Courses

Fall 2009 - French Course Descriptions

French 001 — Elementary French I

A - Block A - John Julian
B - Block C - Larysa Smirnova
C - Block D - John Julian
D - Block E - Taryn McQuain Bentaous
E - Block KLr - Wen-Yee Ho
F - Block E - Lisa Walters

This course introduces the fundamental grammatical structures and vocabulary of French. Through the development of basic language skills of reading, writing, listening comprehension, and speaking, it promotes the practical use of language in a variety of social settings. Conducted in French. No prerequisites.

Texts: Capretz, French in Action, Textbook and Workbook, Part I (Yale UP).

French 002 — Elementary French II

A - Block A - Kerri Conditto
B - Block C - Nancy Kelly
C - Block I - Wen-Yee Ho

A continuation of French 001. The course advances the study of basic grammar, fosters the development of vocabulary, and broadens the range of situations in which the student can understand and impart information. Audio-visual materials provide the cultural context for linguistic activities. Conducted in French. Prerequisite: French 001 or consent.

Texts: Capretz, French in Action, Textbook and Workbook, Part I (Yale UP).

French 003 — Intermediate French I

A - Block C - Marie Gillette
B - Block D - Kerri Conditto
C - Block F - Annie Geoghegan
D - Block G - Agnès Trichard-Arany
E - Block I - Ellen Detwiller

Review and continued presentation of French grammar with attention to all four skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The course aims to develop fluency and the functional use of language. Class discussions will be based on short literary texts and readings about French society. Regular listening work and frequent compositions are required. Conducted in French. Prerequisite: French 002 or consent.

Texts: Muyskens et al., Bravo! Textbook and Workbook, 6th ed. (Heinle & Heinle).

French 004 — Intermediate French II

A - Block A - David Pauling
C - Block F - David Pauling
D - Block G - Ellen Detwiller
E - Block J - Viola Thomas

The course continues the grammar review begun in French 003, introduces the use of more advanced structures, and promotes the acquisition of a large active vocabulary. It aims to develop language proficiency sufficient to converse about practical concerns and to narrate in past, present, and future time. Readings from several different types of prose develop sensitivity to tone and style. Course work consists of regular lab assignments, compositions, class discussions, and oral presentations. Students are required to register for a recitation section that consists of a weekly 40-minute conversation group. Conducted in French. Prerequisite: French 003 or consent.

Texts: Course Packet. Muyskens et al., Bravo! Textbook and Workbook, 6th ed. (Heinle & Heinle).

French 021 — Composition and Conversation I

This course aims to develop the student's ability to speak and write French, with special emphasis on oral-aural skills and a focus on contemporary French culture. A review of more advanced grammar structures promotes correct expression. Lab assignments and readings, in the form of cultural texts and short fiction, serve to expand vocabulary and provide subjects for class discussions. Given the focus on oral expression, active participation in class is essential. Regular lab work, compositions, oral exposés, and debates. Students are required to register for a recitation section that consists of a weekly 40-minute conversation group. Conducted in French. Prerequisite: French 004 or consent.

French 022 — Composition and Conversation II

A - Block A - Annie Geoghegan
B - Block C - Lisa Walters
C - Block F - Anne-Christine Rice

This course, like French 021, provides a grammar review and work on oral/aural skills, but its focus shifts to written expression. Readings are drawn from contemporary French and Francophone texts. To prepare students for upper-level courses, increasing emphasis is placed on analytical skills and on the cogent presentation of ideas and points of view. Course work includes oral and written assignments, video, film, and exams. Students are required to register for a recitation section that consists of a weekly 40-minute conversation group. Conducted in French. Prerequisite: French 021 or consent.

Texts: All Sections: Barson, La Grammaire à l'oeuvre, 5th edition.

French 022-X — Politiques économiques et sociales en France

A - Block H - Viola Thomas
B - Block KLr - Anne Taieb

The purpose of this course is to further develop speaking and writing skills in French through the reading and analysis of articles and texts related to politics and business in French-speaking countries. This course will help students become familiar with the social and economic aspects of France that affect the business world.  Coursework includes the usual French 22 grammar review, written assignments, oral presentations, class discussions, and exams. Students are required to register for a recitation section that consists of a weekly 40-minute conversation group. Conducted in French. Prerequisite: French 021 or consent.

