Course Catalog

FRANCOPHONE IDENTITIES AND CULTURES ON SCREEN (FR2103)

This upper-intermediate French language and cultures course will strengthen your French language skills through a curated selection of films in diverse French-speaking contexts. Delving into the varied cinematic landscapes of the Caribbean, Africa, Canada, and France, this course provides a dynamic platform for enhancing your knowledge of Francophone societies and cultures.

FRENCH AND CULTURE V (FR2200)

This high intermediate course will allow students to reach the B1+ CEFR (DELF) competencies by reinforcing and expanding their ability to express themselves, defend an opinion, and debate with others. Special attention is paid to increasing students' ability to form complex sentences to express attitudes, wishes, necessity, doubt, emotions, to link ideas and to speculate. A B1.1 level in French or a passing grade in a French and Culture IV class (FR 2100) is required.

Spontaneously and through active workshops and discussion, they will react and express their point of view on contemporary subjects and questions, such as access to knowledge (university or other) for all, the gaze on information at a time of “fake news” and the over-multiplication of distribution channels (Internet, social networks, etc.), the representation of so-called “visible” minorities in the media sphere, or the consequences of global warming on countries and their inhabitants...

Through learning that is both individual and collective, debates on ideas based on their past and current experiences in and out of class, but also a constant questioning of their representations, students will thus be encouraged to develop, in addition to their linguistic and cultural skills, their critical thinking and to better understand contemporary issues.

ADVANCED WRITING IN FRENCH (FR2400)

In this advanced composition course, you will build upon your existing knowledge of genre, style, and French grammar to improve the accuracy and content of your written expression in French, and engage with sample texts of different genres (description, narration, essai, dissertation, and commentaire composé) that will help you write better in la langue de Molière.

PHOTOGRAPHIE ET LE CINEMA (FR2450)

This course will explore the bridges between photographic imagery and cinematographic imagery. This course will focus on contemporary artists (Cindy Sherman, Sophie Calle, Jeff Wall, Gregory Crewdson, etc.) whose hybrid works deconstruct the real and dissolve identity. We will also focus on how the cinematographic eye converges with and complements the photographic eye. Conducted in French, this course combines critical analysis and practice (production of films and photographs). Prerequisites: 1000-level course (preferably in Film Studies, French Studies, Communications, or Art History). Satisfies FrenchBridge requirement.

FRENCH CONVERSATION & COMPOSITION (FR2500)

Using authentic material from various media, the students will be given systematic exercises to improve their comprehension of a large variety of francophone voices and accents recorded in different contexts daily lives, media interviews or professional presentations). The students will summarize the main points of these short oral texts and therefore improve on their logical and oral argumentative skills. The students will also concentrate on the writing of these different documents and will try to rewrite them in the “French style”. Taught in French.

FRENCH FOR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS (FR2630)

This course is designed for students interested in international business or who intend to work or travel for business in French-speaking countries. Students will learn about the present economic questions and climate in France and Europe, learn about practices and traditions that make French business different from its counterparts in the United States or elsewhere (according to students' interests). Taught in French.

FRENCH FILM & FICTION NOW (FR3011)

The course aims to introduce students to up-to-date literary and cinematic developments in France, and Francophonie, give students the opportunity to learn about the recent issues in French culture and society and develop their skills in oral and written French. Taught in French (presentations and papers may be written in English).

FRENCH FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (FR3028)

The French for International Affairs course is specifically designed for students willing to improve, reinforce and develop their communication skills in French - vocabulary, structures, debate skills and argumentation techniques - focusing on the field of International Relations. The main objectives of this French language course are to offer students the opportunity to:
• increase their knowledge and information,
• compare different points of view on the same past or current topic,
• express and share their point of view in a structured and convincing way,
• develop their analytical and synthesis skills as well as to reinforce their autonomy in expression.
Students with a special interest in international politics, in international relations, in European, African, Middle Eastern Studies and in environmental issues will benefit greatly from this course.
Prerequisites: FR 2100 or equivalent

DISSIDENT HISTORIES FROM THE FRANCOPHONE WORLD (FR3029)

Martinique-born poet Edouard Glissant claims that "History [with a capital H] ends where the histories of those peoples once reputed to be without history come together". Students will explore the creative works of dissident voices from Francophone Africa, the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean, and Europe. Students will develop critical insights into the ongoing dialogue about how who writes History.

THE MONSTROUS AND FABULOUS RENAISSANCE (FR3032)

This course is bilingual in nature and outlines the historical and literary contexts of the Renaissance from a Franco-centric perspective. Students will study texts by a range of Renaissance authors (including Erasmus, Rabelais, Marguerite de Navarre, Louise Labé, Montaigne, Marlowe and Shakespeare) while learning about earlymodern book culture, medicine, cartography, religion, colonization, magic, monsters, witchcraft and plagues. They shall also seek to comprehend how France became dominant in language and literature throughout Europe for centuries to follow.