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Curriculum I: Intermediate French

Prerequisite: One year of college French or equivalent.

Courses:
French 4 and 5: Intermediate French (8 units)
French 14 (optional): Introduction to French and Francophone Cultures (5 units)

French 4 and 5 are a fast-paced review of grammatical structures.The courses emphasize the development of oral skills through the discussion of current sociocultural topics. The study of pertinent literary and cultural texts will enhance students' reading and writing skills. One course may be used to fulfill the Humanities General Education Language and Linguistics requirement at UCLA.

French 14 will be optional and taught in English, French 14 will focus on contemporary French institutions and issues in the historical, political, cultural and socioeconomic realms. We will study recent developments in French society, the institutions and the traditions which contribute to French culture today: the course will inquire how the unique French contemporary culture is constructed by aspects as varied as its political system, its integration into the European community, its social classes and conflicts, education, multiculturalism, visual and figurative arts, literature and film, social trends, fashion, daily life, food, cuisine, music, sport (Tour de France), myths and mentalities, etc.

Curriculum II: Advanced French

Prerequisite: Two years of college French or equivalent with instructor’s approval.  (B average required in previous French courses.)

Courses:
French 100: Introduction to Written Expression (4 units)
French 107: Advanced Oral Expression (4 units)
French 130: Des cathédrales à Versailles (4 units)

French 100 concentrates on grammatical structures and on techniques of description. Writing topics and exercises will draw upon students' daily experiences of Parisian life.

French 107 is intended to develop fluency in spoken French and emphasizes argumentative skills. Daily exposure to French media and current events will provide a focus for class discussion. For their main project (linked to written work in French 100), students will explore and study the culture, art and history of several quartiers of Paris.

French 130 (in French): The focus of this course will be provided by a consideration of France’s medieval and early modern period, from the cathedrals to Versailles, from a historical, political, cultural, intellectual, and artistic point of view, through a combination of readings and fieldwork - exploration of various historical, architectural, and geographic sites, visits to buildings, monuments, museums, etc. Readings will include : Héloise et Abélard; Rabelais; Molière.

Curriculum III: Communication, Culture, and Commerce

Prerequisite: Two years of college French or equivalent.

Courses:
French 109: Communication in the Commercial Arena, 4 units
French 110: Culture and Commerce in France, 4 units
French 199 (optional): Directed Research (4 units)

French 109 addresses the codes of social exchange and teaches the appropriate structures of communication the French use in commercial transactions and professional situations. We will study the idiom related to job search and the workplace, correspondence, operation of the business enterprise, and urban infrastructures.
Texts: Class Reader.

French 110 studies how culture informs commercial activities and systems of distribution and consumption in France. It reinforces the communication skills learned in French 109. Comparative analysis of French and American mentalities (toward work, money, vacation), marketing strategies, print advertisements and commercials are an important part of the course. We will examine the social and cultural changes brought about by the European Union, and the influence of American popular culture and globalization on the French market.
Texts : Class reader.

French 109 and 110 are taught in French. To take full advantage of the Paris commercial landscape, many visits to French-specific stores and services will be assigned, from street marchés to cultural venues and summer events, as well as American-influenced stores. Other assignments include reading articles in the French press, listening to radio programs, and watching TV news and commercials.

French 199: Students will research a specific domain of commercial culture, do the field research while in Paris, and then write a research paper (12 pages) due in September. To be discussed with the instructor.

Grading

Please refer to the course syllabus for grading details.

Schedule

All schedules, itineraries, and group activities are subject to change at the discretion of the instructor. 

Textbooks

You are responsible for purchasing your own textbooks. Information about required texts will be sent to participants in the spring.

The texts ordered at the UCLA bookstore and Course Reader Material should be available by June 1. If you cannot come to the UCLA campus, please call the UCLA bookstore (310) 206-0791, and Course Reader Material (310) 443-3303, to arrange for shipment.

It is also recommended that you purchase a good Paris guide, such as National Geographic, Eyewitness or Knopf to familiarize yourself with the different quartiers of Paris.