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French Language and Literature

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  • FREN E-1 Intensive Elementary French I (Fall, Spring)
  • FREN E-1d Online Intensive Elementary French I (Fall)
  • FREN E-1x Reading for Information (Fall)
  • FREN E-1y Reading and Translation (Spring)
  • FREN E-2 Intensive Elementary French II (Spring)
  • FREN E-2a Elementary French II (Fall)
  • FREN E-2b Elementary French II (Spring)
  • FREN E-2d Online Intensive Elementary French II (Spring)
  • FREN E-3 Intensive Intermediate French I: Grammar Review in Cultural Context (Fall)
  • FREN E-5 Oral Expression: Le Français parlé (Spring)
  • FREN E-6a Les Média francophones (Fall)
  • FREN E-11 Modern France through Major Figures (Fall)
  • FREN E-28 Discovering Paris (Spring)
FREN E-1 Intensive Elementary French I
Fall term, Section 1 (11846)
Ellen Moloney Detwiller, MA, Lecturer in French, Tufts University.
Mondays, Wednesdays beginning Aug. 29, 5:30-7:30 pm.
Course tuition: noncredit $1,150, undergraduate credit $1,150.
Limited enrollment.
Website Printable version
Fall term, Section 2 (13545)
Wayne Ishikawa, PhD, Lecturer in Extension, Harvard University.
Mondays, Thursdays beginning Aug. 29, 5:30-7:30 pm.
Course tuition: noncredit $1,150, undergraduate credit $1,150.
Limited enrollment.
Website Printable version
Fall term, Section 3 (10119)
*** FREN E-1 Fall term, section 3 (10119) has been CANCELED. ***
Spring term (23183)
Anne Taieb, MA, Lecturer in French, Tufts University.
Tuesdays beginning Jan. 24, 5:30-7:30 pm, on campus; Thursdays, 5:30-7:30 pm online, via live web conference.
Course tuition: noncredit $1,150, undergraduate credit $1,150.
Limited enrollment.
Syllabus Printable version
An introduction to oral and written French for students with little or no background in the language, this course encourages students to communicate with each other and the instructor in simple language using role-play and other interpersonal activities. Grammar includes present and near future tenses, and the compound past. (4 credits)
FREN E-1d Online Intensive Elementary French I
Fall term (13406)
Kimberlee Anne Campbell, PhD, Consultant.
Tuesdays beginning Aug. 30, 8-10 pm. Required conversation sections to be arranged.
Course tuition: noncredit $1,150, undergraduate credit $1,150.
Course taught via live web conference. Limited enrollment.
Website Printable version
Students learn basic French grammar, vocabulary, and conversational skills through an innovative web-based, interactive classroom format. This course features one-to-one conversations with the instructor, and small-group discussions with other students using the conference program Elluminate. Assessment is by portfolio and conversations with the instructor. (4 credits)
FREN E-1x Reading for Information
Fall term (13725)
Louise Marie Wills, PhD, Manager of Development, Phillips Brooks House Association, Harvard University.
Mondays, Wednesdays beginning Aug. 29, 7:35-9:35 pm.
Course tuition: noncredit $1,150, undergraduate credit $1,150.
Limited enrollment.
Website Printable version
This course is a systematic approach to written French involving grammar and usage. Differences between French and English are pointed out and illustrated by reading simple French texts. Students gradually become familiar with French ways of expression. Conducted in English. Prerequisite: a basic knowledge of English grammar. (4 credits)
FREN E-1y Reading and Translation
Spring term (23593)
Louise Marie Wills, PhD, Manager of Development, Phillips Brooks House Association, Harvard University.
Mondays, Wednesdays beginning Jan. 23, 7:35-9:35 pm.
Course tuition: noncredit $1,150, undergraduate credit $1,150.
Limited enrollment.
Website Printable version
Students read French texts of moderate difficulty and translate them into English. Differences between French and English ways of written expression are pointed out and emphasis given to translations that read not as literally translated French but as English originals. Conducted in English. Prerequisite: a basic knowledge of French and English grammar. (4 credits)
FREN E-2 Intensive Elementary French II
Spring term, Section 1 (23396)
Wayne Ishikawa, PhD, Lecturer in Extension, Harvard University.
Mondays, Thursdays beginning Jan. 23, 5:30-7:30 pm.
Course tuition: noncredit $1,150, undergraduate credit $1,150.
Limited enrollment.
Website Printable version
Spring term, Section 2 (23577)
Ellen Moloney Detwiller, MA, Lecturer in French, Tufts University.
Mondays, Wednesdays beginning Jan. 23, 5:30-7:30 pm.
Course tuition: noncredit $1,150, undergraduate credit $1,150.
Limited enrollment.
Syllabus Printable version
This course emphasizes oral and written communication using language structures that include the imperfect, future, and conditional tenses and the subjunctive mood. Students communicate using role-play and other interpersonal activities. They also read short pieces on modern French culture and write compositions on topics of personal interest. Prerequisite: FREN E-1b, FREN E-1, or the equivalent. (4 credits)
FREN E-2a Elementary French II
Fall term (13190)
Mahalia C. Gayle, PhD
Tuesdays beginning Aug. 30, 5:30-7:30 pm.
