French Course Synopses Spring 2012

FREN   109                  Beginning French I.

Section 1                     C. Mosser                                            MWF 9:05-9:55

Section 300                 TBA                                                      MW 5:30-6:45

Admission to this course is restricted to students who have never studied French or who have received a placement score of F1.   Students learn the basics of French pronunciation, how to talk about and respond to basic situations in the present and near-future tenses, and how to ask for, understand, and give basic information about people and events.  Basic communication skills are emphasized.  This course is the first half of the sequence needed to fulfill the university-wide core-curriculum foreign language requirement.

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FREN   110                  Beginning French II.

Section 1                     C. Grimes                                            MWF 10:10-11:00

Sectoin 2                     TBA                                                      MWF 11:15-12:05

Section 3                     TBA                                                      MWF 9:05-9:55

Section 4                     C. Grimes                                            MWF 2:30-3:20

Section 300                 K. Fritz                                     MW 5:30-6:45

Admission to this course is restricted to students who have completed French 109.  Students with French placement codes higher than F-1 cannot take French 110 for credit.  French 110 is designed to help the student continue to develop proficiency in French and to continue to learn to communicate and to interact in French.  Communication will be enhanced and reinforced by reading and writing.  Completion of French 110 satisfies the university-wide core-curriculum foreign language requirement.  Students in certain colleges and/or majors must complete French 122 to satisfy their program’s foreign language requirement.  Students who will need 122 may elect to take French 121 (instead of French 110) after French 109.

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FREN   121                  Elementary French.

Section 1                     B. Guillemin                                        MWF 9:05-9:55, T 9:30-10:45

Section 2                     B. Guillemin                                        MWF 10:10-11:00, T 11:00-12:15

This course is designed for students with a placement score of F2, which indicates they have studied French before but need a review of basic French before taking French 122. Students with French placement codes higher than F-2 cannot take French 121 for credit.  French 121 is an elementary course in which students learn how to give basic information about themselves and others, how to describe people and things in the present, near future and past, how to talk about important dates and events in their lives, their daily routine, their activities, their studies and career goals.

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FREN   122                  Basic Proficiency. 

Section 1                     M. Newton                                          MWF 9:05-9:55

Section 2                     M. Newton                                          MWF 10:10-11:00

Section 3                     M. Newton                                          MWF 11:15-12:05

Section 4                     M. Newton                                          MWF 1:25-2:15

Section 5                     J. Duffy                                                MWF 1:25-2:15

Section 6                     J. Duffy                                                MWF 2:30-3:20

Section 7                     B. Guillemin                                        MWF 11:15-12:05

Section 501                 M. Newton                                          MWF 10:10-11:10

Prerequisite:  French 110 or French 121 or a placement score of F3.  French 122 is a proficiency-based course, designed to teach you to communicate in French.  A proficiency-based course emphasizes what you can DO in the foreign language, rather than what you know more or less passively about the language.  The most noticeable difference for you will probably be that you will not be given exams on specific vocabulary items and structures in isolation, but instead you will be evaluated on your ability to understand and produce structures and vocabulary within the context of one of the four recognized skills of communication.  In French 122, you will improve your language skills in four areas: speaking, listening comprehension, reading, and writing.

EXIT EXAMS:  In order to evaluate your proficiency, FOUR EXIT EXAMS will be administered during the semester.  The exams consist of (1) an individual oral interview; (2) a writing test—two compositions; (3) a reading test—four short texts; and (4) a listening test based on an audiotape.  The exams are pass/fail and the results determine whether you pass the course.  Students who pass ALL FOUR of the Exit Exams are assured at least a D for the course.  Each exam failed the first time may be retaken once.  Students who do not demonstrate the required level of proficiency on ANY ONE PART OF THE EXAM the second time will automatically fail the course, regardless of other grades earned during the semester.  Students who pass ALL FOUR PARTS OF THE EXIT EXAM will receive the course grade they have earned based on the work completed during the semester—preparation for and participation in class, homework, compositions, quizzes, workbook exercises, etc. (minimum of D) 

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FREN 209                    Reading and Written Expression.
Section 1                     M. Warehime                                     TTh 11:00-12:15

Section 2                     B. Guillemin                                        MWF 1:25-2:15

Section 510                 B. Guillemin                                        MWF 1:25-2:15
TEXTS:             Ionesco, Eugène. La cantatrice chauve. Folio, 1954.

Veber, Francis. Le dîner de cons. Pocket, 1994 (out-of-print). Available as a coursepack.

