Earlham College Curriculum Guide
Earlham College





French and Francophone Studies

Courses

Courses with * fulfill General Education requirements

(A-AP) = Arts - Applied

(A-TH) = Arts - Theoretical/Historical

(A-AR) = Analytical - Abstract Reasoning

(A-QR) = Analytical - Quantitative Reasoning

(CP) = Comparative Practices

(D-D) = Diversity - Domestic

(D-I) = Diversity - International

(D-L) = Diversity - Language

(ES) = Earlham Seminar

(IP) = Interpretive Practices

(SI) = Scientific Inquiry

(W) = Wellness

(AY) = Offered in
Alternative Year

*FREN 101 BASIC FRENCH I (5 credits)
A communicative approach to basic French that emphasizes the development of language skills, cultural competence needed to communicate effectively and knowledge of French-speaking communities. Incorporates the recently articulated national Standards for Language Learning: communication, culture, comparison, connection and community. (D-L)

*FREN 102 BASIC FRENCH II (5 credits)
A continuation of Basic French I. (D-L)

FREN 115 INTRODUCTION TO CREOLE
(1-2 credits)
Focuses on either Haitian or Martinican Creole. Students gain basic oral and written communication skills and are introduced to relevant cultural aspects. On campus, the course is especially intended for students participating in the May Term program in Haiti but is open to all students with an interest in French Caribbean languages and communities. Off campus, the course is required for students participating in the Martinique program.

*FREN 201 INTERMEDIATE FRENCH (4 credits)
An intensive review of the four language skills (speaking, writing, listening and reading) that emphasizes the development of communicative strategies for informal conversation and introduces students to culturally-specific situations. (D-L)

FREN 222 READING AND WRITING (3 credits)
An advanced intermediate course that presents readings of progressive difficulty, allowing for both discussion and the writing of essays on related topics. Emphasizes style, the understanding of short literary texts and composition in French.

FREN 301 ADVANCED GRAMMAR (3 credits)
A functional approach to grammar that explores how to express ideas by selecting useful grammatical tools. Discussions of structural choices and cultural differences using examples from the media.

FREN 302 ADVANCED CONVERSATION (1 credit)
Designed for upper-level students of French who wish to practice and improve their oral skills. Entails active participation in class discussion, presentations and outside conversational activities.

FREN 303 READING A TEXT (2 credits)
Focuses on French prose and poetry. Students learn strategies of reading and techniques of textual analysis. Can serve as an extension of FREN 222 for students interested in more challenging texts or as preparation for upper-level literature courses.

*FREN 350 TOPICS IN FRENCH (3 credits)
Topics vary, as does the focus on European or non-European literatures or cinemas in French. Designed to enable students to begin to engage in serious analysis with an emphasis on critical approaches. Recent topics include: representations of Paris, African cinema, Mandinka literature. May be repeated for credit with a different topic. Prerequisite: FREN 222, 301, 303 or consent of the instructor. (D-I)

*FREN 362 READINGS IN FRENCH CARIBBEAN AND AFRICAN LITERATURE (3-4 credits)
An array of fiction, poetry and film by authors and cinematographers from West Africa and the French Antilles. Papers and discussions focus on cultural themes and issues such as tradition and modernity, urban and rural life, and men's and women's roles. Also listed as AAAS 362. Prerequisite: FREN 222, 301, 303 or consent of the instructor. (D-I) (AY)

FREN 407 TRANSLATION: THEORY AND PRACTICE (3 credits)
Students consider a range of issues in translation including comparative stylistics, text types, machine translation and gender in translation. In addition to readings, discussion and research on particular aspects of translation, students design and carry out individual and group translation projects. Prerequisite: FREN 222, 301, 303 or consent of the instructor. (AY)

*FREN 430 FRENCH AND FRANCOPHONE CULTURE (4 credits)
Explores contemporary issues pertinent to understanding French and French-speaking communities. Extensive use of film, the media and the Web. (D-I) (AY)

FREN 454 LITERATURE AND REVOLUTION (4 credits)
Explores texts that have deeply changed ways of thinking, either politically, socially or aesthetically. Selected works include essays, novels and plays that preceded the advent of the French Revolution and a choice of texts representative of innovative directions in literature such as romanticism, surrealist poetry or theatre of the absurd. (AY)

FREN 456 THE FRENCH NARRATIVE (4 credits)
Explores the development of narrative techniques in French through the study of literary texts and film adaptations from different time periods. Recent topics include 19th- and 20th-century novel. May be repeated for credit with a different topic. (AY)

FREN 458 CONTEMPORARY THOUGHT (4 credits)
Students use readings, film screenings, discussion and written assignments to consider various poststructuralist approaches to theorizing the relationship between language and society and to place these approaches in historical context. Prerequisite: An Interpretive Practices course and one course at the 350-level or higher, or consent of the instructor. (AY)

FREN 459 ANALYTICAL WRITING AND ADVANCED STYLISTICS (2 credits)
Focuses on helping students develop and organize complex ideas in writing with the goal of producing sophisticated literary analyses.

*FREN 462 FROM NEGRITUDE TO CREOLENESS (4 credits)
Postcolonial issues are brought to the forefront by a new and imaginative literature from the French Antilles. Voices obliterated in the past reclaim their history and celebrate their Creole culture and traditions. Also listed as AAAS 462. (D-I) (AY)

FREN 481 INTERNSHIP
Students may submit a request for internship credit by conferring with faculty of the French and Francophone Studies Department before the work is undertaken.

FREN 482 SPECIAL TOPICS (2-4 credits)
Selected topics determined by the instructor for upper-level study. Possible topics: Women Writing/Writing Women, Between Laughter and Tears: The Theatre of Beckett and Ionesco. May be repeated for credit with a different topic. (AY)

FREN 483 TEACHING ASSISTANTS (1-3 credits)
Reserved for International Teaching Assistants.

FREN 484 FORD/KNIGHT PROJECTS (1-4 credits)
Collaborative research with faculty funded by the Ford/Knight Program.

FREN 485 INDEPENDENT STUDY (1-3 credits)
Investigation of a specific topic conceived and planned by the student in consultation with a faculty adviser. Culminates in a comprehensive report prepared in the style of a thesis or research paper.

France Program Courses

FREN 205 GRAMMAR REVIEW (3 credits)

FREN 235 FRENCH HISTORY (3 credits)

*FREN 435 ART HISTORY (4 credits) (A-TH)

*FREN 445 THE CONSTRUCTION OF EUROPE (4 credits) (D-I)

FREN 455 CONTEMPORARY THEATRE (4 credits)

Martinique Program Courses

FREN 115 INTRODUCTION TO CREOLE (3 credits)

FREN 303 ADVANCED WRITING (3 credits)

FREN 362/462 READINGS IN FRENCH CARIBBEAN LITERATURE (4 credits)

*FREN 433 CREOLE CULTURES AND SOCIETIES (4 credits) (A-TH)

*FREN 443 GEOPOLITICS AND HISTORY OF MARTINIQUE AND THE CARIBBEAN (4 credits) (D-I)

Senegal May Term Course

FREN 343 SENEGAL MAY TERM (3 credits)
By considering Senegalese culture as expressed by multiple languages, art and religion, students build a connection to French-speaking Africa. Prerequisite: Basic French II or higher level of French.

Earlham Home · Curriculum Guide · Site Index

Earlham College · 801 National Road West · Richmond, Indiana 47374-4095
Send corrections or comments to Web Editor.
Copyright Information

This page last updated: August 10, 2007