French

The city and language course introduces students to French history, culture, and language through team-taught instruction. In the “City as Public Forum” sessions, students are introduced to French history and culture through a series of lectures and site visits. Students discover some of the fascinating ways the core principles of social justice were tested in theory and practice on the streets of Paris in the past and explore how they evolved into the pillars of French society today. The course focuses on just how an ideal society should be forged, where all are free individuals and members of a cohesive community at the same time. Trying to make individuals believe—as religions do—in the primacy of the collective, and in its concomitant goal of protecting human rights, is at the core of social justice in France. From 52 B.C.E to today, France has been an exemplar of how—and how not—to construct a just society. To render these values visible, and therefore legible, to all by adding a physical dimension—whether constructive or destructive—to the usual means of establishing laws or setting policies, is what distinguishes the history of France's capital city of Paris. Those who control Paris—be they monarchs, revolutionaries, or presidents, past and present—believe that erecting all kinds of physical structures will render their values concrete and immutable. The ideal French society did not always necessarily mean a democratic or inclusive one. Since the French Revolution, however, institutionalizing the concept of “liberty, equality, and fraternity” has been France's greatest universal achievement and a source of constant upheaval, eliciting a unique form of secular activism that has led to targeting buildings and monuments that no longer reflect the collective's values. Students discuss how the diverse social actors, who constitute “the French,” continue to thrust their bodies and minds into the physical spaces of the public sphere in the pursuit of social justice. In the “Unlocking French” sessions, students learn targeted language skills through situational communication, so they have the opportunity to use everything they learn as they go about their daily activities.

This course offers a study of basic linguistic elements to address everyday situations with predictable content. It focuses on linguistic skills in oral comprehension and expression, as well as in reading and writing texts with a simple syntactic structure. In this course, students use simple structures to communicate information on the most common everyday topics. At the end of this course, students will have reached level A1.1 or A1.2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Note that the ¨II¨ in the Spanish title of the course (Francés II) refers to the semester in which students can take it, not the level. 

Throughout the world, the number of French speakers continues to increase, especially in Africa. In this course, we will try to refine our knowledge and our perception of the distribution of the French language. We will also try to gain an impression of the new varieties of French that have developed recently.

This course is designed to improve integrate French-language skills but also to expand cultural knowledge of the French-speaking world. It aims to prepare students for the Diplôme d'Etudes en Langue Française (DELF) exam, to train their French-Japanese translation skills and to provide them with the opportunity to understand the French society.

The course provides the following opportunities:

• Acquire listening skills of B1 level (CECR);
• Develop speaking skills and be able to discuss in French;
• Acquire reading skills of B1 level;
• Have a deeper understanding of French society; and,
• Develop the skills needed to pass the B1 level of the DELF exam

This course is for the student with an A2.1 elementary level of French. It introduces the phonetics and phonology, the morphology and syntax of simple sentences of French. It teaches oral and written communication skills related to activities of daily life. Topics include: the French alphabet; simple phrases; the nominal group; determinants; pronouns; verbs; vocabulary for basic communication.

This course presents key aspects of contemporary French culture and civilization. The course examines topics including those pertinent to the functions of French society, such as political parties and unions, the idea of public service (teaching, health, transportation, etc.), the French population and culture, French values, and French media.

This course considers the relationship between the noir genre and social criticism, particularly from the perspective of the Situationist International group which was active between 1957 and 1972. It compares texts from the Situationist International and several novels by Jean-Patrick Manchette, in particular Ô DINGOS! O CASTLES! (1972), one of the first novels of the writer, very marked by situationist themes (critique of architecture, play, merchandise); THE LITTLE BLUE OF THE WEST COAST (1976), which marks a shift towards a more perceptible formal research while continuing the critique of daily life alienated; and THE POSITION OF THE PRONE SHOOTER (1981), where social criticism seems to take a back seat in favor a return to the violent and very refined action novel.

This course is specialized for international students and designed specifically for native English speakers to practice advanced literary translation from and into French. It works on a corpus of short texts chiefly from the 19th and 20th centuries. The “prose” section of the course provides a chance to test and improve knowledge of French syntax and idioms, and become familiar with the stylistic requirements of written French. The French texts that are translated into English are by major French authors. The course also explores the various mechanisms involved in translation (such as modulation and transposition), working from the hypothesis that translation and literary analysis are indissociable.

This course delves into the practical aspects of literary translation, focusing on the analysis of translated texts. It examines various issues and challenges that arise during the translation process, including cultural, literary, and linguistic considerations. Close examination of translated works provide insight into the complexities of translation and develop critical thinking skills for evaluating translation choices. Discussions center around the options available for translation, providing a deeper understanding of the strategies and techniques employed in the field. Through a combination of theoretical exploration and practical exercises, the course builds skills in literary translation and develops an appreciation for the art and craft of translation.

This course represents additional work for the course FR 133B, POPULAR FRENCH MUSIC. This course provides an opportunity to listen to and analyze popular French and francophone songs of the 20th an 21st centuries while discovering French society and culture. It discusses the vocabulary and what the lyrics mean from the author's point of view.