Program Director:
Majors in French will complete a program of study that hinges on two equally important goals: increasing the fluency and accuracy of students’ communication in French, and fostering a profound understanding and appreciation of key cultural aspects of the French World (which includes, among other things, history, literature, values, etc.). Majors in French will achieve these learning goals through the completion of two requirements: a) taking ten (10) courses (three of these courses may be taken abroad), and b) spending at least one (1) semester abroad in an approved program of study or an internship in a French-speaking country.
Learning Outcomes of Language Study
Regarding the students’ interpersonal communication, a Major in French will be able to:
- Successfully express himself/herself not only on familiar topics but also on some concrete social, academic, and professional topics;
- successfully talk in detail and in an organized way about events and experiences in various time frames and modes;
- confidently handle routine situations with an unexpected complication; and
- share his/her point of view in discussions on some complex issues.
Regarding the students’ presentational speaking, a Major in French will be able to:
- Deliver well-organized presentations on concrete social, academic, and professional topics; and
- present detailed information about events and experiences in various time frames and modes.
Regarding the students’ written communication, a Major in French will be able to:
- Write on a wide variety of general interest, professional, and academic topics; and
- write well-organized, detailed paragraphs in various time frames and modes.
Regarding the students’ interpretive listening and reading, a Major in French will be able to:
- Understand the main idea and most supporting details on a variety of topics of personal and general interest, as well as some topics of professional interest;
- follow stories and descriptions of some length and in various time frames and modes;
- understand information presented in most genres, even when not familiar with the topic;
- understand the main idea and most supporting details in texts on a variety of topics of personal and general interest, as well as some professional topics;
- follow stories and descriptions of considerable length and in various time frames and modes; and
- understand texts written in a variety of genres, even when unfamiliar with the topic.
Learning Outcomes of Culture Studies
Majors in French will be able to communicate in French (within the aforementioned parameters) about a wide range of aspects pertaining to the French World. Such topics include, among other things, history, literature and cultural productions.
Requirements
The major in French requires the completion of ten upper-level courses (300-level and above).