                        French/English Dictionary (strongly recommended)

Bescherelle, Louis-Michel. La conjugaison pour tous. Hatier 1997 (strongly recommended)

COURSEWORK: This course will focus on developing reading and writing skills while maintaining proficiency and increasing vocabulary. We will read two contemporary plays, both comedies: the famous avant-garde play of the fifties, La cantatrice chauve, and the more recent, highly successful Le dîner de cons, made into an equally popular 1998 film (the “original” Dinner for Schmucks). We will use them as source and context for reading comprehension, vocabulary-building and French grammar review. The course will be conducted in French. Grammar explanations, vocabulary lists, supplemental exercises, etc. will be available on the course Blackboard site. The grade will be determined by quizzes, compositions and two tests (one on each play).

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FREN 210                    Oral Communication
Section 1                     J. Duffy                                                MWF 10:10-11:00
Section 2                     J. Duffy                                                MWF 11:15-12:05
 In this course you will increase your ability to communicate orally in French. You will learn to understand French as it is spoken by the native speakers of French themselves and to participate in conversations about a variety of topics. You will be able to describe in detail with few errors, to narrate in detail with few errors, and to give and support basic opinions. At the same time, you will improve your pronunciation of French by doing phonetic and pronunciation exercises based on audio and video materials you have been listening to. The textbook, Mise en scène (Krueger, Weber, Martin: Pearson Prentice Hall, first edition), is based on a number of French-language films. Class procedures will involve viewing scenes from French-language films for listening comprehension practice and for review of pertinent vocabulary and grammar points, We will discuss the films, their thematic and cultural content, and the issues they raise. Outside of class you will be expected to view the films and to prepare activities as well as to watch French-language news and other programs on the web or on television.

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FREN 210/SCCC 263H            Oral Communication

Section 3 / 510            L. Lomicka                                           TTh 9:30-10:45
French 209 (Section 3/510) & 210 or SCCC263H (special sections) are different from the other sections of FR209 & 210. During the year, we will work closely with a class located in France and act as part of a collaborative project. Each of you will have at least one specific French partner (corrès or keypal) with whom you will work, communicate in real time, exchange e-mails, and discuss cultural issues.

The two part sequence [French 209 (fall) and French 210 (spring)] focuses on the development of interpersonal, interpretive and presentational skills through access to authentic materials and participation in collaborative work with native speakers of French. In order to maintain partnerships and collaborative projects, students are strongly encouraged to participate in the yearlong experience. These two courses integrate learning French with technology through regular communication with students at the Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées (ENCP), Marne-La-Vallée, France. Some of the special features of this course include:

• Regular correspondence with French students via e-mail, twitter, and facebook
• Regular videoconferencing (with webcams and microphones) and live chat sessions with French students
• A trip to France to visit the French students during spring break, 2012 (only available to those who enroll in the fall FREN209)

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FREN 290                   French Lit. in Translation

Section 1                     D. DiCecco                                          TTh 9:30-10:45

Section 510                 D. DiCecco                                          TTh 9:30-10:45

Adolescence in French Literature and Film. Adolescence, as we know it today, is a relatively recent concept. Since the first psychological and sociological studies of adolescence, novels and films depicting this period of development have flourished in the French-speaking world. The objective of this course is to study the fictional construction of adolescence in a selection of 20^th century novels and the socio-cultural contexts that produced them. In addition to the novels, we will view several films in order to compare literary and cinematic representations of adolescence. In conjunction with the 40^th Annual French Literature Conference on “Girls in French and Francophone Literature and Film,” (March 14-16, 2012), we will be paying special attention to the differences in the depiction of male and female experiences. Cross-listed with WGST 298D.

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FREN 300                    French Phonetics
Section 1                     A. Duménil                                          TTh 2:00-3:15

This course is designed to help students improve their pronunciation while they acquire the basic rules of standardized spoken French. The course takes into account the major contrastive features of the sounds of French and English and addresses the particular challenges that American native speakers face when learning to pronounce French.

Text (with audio CD’s): 

Duménil A. 2003  Facile à dire!: Les Sons du français. Prentice Hall.

Grading system: 

Class participation  20%

Pronunciation and Listening tapes: 25%

Exams 1 & 2  20%

Mid-Term Exam: 15%

Final Exam: 20%

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FREN 307                   Oral Practice

Section 1                     TBA                                                      TTh 12:30-1:45
COURSE OBJECTIVES: This course will enable the students to practice oral French, in their attempt to reach a level of proficiency of "Intermediate High".
CLASS ORGANIZATION: Students will discuss articles, movies, videos, radio broadcasts which they will have prepared prior to coming to class.
GRADING: Pass/fail. To get a PASS, the students cannot miss more than one class, and they also will have to participate in discussions. Note that there is no final exam.

