FREN 302 Love, Passion, Faith and Death
Does love exist without passion? Is there such a thing as platonic love? Are there different kinds of love? What does it mean to enter an union ‘until death does us part’? Does passion always lead to tragic ending? Is faith based on fear of death or love of God? This course focuses on those themes in French literature across the centuries and across the genres. It will provide insights on love and passion, as well as faith and death from some of the greatest French poets and playwrights, among them Ronsard, Labé, Corneille, Racine, Hugo, Baudelaire, Rimbaud. Taught entirely in French, this course is based on selected readings and class discussions, with special emphasis on literary movements, cultural history and critical approaches.
Instructor: Bruno Thibault
Daily written assignments
Prerequisite: FREN 211 and any 200-level course taught in the French language
FREN 314-010/080 French Phonetics
Do you know the difference between the pronunciation of “Louis” and “lui”? Do you still choke over the pronunciation of the French “r”? Are you unsure of when to pronounce final consonants and when to drop them? Are you unsure of when to use the “liaison” in sentences like “les horribles petits enfants” Do French people pick you out as American as soon as you pronounce the first syllable of what you thought was their language? Then FREN 314 may be the course for you! Two hours of each week are spent learning the rules of pronunciation, practicing auditory discrimination, and transcribing French discourse, using the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet); one hour a week is given to practicing the sounds in small groups. Oral models and exercises to accompany the textbook are available on the Department of Languages Literatures & Cultures website.
Instructor: Ali Alalou
Prerequisites: FREN 211 and any 200-level course taught in the French language, both with a suggested minimum grade of B-
This course may be taken for Honors credit; recommend A or A- in previous French coursework for those pursuing Honors credit.
FREN 405 Translation and Stylistics
Expand your vocabulary and improve your writing style as you study the fascinating craft of translation. Working in groups to translate various texts (literary, journalistic, commercial) from French to English (and to a lesser extent, vice versa), students enrolled in this course will acquire the basics of a marketable skill as well as enhanced knowledge of French and Francophone culture. Activities may include composing film subtitles, simultaneous interpretation, and discussions with professional translators. Students select a final project according to their academic and/or career interests. A service-learning component will involve translating documentation for a French humanitarian organization or a digital humanities library.
Instructor: Deborah Steinberger
Prerequisite: One of FREN 301, 302, or 303, plus one other FREN 3XX. Suggested minimum grade of B+ for the prerequisites.
Note: This course is designated a Discovery Learning Experience (DLE) for spring 2021.