Texts: Barson, La grammaire à l'oeuvre, 5^th edition.

French 031-A — Readings in French Literature I

Block E+mw - Agnès Trichard-Arany

Reading and discussion of literary works from the Middle Ages to the eighteenth century.  Through the study of French literature, we will practice techniques of close reading.  Special attention will be given to the cultural background of texts.  Two papers (4-5 pages), one oral presentation, a mid-term exam and a final exam.  Conducted in French.  Not for senior majors or for students returning from programs abroad.  Prerequisite: French 21, or instructor's consent.

Texts: La chanson de Roland (extraits, photocopy); Tristan et Iseult (Livre de Poche); Poems by Ronsard, Du Bellay, Labé (photocopy), Molière, Le Tartuffe (Classiques Larousse); Racine, Phèdre (Classiques Larousse); Voltaire, Candide (Classiques Larousse)

French 031-B — Readings in French Literature I

Block F+tr - Claire Schub

Study of works representing significant currents of thought and expression from the Middle Ages through the eighteenth century.  Lectures, discussions, three papers (3-4 pages, 5-6 pages, 7-8 pages), midterm exam, and two exposés: Conducted in French.  Not for senior majors or for students returning from programs abroad.  Prerequisite: French 21 or instructor's consent.

Texts: (available at Schoenhofs)  Tristan et Iseult, ed. René Louis (Livre de Poche); Labé Ronsard, Du Bellay, Poems (photocopy); Molière, Tartuffe (Classiques Larousse); Racine, Iphigénie (Classiques Larousse); Voltaire, Candide (Bordas); Rousseau, Rêveries du promeneur solitaire (Nouveaux Classiques Larousse)

French 031-C — Readings in French Literature I

Block G+ - Zeina Hakim

A close reading of selected literary works from the Middle Ages to the eighteenth century. Through lectures, class discussions, oral and written assignments, the course will introduce specific methods for dealing with literary texts from different genres and periods. Class discussions, two four-to-five-page papers, and a final exam. Conducted in French. Prerequisite: French 21 or instructor's consent.

Texts: René Louis, ed., Tristan et Iseult (Livre de Poche); Selected Renaissance poems (photocopied handouts); Molière, Tartuffe (Classiques Larousse); Racine, Andromaque (Classiques Larousse); Voltaire, Candide (Classiques Larousse)

French 031-D — Readings in French Literature I

Block H+ - Emese Soos

Study of works representing significant currents of thought and expression from the Middle Ages through the eighteenth century. We will practice techniques of close reading and pay special attention to the cultural background of texts.  Three papers, two exposés and a mid-term exam.  Conducted in French.  Prerequisite: French 21, or instructor's consent. Not for senior majors or for students returning from programs abroad.

Texts: Tristan et Iseult (Livre de Poche); Molière, Le Tartuffe (Classiques Larousse); Racine, Phèdre (Classiques Larousse); Voltaire, Candide (Classiques Larousse) and a course packet of poetry and other readings.

French 031-E — Readings in French Literature I

Block J+ - Isabelle Naginski

An in-depth study of selected masterworks of French literature from the Middle Ages to the eighteenth century. The course will emphasize close textual analysis and the improvement of critical skills. Class discussions will be encouraged. Four short papers (2-3 papers); one exposé, mid-term and final examination.  Conducted in French. Prerequisite: French 21 or instructor's consent.

Texts: Le Roman de Tristan et Iseut, ed. J. Bédier (10/18); Racine, Iphigénie (Classiques Larousse); Molière, Le Misanthrope (Classiques Larousse); Voltaire, Candide (Bordas, "Univers des Lettres"); Rousseau, Rêveries du promeneur solitaire (GF)

French 125 — Studies in French Culture ("France 2009")

Block G+ - Brigitte Lane

A close look at some fundamental issues reflecting the rapidly changing dimensions of French culture and society today; the question of national identity within an increasingly multicultural France undergoing both Europeanization and globalization; the study of political, social and ethical issues related to the poor, the young, the immigrant; the current status of women; the nature of emerging forms of cultural production within new trends and styles reflecting post-modernity. Special attention will be granted to the various debates created by the changes brought by the new Sarkozy-Fillon government and to general issues related to the various immigrant communities living in France. Work from the press and the Web, some films. Group discussion, individual oral presentations, one midterm paper (7-8 pages) and a final research project (10-12 pages). Conducted in French. Active participation in class a must. Prerequisite: French 21 and 22, or 31 and 32, or consent.

