French

This course focuses on theater from the 1600-1700s. It focuses on two works, Racine's BERNICE and Beaumarchais's LE MARIAGE DE FIGARO, a tragedy and a comedy. The course discusses specific playwriting rules from the era and how the time period affects the way that these plays were written and performed. 

The course covers the historical evolution of the French language from its Romance origins to the present day. Examines both internal linguistic change and external historical, political, and cultural influences. The course also considers the expansion of French beyond Europe, contact with other languages and creoles, and modern linguistic perspectives on French in the 21st century.

This course focuses on the relationship between nature and society. It studies how this relationship evolved over history with social movements and how we express our own perspectives and attitudes towards nature in literature. Through Ernest Callenback's ECOTOPIE, the course examines what our relationship will be with nature in the future.

This comparative literature course focuses on the articulation between poetry and animality, and allows students to discover the approach proposed by zoopoetics, to reflect on the modalities of animal presence in poetry while enriching their poetic literary culture. The course discovers zoopoetics, enhances literary and poetic culture, and reflects on the modalities of animal presence in poetry. It develops skills in analysis of literary texts: comparative method; scientific writing method: reading a critical corpus, appropriating it, citing it; developing and structuring a long-form essay. Each lesson is dedicated to an animal figure, studied in comparison with a corpus of poetic texts.

This C1 level French course develops argumentative presentation and oral communication skills. Students practice writing an argumentative essay using the French methodology (identify an issue, create an outline, introduction, conclusion); perfect language skills: expand vocabulary, use argumentative tools, engage in conversation and involve the listener; improve comprehension of authentic written and audio materials; and discover and present a characteristic of French culture. The course reviews and deepens knowledge of grammar, syntax, and vocabulary (examples: direct questions in formal language; indirect questions; complex sentence syntax; conditional and subjunctive conjugations). It develops mastery of argumentative tools: logical links (introduction of elements and articulation: examples, addition, nuances, opinion); highlighting ideas; impersonal turns of phrase; expression of opposition and concession, hypothesis, condition.
 

This course explores the difference between the language of literature and the language of general communication. The course examines these topics by conducting close textual analyses on 19th- and 20th-century literary samples of poetry, novels, and theater.

The course explores the history and culture of France through a multidisciplinary analysis of literary, historical, and audiovisual texts. By examining key works by historians and writers from different periods, students will gain insight into the socio-historical contexts that shape literary creation and historical discourse. The course develops students’ ability to critically analyze texts, conduct independent research, and communicate effectively in French, while fostering a reflective and critical approach to works of art and cultural production.

This B2 level course is for students who have completed up to French level B1. It consolidates, activates, and expands knowledge and skills in French and acquires French academic methodology. The course develops skills to talk about one's experience in Lyon, drawing on intercultural skills; gives a presentation and write an argumentative essay, using the methodology used in France, (identifying an issue, creating an outline, introduction, conclusion); talk about Lyon and certain customs and current events in Lyon; understand current French issues by activating solid French cultural knowledge; express oneself effectively by drawing on solid knowledge of grammar, syntax, and vocabulary (anaphoric repetitions, complex sentences, words of speech); argue effectively in French (argumentative tools: subjunctive); write an argumentative essay; debate a current topic; understand primary-source written and audio materials. 

This course is based on the France Culture Novel Prize wherein students vote informally for one of the novels in the selection. Various exercises and discussions refine literary sensibility and critical thinking in order to choose the winning novel.  Throughout the semester, students progress through the readings and are invited to complete a personal reading journal. Discussion includes what makes a good novel, literary criticism, the origins of literary prizes, how to lead a literary discussion, reflection and debate, reading and analysis of excerpts, institutions behind the literary canon. The course includes meetings with the authors.

This beginner-level course introduces students to the French language and the cultures of France and other French-speaking societies. Organized around everyday themes, it develops both oral and written communication skills, focusing on comprehension and production. It builds foundational grammatical, lexical, and phonetic competence while providing insight into the sociocultural aspects of the Francophone world.