French Courses Offered

Program Description
Major/Minor Requirements

FRE 101-102: Elementary French I and II  (3 hours each)

A two semester sequence. Emphasis on listening and speaking, with gradually increasing attention to the development of reading and writing skills in FRE 102. One hour lab per week required. Offered in fall and spring.

FRE 201: Intermediate French  (3 hours)

A course designed to bring students up to the required proficiency level at Georgetown College. One hour lab per week required. Prerequisite: FRE 102 or by placement exam. Offered in fall and spring.

FRE 230: Intermediate French II  (3 hours)

Continued development of listening and speaking skills. Increased emphasis on reading and writing skills, with concomitant study of more complex grammatical structures. Prerequisite: FRE 201 or equivalent. Offered in spring.

FRE 235: Conversation and Composition: Intermediate  (3 hours)

Practice in speaking and writing, mostly on everyday topics, using appropriate models. Lab work may be required. Prerequisite: FRE 201 or equivalent. Offered in fall.

FRE 301: Initiation to Readings in Francophone Cultures (3 hours)

This course will focus on the development of reading strategies. Through an exploration of a variety of modern and historical texts students will review complex grammar, build vocabulary, study complex sentence structure, and examine cultural questions pertaining to various parts of the francophone world. Prerequisite: FRE 230 or equivalent. Offered in fall.

FRE 310: Pre-Revolution French Civilization and Culture (3 hours)

A study of the development of the ideas, political structures, art and architecture that constitute, in part, French culture. Historical and cultural texts as well as audio-visual material will be used to meet the goals of refining reading strategies and of better understanding modern French identity through its past. Offered in fall.

FRE 312: La Francophonie (3 hours)

A study of the problems of establishing and defining national identities in a variety of Francophone countries in the 19th and 20th centuries. Topics include: regional identity in France in the nineteenth century; the French-speaking community in Canada; Creole culture; Post-colonial problems of identity in French-speaking Africa; Vichy and French identity crisis; Immigration politics in France today. Offered in spring.

FRE 321: Initiation to French Literature  (3 hours)

An examination of a selection of outstanding literary works. Writing skills will also be developed through practice of the explication detexte method of analyzing texts. Prerequisite: FRE 301 or equivalent. Offered in fall.

FRE 333: Phonetics and Pronunciation  (3 hours)

Phonetic alphabet and transcription, articulation of French sounds; French prosody; detailed study of vowels, semi-vowels, and consonants; intensive pronunciation practice introduced to regional and Francophone dialects. Prerequisite: FRE 235 or consent of instructor. Offered in spring.

FRE 335: Conversation, Composition, Cuisine  (3 hours)

A course designed to bring students up to intermediate-high level of ratings of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Lab work may be required. Prerequisite: FRE 235. Offered in spring.

FRE 355: French for the Professions  (3 hours)

Introduction to basic vocabulary, institutional structures, and cultural differences specific to business world in France and Quebec. Prerequisite: FRE 301. Offered in spring as needed.

FRE 340: Independent Study (1, 2 or 3 hours)

Offered as needed.

FRE 370: Topics in French Culture/Language/Literature  (3 hours)

Study of special topic announced at advanced registration. Prerequisite: FRE 310. Offered as needed.

FRE 402: Teaching of Foreign Languages  (3 hours)

Methods and materials for the teaching of foreign languages. Prerequisites: Junior standing and FRE 335. Offered in fall as needed.

FRE 424: The Politics of Poetry  (3 hours)

(A study of a selection of French poetry, theater, and prose from the late Middle Ages to the nineteenth century with an emphasis on the ways in which the poetic text participated in political discourse and influenced political action of the various periods. Prerequisite: FRE 321 or permission of instructor. Offered in spring as needed.

FRE 426: Prose and Criticism  (3 hours)

A selection of early modern and modern prose texts examined through various models of literary theory. Prerequisite: FRE 321 or permission of instructor. Offered in spring as needed

FRE 435: Conversation and Composition: Advanced  (3 hours)

A course designed to raise the student's command of oral and written French to advanced level on the ACTFL Guidelines. Lab work may be required. Prerequisite: FRE 335. Offered in spring as needed.

FRE 440: Independent Study  (1, 2 or 3 hours)

As needed

FRE 450: Seminar  (3 hours)

Offered as needed.

FRE 470: Topics (1, 2 or 3 hours)

Offered as needed.