FRENCH

FREN 100:
Introduction to French 3 credits

Prerequisites: none

Transferability: SFU, UBC, OU

French 100 is an introductory course for those who have had little (less than Grade 11) or no previous French instruction. The vocabulary and grammatical structures are presented through the use of body language and audio/visual techniques such as pictures, tapes and videos, as well as written material. Students will learn to communicate in relatively natural and spontaneous speech and also develop basic reading and writing skills. The course covers the equivalent of Grade 11 material.

Note: Students who have successfully completed French 11 can normally only receive credit for this course through course challenge and should contact the department head for appropriate placement.

FREN 101:
French Language I 3 credits

Prerequisites: FREN 100, or FREN 11, or instructor’s permission

Transferability: UBC, SFU, UVic, OU, TWU

Introduces you to the French language by an intensive study of important aspects of pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar through the use of audio-visual techniques such as flashcards, slides, video tapes and the multimedia laboratory. We teach you to speak, understand, read and write the language by the direct association of visual and aural concepts with their expression in French. The basic goal is to develop “creative communication”.

Note: Students who have successfully completed French 12 can normally only receive credit for this course through course challenge and should contact the department head for appropriate placement.

FREN 102:
French Language II 3 credits

Prerequisites: FREN 101, or instructor’s permission

Transferability: UBC, SFU, UVic, OU, TWU

Continues to develop your ability to express yourself in oral and written French. It directly follows the goals and methods of French 101.

Note: Students who have successfully completed French 12 can normally only receive credit for this course through course challenge and should contact the department head for appropriate placement.

FREN 215:
Intermediate French 3 credits

Prerequisites: French 12 or FREN 101 and FREN 102, or
instructor’s permission

Transferability: UBC, SFU, UVic, OU, TWU

Increases communicative competence through vocabulary expansion, improved pronunciation, and the development of efficient reading and writing techniques. Conducted entirely in French, students work together in small groups reviewing the essential elements of French grammar, discussing short texts of contemporary Francophone authors, and learning composition skills. Participation in multimedia programs, along with regular written assignments and oral tutorials, further improves students’ abilities to understand and express themselves in FREN ch.

Note: Credit cannot be obtained for more than one of FREN 111, 210, 215, or 230.

FREN 225:
Francophone Language and Culture via Media 3 credits

Prerequisites: French 12, or FREN 101 and 102, or instructor’s permission

Transferability: UBC, SFU, UVic, OU

Conducted entirely in French. Students will increase their communicative competence and knowledge of Francophone culture by reading on a regular basis articles and advertising from L’Actualit J, a QuJ bJcois magazine, and other similar material garnered from various Francophone magazines. They will also gain access, via the Web, to the front page of major Francophone newspapers, listen to Radio Canada, and view television clips from Francophone stations. They will learn specialized vocabulary such as acronyms, expressions having economic, political, and social reference, and the latest trendy and/or euphemistic catchwords. Grammar review will be provided as needed according to the media information being studied. Participation in discussions, along with regular written assignments and oral tutorials, further improves students’ abilities to understand and express themselves in French.

FREN 230:
Intermediate French for French Immersion Students I 3 credits

Prerequisites: minimum four years study (up to Grade 11) in the French Immersion program, or instructor’s permission

Transferability: UBC, SFU, UVic, TWU

This course is specifically designed for students from French Immersion programs who are at ease communicating in French and who wish to improve their competency. Taught completely in French, this course will provide a thorough grammar review, vocabulary enrichment and development of reading and writing skills which will address ingrained errors such as “franglais” and enable students to use a more sophisticated language. A cultural project, pair and small group work, video presentations, and work in the multimedia lab will complement class discussions.

Note: Credit cannot be obtained for both FREN 215 and FREN 230.

FREN 315:
Introduction to Francophone Literature 4 credits

Prerequisites: One of (FREN 210 or 215), or ( FREN 220 or 225), or 230, or instructor’s permission

This is a one-semester course, conducted entirely in French, introducing students to Francophone literature. The readings will consist primarily of contemporary short stories from diverse countries, some poetry, a short Quebecois novel and a one-act French play. Discussion will focus on differences of genre and style, and on text analysis as well as thematic and cultural content, enabling students to appreciate French writing in its various forms. Particular idiomatic expressions and language usage will be explicated as needed.

FREN 325:
Advanced French Conversation 4 credits

Prerequisites: One of (FREN 210 or 215), or ( FREN 220 or 225), or 230, or instructor’s permission

This is a one-semester course, conducted entirely in French, enabling students to speak as fluently as possible and to understand rapidly spoken French from different Francophone countries and regions. They will be introduced to phonetics and will work on acquiring a good standard pronunciation. At the same time, they will learn to recognize and appreciate different accents and idioms, such as those that exist within France itself as well as those that have developed in former colonies such as Quebec, Senegal, and Martinique. Every week there will be a specified topic to discuss within the framework of a specific speech-act.

FREN 350:
Great French Literature in Translation 4 credits

Prerequisites: ENGL 201 or 202 or instructor’s permission

This course will feature some of the great “classics” in drama, of the novel, and in poetry, from the 16th into the 20th century, including masterpieces by Molière, Flaubert, Hugo and Zola. The content and form of these works, as well as their continued relevance today, will be studied within a historical and sociological context.

FREN 360:
French Canadian/Québecois Literature in Translation 4 credits

Prerequisites: ENGL 201 or 202 or instructor’s permission

This course will examine from a cultural and historical perspective, the evolution of French-Canadian and Québecois literature as a means of developing and affirming cultural identity. At least four novels and a play, by major writers such as Marie-Claire Blais, Jacques Godbout, Antonine Maillet, Gabrielle Roy, and Michel Tremblay, a film, and selected excerpts of diverse writing will be studied.

Note: One of these literature in translation courses may be taken as part of an English major.

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