COURSE OFFERINGS IN FRENCH
Language | Culture | Literature | Independent Study
Listed below are all the courses offered in French Studies. To see which courses are being offered in the upcoming semester, visit the USM Course Search page.
This beginner's course in French stresses the acquisition of cultural information and introduces the student to the four skills of language learning: listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. The course meets four times per week and requires additional work with coordinated language tapes. Opportunity for practice with videotapes and computer exercises is available. No prerequisites. 4 credits.
Continuation of FRE 101. Prerequisite: FRE 101 or equivalent. 4 credits.
Elementary French for students with some previous study of the language who feel the need for a refresher course before entering FRE 201I. 3 credits.
Beginner's course in French aiming exclusively at a reading knowledge of the language. No French spoken. Recommended also as preparation for language tests required by graduate schools. 3 credits.
An intensive course for the beginning student, covering a full year's work at the college level to prepare the student for the intermediate level of college French. Emphasis is placed upon the four skills of language learning: listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing along with an introduction to contemporary culture and civilization. Daily practice in the language laboratory is required (for two additional credits). Offered during the summer only.
6 credits (With lab, 8 credits).
Review of grammatical structures. Further development of listening comprehension, speaking, reading and writing skills. The emphasis will be on understanding cultures and contemporary life of French-speaking countries through reading and discussion. This course requires additional work with coordinated language CDs. Opportunity for practice with video tapes and computer exercises is available. Prerequisites: FRE 102I, FRE 103, two years of high school French or the equivalent. 4 credits.
Continuation of FRE 201I. Prerequisite: FRE 201I or the equivalent. 4 credits.
Further practice of the skill acquired in FRE 105 through an accelerated reading of books on various topics (fiction, history, science, etc.). Prerequisites: FRE 105, 102, 103, or instructor's permission. 3 credits.
This is an intensive course for the intermediate student covering a full year's work at the college level. Emphasis is placed on the development of listening comprehension, speaking, reading and writing. Daily lab work is mandatory. Offered during the summer only. 6 credits (With lab, 8 credits).
In this course, students will learn techniques and the art of translation through an analysis of the major linguistic and cultural differences between French and English. Translations will be done from French into English and from English into French. Prerequisites: FRE 302 or equivalent.
A formal study of the French sound system and an initiation into phonetic transcription with practical and remedial work in pronunciation. Prerequisite: FRE 202I or equivalent. 3 credits.
Advanced study of the French language with emphasis on proficiency in grammar, writing, and vocabulary development. Prerequisite: FRE 202I or equivalent or instructor's permission. 3 credits.
Continuation of FRE 306. Prerequisite: FRE 306 or equivalent or instructor's permission. 3 credits.
This course is designed to familiarize students with basic French conversation. This class will be conducted solely in the target language, thus enabling students to develop their proficiency skills in French. Class discussions will be based on various authentic materials. Prerequisite: FRE 202I or equivalent or instructor's permission. 2 credits.
Continuation of FRE 308. Prerequisite: FRE 308 or equivalent or instructor's permission. 2 credits.
^ top
Aspects of the society, institutions, arts, literature, and religion of France , from the origins to the end of the 19th century. No French is spoken in the classroom. 3 credits.
Institutions of education, society, economy, politics of France from the French Revolution to the present. No French is spoken in the classroom. 3 credits.
^ top
Readings and discussions of recent works of French literature selected for their philosophical and ethical importance: Saint-Exupery, Sartre, Camus, de Beauvoir, Teilhard de Chardin and others. No knowledge of French is necessary. 3 credits.
Fundamental techniques of French literary analysis, close reading, and critical interpretation. All readings, discussion and papers will be conducted in French. This course is a prerequisite for all other 300-level French literature courses. 3 credits.
An historical survey of the major writers and literary periods from the beginning of French literature to the twentieth century. Prerequisite FRE 331 or equivalent. 3 credits.