Course tuition: noncredit $850, undergraduate credit $850.
Limited enrollment.
Website Printable version
This course emphasizes oral and written communication using language structures that include the imperfect tense, as well as object pronouns. Students practice all four skills—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—through role-play and other interpersonal activities. Prerequisite: FREN E-1 or the equivalent. (2 credits)
FREN E-2b Elementary French II
Spring term (23028)
Mahalia C. Gayle, PhD
Tuesdays beginning Jan. 24, 5:30-7:30 pm.
Course tuition: noncredit $850, undergraduate credit $850.
Limited enrollment.
Website Printable version
This course emphasizes oral and written communication using language structures that include the future, conditional, and subjunctive tenses. Extensive practice in all four skills—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—is emphasized as well as a thorough review of the grammar necessary to support those skills. Students are encouraged to communicate in French through role-play and other interpersonal activities. They also read a short story and write short compositions. Prerequisite: FREN E-2a, or the equivalent. (2 credits)
FREN E-2d Online Intensive Elementary French II
Spring term (23254)
Kimberlee Anne Campbell, PhD, Consultant.
Tuesdays beginning Jan. 24, 8-10 pm. Required conversation sections to be arranged.
Course tuition: noncredit $1,150, undergraduate credit $1,150.
Course taught via live web conference. Limited enrollment.
Website Printable version
Students continue to develop their communication skills, building on the materials from FREN E-1d. This course features one-to-one conversations with the instructor, and small-group discussions with other students using the conference program Elluminate. Assessment is by portfolio and conversations with the instructor. Prerequisite: FREN E-1d, or permission of instructor. (4 credits)
FREN E-3 Intensive Intermediate French I: Grammar Review in Cultural Context
Fall term (13571)
Carole Bergin, MA, Preceptor in Romance Languages and Literatures, Harvard University.
Mondays, Wednesdays beginning Aug. 29, 5:30-7:30 pm.
Course tuition: noncredit $1,150, undergraduate credit $1,150.
Limited enrollment.
Website Printable version
Designed for students with a basic foundation in French, this course offers students a thorough grammar review and multiple opportunities to improve their language skills and to make progress toward fluency. Students practice speaking, reading, writing, and listening in and outside the classroom. Materials include literary texts from authors such as Voltaire, Rousseau, Baudelaire and other francophone writers, and various audio-visual materials. Prerequisite: one year of college French, or the equivalent. (4 credits)
FREN E-5 Oral Expression: Le Français parlé
Spring term (23420)
Carole Bergin, MA, Preceptor in Romance Languages and Literatures, Harvard University.
Wednesdays beginning Jan. 25, 5:30-7:30 pm.
Course tuition: noncredit $1,150, undergraduate credit $1,150.
Limited enrollment.
Website Printable version
This course emphasizes communication strategies that make it easier for students to communicate effectively in a French context. Through creative classroom activities and exercises, students learn how the French interact while discussing ideas, exchanging opinions, and giving advice or information, with an emphasis on practical vocabulary. Students fine-tune their oral language skills through a more advanced study of pronunciation, grammar, and discourse strategies, while discussing and debating topics of current interest as they are presented in the media, including the press, radio, television, cinema, and the Internet. Prerequisite: FREN E-3, or the equivalent. (4 credits)
FREN E-6a Les Média francophones
Fall term (13731)
*** FREN E-6a Fall term (13731) has been CANCELED. ***
Students use articles and radio and television broadcasts available over the Internet to learn about contemporary French culture and issues. The course also offers an opportunity to develop written and oral presentation skills using models based on examples from different media. Prerequisite: two years of college French, or the equivalent.
FREN E-11 Modern France through Major Figures
Fall term (13710)
Raymond F. Comeau, PhD, Lecturer in Extension, Harvard University.
Thursdays beginning Sept. 1, 5:30-7:30 pm.
Course tuition: noncredit $1,150, undergraduate credit $1,150, graduate credit $1,900.
Limited enrollment.
Syllabus Printable version
Students study autobiographical, biographical, and professional writings of innovative figures from France and French-speaking countries whose significant accomplishments have altered the fields of architecture, painting, sculpture, music, education, politics, fashion, medicine, science, and philosophy. Figures include Matisse, Rodin, Piaf, Brassens, de Gaulle, Cousteau, Marie and Pierre Curie, Senghor, Chanel, Lévesque, Pasteur, Weil, Itard, Sartre, de Beauvoir, and Le Corbusier. Writings are complemented by interviews, music, film, and a field trip. Conducted in French. Prerequisite: a good speaking and reading knowledge of French. (4 credits)
FREN E-28 Discovering Paris
Spring term (23607)
Marie-France Bunting, MA
Mondays beginning Jan. 23, 5:30-7:30 pm.
Course tuition: noncredit $1,150, undergraduate credit $1,150, graduate credit $1,900.
Limited enrollment.
Syllabus Printable version
This course explores different aspects of Paris through paintings, monuments, objects, and texts of different genres from a variety of writers who took Paris as their subject. Students improve their spoken skills by giving oral presentations and in-class discussions and gain experience in writing by creating their own narratives of Paris incorporating various aspects of the city at different time periods. Prerequisite: two years of college French, or the equivalent. (4 credits)

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