LANGUAGE
COURSES IN
FRENCH
Spring 2016
Romance Studies
BOSTON UNVERSITY
LANGUAGE COURSES IN FRENCH – Spring 2016
LF 111
First Semester French
A multimedia approach for students who have never studied French. A variety of communicative
tasks develop speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills.
LF 112
Second Semester French
Continues CAS LF 111. A multimedia approach which develops speaking, reading, writing, and
listening skills, together with the grammar and vocabulary needed for more complex
communicative tasks.
LF 211
Third Semester French
Continues CAS LF 112. Authentic literary selections, cultural readings, and discussion of shortsubject films, accompanied by advanced study of grammar and emphasis on communicative skills.
LF 212
Fourth Semester French
Continues CAS LF 211. . Authentic literary selections, cultural readings, and discussion of films,
accompanied by advanced study of grammar and emphasis on creative oral and written exercises.
Fulfills CAS language requirement, prepares for further study (LF 303).
LF303 French Composition and Conversation: Topics based courses exploring various aspects of
French and Francophone literature, culture, and society. In the context of each section's unique
theme, students advance proficiency in speaking, writing, reading, and listening.
LF303 A1
Cross Continental Connections (Lakin-Schultz) French is spoken widely on the continent of
Africa and while the number of speakers continues to grow, understanding the complicated history
driving this ongoing linguistic influence allows us to develop a cultural fluency that is indispensable
in Africa and Europe alike. This course seeks to improve students’ proficiency in speaking, reading,
writing, and listening through the discussion of images, short stories, excerpts of novels, and films
that address the relationship between France and several of its former colonies, notably in West
Africa, from colonial times to the present. Though we will begin with an introduction of French
colonialism through the study of images and propaganda portraying the colonies, we will soon shift
our focus to readings and films that address this relationship from an African perspective. The
course will progress chronologically ending with a study of the nature of this relationship in the
21st century through the readings of the Senegalese writer, Fatou Diome. Activities will include
small group work, two peer edited compositions, class discussion, and a blog for additional writing
practice. There will be two formal assessments of oral proficiency and one final group
presentation. Themes explored include colonialism, education, African culture, migration, and
cultural identity
LF303 B1
Francophone North America (Roy) French has been continuously spoken on the North
American continent since the establishment of French colonies in the Maritimes and Quebec, as
early as 1604. Today, in Boston, we know that we are geographically close to Francophone regions
of Canada (Quebec to our North, and the Atlantic provinces to the Northeast), but it is less wellknown that people of French ethnic background form a significant part of the population right here
in New England, too. Furthermore, French-speaking communities still thrive in the U.S., not only in
LANGUAGE COURSES IN FRENCH – Spring 2016
Louisiana, but in New England states such as Maine, and New Hampshire. In this course, we will
explore the history, culture, and broad movement of people to, from, and between these regions
(and others) over time. This course seeks to improve students’ proficiency in speaking, reading,
writing, and listening through the discussion of literature and artwork (images, songs, short stories,
excerpts of novels, and films) that examine this subject. Activities will include class discussions,
small group work and written compositions, as well as formal assessments of oral proficiency.
Themes explored will include: migration, cultural identity and diaspora.
LF303 C1
Secrets, Lies and Family Ties (Hennessey) This course is designed to expand students’ linguistic
and cultural competencies in French through discussions of literary texts and contemporary films
and articles. We will explore different kinds of lies (including le “non-dit”) and other subtopics,
such as the education of children and adolescents, the challenges of “growing up”, and the various
patterns of (mis) communication originating in the family and extending to other relationships .We
will do close readings from the following genres: short stories, articles by psychologists,
philosophers, anthropologists and journalists, 7 chapters from the contemporary novel,
“L’élégance du hérisson”; and we will watch (subtitled in French) “Le Hérisson”, a film adaption of
the novel. For the final project, (an oral presentation and a written paper) each student will choose
one contemporary feature film (from a selection of 20) and will examine how the course themes
are revealed, represented, and resolved. Authors include Eugène Ionesco, Tahar Ben Jelloun,
Andrée Chedid, Marie Desplechin and Muriel Barbery.
LF303 D1
French Through the Media (Bekkai) This course will promote the development of core
language skill sets through the use of media. Students will investigate French and francophone
media in all forms, including the written and broadcast press, film, television, podcasts, blogs and
social media, as a conduit for enhancing students’ understanding of French culture.
LF305
Advanced Written Expression (Duséwoir): Intensive study of the art of writing through
translation exercises and development of individual style through readings, analysis of writing
styles, free composition and class discussion.
LF 306
Advanced Oral Expression (Hawkes): Advanced training in rapid and idiomatic French speech.
Oral reports. Role playing. Vocabulary building; Targeted work on pronunciation, intonation, and
aural comprehension.
LF 348
Cilivilsation française et francophone (Duséwoir): Dans ce cours, nous aborderons les
principaux aspects de la civilisation française et francophone à travers six grands dossiers
thématiques, composés de documents variés et offrant la possibilité de connaître, réfléchir,
discuter et s'exprimer sur I’actualité francophone. Les six dossiers thématiques sont les suivants:
l’histoire, de la préhistoire à nos jours; la géographie; la culture et la citoyenneté; l’art; la société et
l’économie; Les sciences et les technologies. Il s’agira non seulement de développer une culture
générale et de stimuler la curiosité, mais d’aiguiser des compétences de compréhension,
production et présentation, interaction et recherche, individuellement ou par groupes.