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FREN 309                   Introduction to French Texts

Section 2                     W. Edmiston                                        TTh 11:00-12:15

This course is designed to improve your reading ability in French by introducing you to a variety of more advanced authentic texts including literary and non-literary texts. More sophisticated structures, many seen almost only in formal writing, will be introduced, and other useful structures will be reviewed. Students will also work to develop a wider range of reading strategies. Vocabulary will be introduced through the texts. In addition to materials assigned to all students, each student will select some texts of interest to her/him for the Independent Reading Project. The grade will be determined by class preparation (possible assignments and announced quizzes), three exams, and the Reading Project.

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FREN 310                    Advanced Oral Communication
Section 1                     C. Grimes                                            MWF 11:15-12:05
Section 2                     C. Grimes                                            MWF 1:25-2:15
Prerequisite: French 209 and 210 or equivalent. French 307 is a recommended pre- or co-requisite. Required for French major and minor.
There are no books required, other than a good French dictionary. The Internet is the manual.
Course Description: This course attempts to bring the student to a level of proficiency of "Intermediate High" in speaking ability, and "Advanced" in listening comprehension, using the French news as backdrop. The different audio and written media material will thus serve as a vehicle not only for discussions but also for grammatical review, and vocabulary buildup.
Course organization: Students will read and listen to a variety of authentic French news media, and complete structured written, and oral exercises based on these materials, in preparation for discussions in class. They will also prepare oral, and written summaries of news programs, give oral presentations. There is a listening and/or vocabulary quiz every week.
Grading system: Participation / homework 30%, Press Reviews 20%, Listening/Vocabulary quizzes 30%, Exam 20%.

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FREN 311                   Grammar and Composition

Section 1                     J. Garane                                             MW 2:30- 3:45 

French 311 offers an intensive review of French grammar while also teaching students how to write in French. Students will use the following materials: Système-D Writing Assistant;  Tâches d'encre, 3^rd  Edition ; and Contextualized French Grammar: A Handbook.

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FREN 330                    The French Theatre Experience
Section 1                     J. Persels                                             TTh 3:30-4:45

Students read, discuss and select a French play, then study, rehearse and prepare a theatrical production for the general public.

GRADES: Mid-term line memorization exam (25%); individual line work w/ assistants and/or professor (10%); production technical assistance (15%); performance and participation (50%).

Class ends after performances (April 13, 14 & 18). Permission only course, so contact Prof. Persels perselsj@sc.edu 

See also Comédiens Carolingiens web page.

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FREN 450                   Topics in Literature : le roman d’apprentissage

Section 1                     D. Di Cecco                                         TTh 12:30- 1:45 

The objective of this course will be to study a selection of 20^th C. French “coming of age” novels within the socio-culturel and historical contexts that produced them. We will begin with the “novel of adolescence” that became a genre of its own in France during the period between 1900 and 1930, comparing these early novels to the traditional  model  of the Bildungroman. Novels published during the periods surrounding both World Wars will be of particular interest to us, as these were also key moments when psychologists and educators were especially interested in adolescence as a distinct period of development. In conjunction with the 40^th Annual French Literature Conference on “Girls in French and Francophone Literature and Film,” (March 14-16), we will be looking closely at the differences between male and female experiences, keeping in mind that adolescence as a social construct is based on a male model that conflicts with traditional notions of femininity. Students will be expected to attend parts of the conference (according to their own class schedules). In addition to novels such as: Alain-Fournier’s Le grand Meaulnes, Raymond Radiguets’ Le diable au corps, Colette’s Le blé en herbe, Christiane Rochefort’s Les petits enfants du siècle, Marguerite Duras’s L’Amant and Annie Ernaux’s Shame, we will consider a selection of films. Students enrolled in FREN 790 will have additional reading and assignments.

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FREN 501                    La France contemporaine

Section 1                     W. Edmiston                                        TTh 9:30-10:45

This course is designed to give students an overview of contemporary France, beginning with basic geography followed by the political, social, and cultural environments, with emphasis on developments that have emerged since the nineteen-nineties. History will be treated thematically and incidentally. At the end of this course, students should have a better understanding of  events discussed in the French media.  Grade will be based on quizzes, a mid-term and a final examination.  Graduate students will present a final research project as part  of the final examination.

Text:  Edmiston and Duménil, La France contemporaine, 4th edition (2010).

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FREN 517                    French Linguistics                              [=LING 502] 

Section 1                     A. Duménil                                          TTh 11:00-12:15

This course is designed to give advanced undergraduates and graduate students an overview of the phonology, morphology, syntax; and semantics of the French language. It will also examine the pragmatic and sociolinguistic features of the language. Classes will be conducted in French and will consist in informal lectures and discussion. No prior background in linguistics is needed. Grades will be based on four exams (including a final exam), class participation, and a paper for graduate students.

Text: Léon & Bhatt. Structure du français moderne. CSPI  2005.