework will be assigned every night.  The homework may be checked without advance notice to the students.  Homework left at home, in lockers or not done will not receive credit.  It is the student's responsibility to catch up on all work missed if he/she has been absent from class.  Students are expected to come to class prepared with all necessary books and materials including a good french/english or spanish/english dictionary.

Agenda

Students must bring their agenda to every class so that homework and important dated may be recorded.  Agendas may be checked periodically and may be used as a means of communication between the parents and the teacher.

Notebooks

Students in all grades must have their binders divided into 5 sections:

1. Vocabulary 2. Language 3. Homework 4. Evaluation 5.  Journal

Extra Help

Extra help is a privilege made available only to those students who, despite their hard work and dedication, continue to have problems in French/Spanish.  Students must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible to receive extra help.

The Student Must:

  • be co-operative, attentive and responsible in class.
  • attempt/complete homework/assignments consistently and with effort.
  • participate in class and use class time wisely.
  • be respectful to the teacher and to others in class.

If all of these criteria are met, the student may be considered eligible by the teacher to receive extra help.  If at any time the student fails to meet these criteria, the extra help privilege will be denied.  Once an appointment time has been agreed upon by both the student and the teacher, it is the student's responsibility to be punctual and prepared with questions, concerns, notebook, textbook and writing materials.  Should the appointment need to be rescheduled due to illness (teacher or student), other arrangements will be made for another convenient time.  Students should not rely on extra help to make up classes missed due to vacations or extra-curricular activities.  If the student is still experiencing difficulties after a consistent effort has been, the services of an outside tutor should be considered.

Assignments

The due date for all oral and written assignments is final and cannot be extended due to timelines and deadlines necessary to cover the curriculum.  It is the student's responsibility to be aware of all due dates for homework, tests, oral/written assignments and projects.  Late assignments will not be accepted unless the reason for tardiness has been discussed with the teacher.  Incomplete/missing assignments at the end of the year may cause failure.

Electronic translator aides and help from tutors

There will be many occasions when a student will be asked to complete a writing assignment at home.  Any work that is handed in by the student but completed with the aide of a translator (ie: computer software, online, electronic etc.) or with personal assistance (ie: tutor, family member etc.) is NOT considered to be the student’s own work.  If such an incident is suspected, the following may occur:
· the student may be asked to produce all rough work and/or drafts
· the student may be asked to provide a complete explanation/interpretation of the work
· the student’s work may be evaluated by more than one language teacher

If student’s work is found to have been assisted in any way, as noted above, the following may apply:

·        FIRST OFFENCE:  the student will be asked to re-do the assignment at school and the teacher’s late policy will be in effect
·        SECOND OFFENCE: the student will receive an automatic mark of “0” and his/her parents will be notified.

Please note that failing to submit one’s own work is a serious offence as it is also a form of academic dishonesty (cheating).

Evaluation

The evaluation in a language class will take many forms and be ongoing.  Students will be assessed on an individual, pair, or group basis in all four aspects of the program.  There will be two sets of formal examinations which will take place in January and in June.  The examinations will include both a written and an oral component.  The breakdown of marks for the year is as follows:

LISTENING………15%

SPEAKING……….15%

READING………...15% }  TOTAL CLASS MARK:  65%

WRITING………....15%

HOMEWORK……..5%

WRITTEN EXAM…25% }   TOTAL EXAM MARK:  35%

ORAL EXAM……...10%

It is a Department Policy that if a student passes the final exam, he/she passes the year.  We believe this to be fair to the student as the final examination tests all concepts learned throughout the year.