Texts: Zahia Rahmani, Récit d'une enfance (Livre de Poche); Nicolas Sarkozy, Témoignage (Pocket); Marjane Satrapi, Persépolis – Vol. 3 (L'Association); François Bégaudeau, Entre les murs (Folio); Renaud Camus, La Grande Déculturation (Web excerpts)

French 162 — French Romanticism: Masculin/Féminin

Block N+ - Isabelle Naginski

Are the tenets of Romanticism the same for male and female writers? Do they express the "mal du siècle" in the same fashion? Are their characters gendered in the same way? How does the rehabilitation of a marginalized feminine Romanticism alter our understanding of the dominant and androcentric paradigm? After examining how the movement, through various manifestoes (by Stendhal, Hugo, Musset, Sand), set itself apart from Classicism, we will attempt to explore these questions. Chateaubriand's René will be studied as a crucial foundation text. We will then focus our attention on George Sand and Alfred de Musset, nicknamed "les enfants du siècle", as a way to gage the poetic and ideological differences between Romanticism in its masculine and feminine incarnations. Not only did Sand's and Musset's writings enter into a fertile dialogue of opposites, but their love affair produced a celebrated correspondence, poetry, fictions and a dramatic comedy. One short paper (5-6 pages); one long paper (10-12 pages); exposés and take-home final exam. Active class participation is essential.  Pre-requisite: French 31 and 32, or consent.

Texts: Chateaubriand, René (Folio classique); George Sand, Indiana (Folio); Alfred de Musset, Packet of poems (photocopy); Alfred de Musset, "Lorenzaccio" et George Sand, "Une Conspiration en 1537" (Pocket Classiques); Sand et Musset, Le Roman de Venise (Actes Sud/Babel); Alfred de Musset, La Confession d'un Enfant du siècle (Folio classique); George Sand, Elle et lui (Seuil-Points); Alfred de Musset, On ne badine pas avec l'amour (Petits Classiques Larousse)

French 191-A — Love Poetry of the French Middle Ages and Renaissance

Block H+ - Vincent Pollina

A close study of medieval and Renaissance poetry and of its influence on Western views of human affection.  Each class will concentrate on several texts portraying love desired, love shared, or love denied.  Since much of the poetry was set to music in its day, four lectures will be offered on relations between words and melody; occasional reference to developments in other European literatures will complete the picture.  Class discussions, two five-to-six-page papers, and a final exam.  Prerequisite: French 31 and 32, or consent.

Texts: Poésie lyrique au moyen âge, vol. I (Classiques Larousse); Poésie lyrique au moyen âge, vol. II (Classiques Larousse); Recueil poétique supplémentaire (photocopied & bound).

French 191-B — Literature and Power in 17th Century France: Versailles and the Sun King's Universe
(cross-listed as HIST 176)

Block E+mw - Zeina Hakim

Variously described as "le grand siècle" (the great century), "l'âge classique" (the classical age), and the century of the "Roi Soleil" (the Sun King), the 17^th century represents a major turning point in the history of France, during which France led Europe in political and cultural development, and its authors expounded classical ideas of order, clarity, proportion, and reason. In this seminar, we shall examine the thematic and stylistic innovations of selected 17^th-century literary works by exploring the chief literary forms of the time: drama, maxims, and the novel. Readings will include texts by Molière, Racine, La Bruyère, and Madame de La Fayette. Class discussions, two five-to-six-page papers, and a final exam. Prerequisite: French 31 and 32, or consent.