Each course in this group "Genres & Periods" deals with a specific literary genre (novel, poetry, theatre) and/or time period (Medieval, Renaissance, 17th century, 18th century, 19th century, 20th century. Sample topics: 19th century French novel, 17th century French theatre, 20th century French fiction, or the following courses. This course may be repeated for credit provided the topic is different. Prerequisites: FRE 331 or equivalent. 3 credits.
Sample topics & themes:
Literature and the development of a French national consciousness
This course will exmaine the literary works which have shaped French national identity. Authors or works studied include La Chanson de Roland , Montaigne, Pasacl, Rousseau, Hugo, Proust, Malraux and Sartre.
Representations of Women in French Literature
The topic of this course is the representation(s) of women in French literature through the works of men and women writers from the 17th century to the present. Class periods will be devoted to the analysis and discussions of readings.
Satire of the French Court
This course will examine the ways in which certain authors of the Ancien Régime criticized the French court. Various genres will be studied. Authors include La Bruy ère, Saint-Simon, Montesquieu, Voltaire, Rousseau, Beaumarchais
Each course in this group "Topics & Themes" deals with a subject and/or a theme in French or Francophone literature. This course may be repeated for credit provided the topic is different. Prerequisite: FRE 331 or equivalent. 3 credits
Sample topics and themes:
The Comic in French Literature
This course will give a definition of the comic in general, and of Gallic wit in particular, by calling upon various theories and opinions on the comic. This course will then examine the humour of certain French authors as well as the evolution of the comic in French literature. Readings from Rabelais, Montaigne, Molière, Diderot, Voltaire, Ionesco, and Beckett.
Courtly Love
This course will examine the origins, evolution and transformation of the phenomenon of courtly love in French literary works of the Ancien Régime. The connection of courtly love to the myth of aristocracy and to the rise and fall of the French monarchy will also be explored. Some of the authors included will be Chrétien de Troyes, Honoré d'Urfé, Corneille, Racine, Madame de Lafayette, Marivaux and de la Clos.
An advanced course in the group “Genres & Periods” which deals with a specific literary genre (novel, poetry, theatre) and/or time period (Medieval, Renaissance, 17th century, 18th century, 19th century, 20th century. Sample topics: 19th century French novel, 17th century French theatre, 20th century French fiction, or the following coursess. This course may be repeated for credit provided the topic is different. Prerequsites: FRE 367 or 369 or equivalent. 3 credits
Sample topics and themes:
Free thought in the Ancient Régime
A study of the writings of authors of the Ancien Régime who dared to oppose the traditional concepts and values of their era by offering views of reality that reflected not only their independane of thought, but also their desire for freedom from governmental restraints and injunctions. Some of the authors included are Montaigne, Gassendi, Le Mothe le Vayer, Molière, Montesquieu, Diderot and Rousseau.
20th Century French Feminist Writers
This course examines the ways in which feminine discourse not only challenges traditional male discourse , but also presents new perspectives and ways of thinking about reality. Readings include selections from 20th century women writers in France and in Canada , such as Beauvoir, Blais, Cixous, Duras, Saurraute, Witig.
An advanced course in the group “Topics and Themes” which deals with a major subject and/or theme in French or Francophone literature. Prerequisite: FRE 367 or 369 or equivalent. 3 credits.
Sample topics & themes:
A Study of Quebecer Literature
This course is designed to familiarize students with representative worsks by Quebec authors from the New France period to the present. Students will gain particular insight into the literature of this francophone entity in North America . Class periods will be devoted to the analysis and discussion of literary texts.
Le Mythe d'Amérique
The objective of this course is the exploration of literary representations of America from the 16th century to the present. Authors studied include Montaigne, Rousseau, Voltaire, Tocqueville, Chateaubriand, Giraudoux, Saint-John Perse, Claudel, Sartre, de Beauvoir, and Camus.
^ top
In this course, students participate in a number of activities in the French language, enabling them to develop and strenghten their ability in speaking and comprehending. They also gain an awareness and appreciation of various cutlures of the French-speaking world. Since immersion content will vary, the course may be repeated, to a total of 3 credits. Prerequisite: FRE 202I or equivalent. 1 credit.
^ top
|