Texts: Molière, Tartuffe (Classiques Larousse); Racine, Iphigénie (Classiques Larousse); La Fontaine, Fables (Classiques Larousse); Madame de La Fayette, La Princesse de Clèves (GF Flammarion); La Bruyère, Les Caractères (Folio classique)

French 191-C — Le Clézio, Nobel 2008: Writing Without Borders

Block K+ - Brigitte Lane

Of French and Mauritian origins, J.M.G. Le Clézio is well known as a passionate traveler (both in body and spirit) whose transcultural writing has set new marks in the post-modern literature of French expression. He has stated: “The French language is perhaps my only true country.” The 2008 Nobel Prize in Literature was officially granted to him for being the “author of new departures, poetic adventure and sensual ecstasy” as well as the “explorer of a humanity beyond and below the reigning civilization.” This course will focus on some of his most significant works that illustrate his quest for personal/familial/cultural identity and his denunciation of war and of the materialistic dimensions of our Western civilization, as well as emphasize his valorization of the feminine and his unique way of defining ‘the sacred’ as being essentially part of the natural world. Le Clézio’s recent social appeal for urgent and concrete action to consider, at the planetary level, the sharing of major privileges such as alphabetization and access to virtual knowledge will also be addressed. Readings will represent different literary genres, from travel literature to fiction, semi-fictional family narrative, modern folktale and utopia. Conducted in French. Class participation a must. One or two oral presentations. One midterm paper (7-8 pages); one final paper (10-12 pages). Counts as an IR seminar. Prerequisite: French 31 and 32, or consent.

Texts: J.M.G. Le Clézio, Terra Amata (L'Imaginaire/Gallimard); Les Géants (L'Imaginaire/Gallimard); Le Chercheur d'Or (Folio); Poisson d'Or (Gallimard); Ourania (Folio); La Ritournelle de la Faim (Gallimard)

French 191-D — Business French

Block D+ - Claire Schub

This course provides a fundamental knowledge of French as used in the business world, as well as background and information to enable students to communicate effectively in a business context in France and other Francophone countries. We will study technical terminology and practices in such fields as banking, government, industry, and advertising, and broaden our understanding of French political, financial, economic, and educational institutions. There will be practical training in writing business letters, job application letters, and résumés. We will discuss the impacts of recent and current developments such as the environmental movement, the anti-globalization movement, and the European Union. There will be several invited speakers who are involved in the French business world. Two films will be shown. At the end of the semester, students may opt to take the Paris Chamber of Commerce exam for the "diplôme de français des affaires".  There will be a midterm exam, a final exam, frequent quizzes, résumés of articles, and a final research project.  Prerequisite: French 31 and 32.

Texts: A. Bloomfield and B. Tauzin, Affaires á suivre (Hachette, 2001); Journal and newspaper articles.

French 191-E — Writing in Borrowed Tongue: Francophone Literature from West Africa, the West Indies, and the Maghreb

Block 12+ - Lison Baselis-Bitoun

We shall study Francophone literature and film from Sub-Saharan Africa, the Maghreb, and the French West Indies, with discussions centering on questions of cultural identity, diglossia, colonization, diaspora, trauma, and memory. Authors include Camara Laye, Ferdinand Oyono, Mouloud Feraoun, Amadou Hampaté Bâ, Mariama Bâ, Ken Bugul, Aimé Césaire, and Simone Schwartz-Bart. Two oral presentations, several response papers, one short paper (5-6 pages), and one final paper (8-10 pages). Prerequisite: French 31 and 32, or consent.

Texts: Mariama Bâ, Une si longue lettre (Du Rocher); Amadou Hampaté Bâ, L'Étrange destin de Wangrin (10/18); Ken Bugul, Le Baobab fou (photocopy); Aimé Césaire, Une tempête (Seuil, coll. "Points"), Cahier d’un retour au pays natal (Présence Africaine), Discours sur le colonialisme (Présence Africaine); Camara Laye, L’Enfant noir (Pocket); Ferdinand Oyono, Une vie de boy (Pocket); Mouloud Ferraoun, Le fils du pauvre (Seuil, coll. "Points"); Simone Schwarz-Bart, Ton beau capitaine (photocopy); Hamidou Dia, Poètes d'Afrique et des Antilles d'expression française (Seuil, coll. "Points").
Films: Euzhan Palcy, Rue cases-nègres; Jean-Marie Téno, Afrique je te plumerai; Anne-Laure Folly, Femmes aux yeux ouverts; Euzhan Palcy, Aimé Césaire; Abderrahmane Sissako, La vie sur terre.

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