BUSINESS and CULTURE
in the FRANCOPHONE WORLD
Professor Reisinger
MW 11:40-12:55
The Link, Classroom 4
debsreis@duke.edu
Office hours: M W 1-2 + by appt.
Office: 06 Languages Building
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In this course, we will analyze current socio-economic and cross-cultural issues in the Francophone world
to increase our understanding of the global marketplace. Content will focus on 1) primary business sectors
(organization of business, human resources, working abroad), 2) oral and written communication
(correspondence, meeting protocol, negotiation, the c.v.) and 3) marketing (product development,
advertising, case studies in the Francophone world). Particular emphasis will be placed on how language
and culture impact the global business environment, and we will use emerging technologies to complete
significant parts of the coursework. At the end of the course, you will be prepared to take the prestigious
Paris Chamber of Commerce exam, which will be offered at Duke in mid-April. All coursework will be
conducted and completed in French. You must have completed the equivalent of two years of university
French; if you have not used your French in two semesters, please see me right away.
COURSE GOALS
French 109 is designed to give you the skills necessary to work within a cross-cultural environment either
here in the US or abroad. To that end, we will study various aspects of the French and Francophone
business world, and our texts will include articles from business journals, newspapers, and audio and video
reports. Likewise, your own assignments will be diverse in nature, including a portfolio of a francophone
region and its business sectors, a formal letter and c.v., a cross-cultural negotiation, and a digital marketing
project. In this course, you will:

learn business-related vocabulary and concepts through self-regulated study and in-class practice

refine your formal oral presentation skills, which are necessary for success in a professional setting

enhance your critical thinking skills by analyzing authentic cultural documents about French and
Francophone business practices

develop the intercultural competencies that are a prelude to working with diverse populations
REQUIRED TEXT:
 Penfornis, Jean-Luc. Vocabulaire progressif du français des affaires (CLE International 2004)
(available at Duke Textbook Stores)
ADDITIONAL TEXTS, FILMS, and ACTIVITIES:
 Frost in France. As a participant in the Global Simulation, you will have to purchase your role online.
 Additional readings (from academic publications, French and Francophone newspapers, novels,
magazines and trade journals) are available on e-reserves, accessible through our Blackboard site.
 We will watch two films during the semester: Ressources humaines, a feature film that explores the
implementation of the 35-hour workweek, and Mondovino, a documentary about how globalization has
affected the French wine industry. If you cannot attend the scheduled viewings, you are responsible for
seeing the films on your own, which are on closed reserve at Lilly.
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
There will be TWO course-related events scheduled outside of class: a dinner with the French
American Chamber of Commerce and a site visit to SKEMA in early February. Please mark your
calendars right away to participate in these two exciting opportunities!
RECOMMENDED:
 For reading, a good French-French dictionary (Larousse, Petit Robert). There is also a practical online
dictionary: http://www.wordreference.com/fr/. For writing, an unabridged French-English dictionary
(Harrap’s, Larousse). Dictionaries are available for purchase in the bookstore and also available for
onsite use at Perkins Library.

For specific business vocabulary, there are several online dictionaries you may wish to consult:
http://granddictionnaire.com, http://www.projetdafa.net/, or http://atilf.atilf.fr/tlf.htm
Attendance: Regular attendance is absolutely necessary for success in acquiring a new language; attendance will
therefore be taken daily. One unexcused absence is allowed in this course before your grade is lowered; for each
additional absence, you will lose one percentage point of your overall grade. If you are absent, it is your
responsibility to find out what you missed so that you come prepared when you return to class. If you know you are
going to be absent from a class, you must inform your instructor before the absence and submit all assignments in
advance. If you are incapacitated by a serious illness and cannot attend class, you must submit the University's Short
Term Illness Notification Form (the form and relevant information can be found at http://trinity.duke.edu/academicrequirements?p=policy-short-term-illness-notification) as soon as possible, and no later than the evening of the
missed class. If you are a member of a team and know you will need to be absent from class for participation in a
sports event, you must bring your team travel schedule signed and dated by your coach at the beginning of the
semester. There are no make-ups or late work in French 109.
ASSESSMENT :
Participation/Preparation
Letter and c.v.
Global Simulation
Exams (15/15)
15 %
5%
5%
30 %
Country profile
Company Profile
Marketing Project
10 %
15 %
20 %
CLASS PARTICIPATION: Progress in language acquisition is intimately tied to active learning. You are
expected to actively read all assignments, to ask and answer pertinent questions about the texts, and to fully
engage in small group activities and class discussions. Attending class and listening attentively does not
constitute good participation: you must speak willfully! Teamwork is also an essential component of this
class, and of the business world. Since employers state that most undergraduate students are not adequately
prepared for this kind of work, which requires collaboration and crossing disciplinary and personal
boundaries, many of our assignments will involve team-based projects.
Any homework assignments that you complete will be calculated in this category. Assignments include
homework from the Vocabulaire progressif textbook, reading comprehension activities, and regular
contributions to a personal blog based on podcast/vodcast subscriptions. All assignments, as well as
regular announcements, will be posted on our Blackboard site, so do check it frequently. Please bring your
Affaires.com textbook to class every day in order to fully participate in classroom activities.
GLOBAL SIMULATION After spring break, you will participate in a cross-cultural simulation designed
to give you extended practice in communication, interpersonal and business skills in the context of another
language and culture. As a participant in the Global Simulation, you will have to purchase your role online
($12). You will receive more specific information as the date approaches.
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C.V. and JOB LETTER: Towards the end of the semester, you will respond to a job announcement in
French by writing a curriculum vitae and a lettre de motivation; both c.v. and letter will be based on models
that we will consult in class. You will participate in a job interview in class that is based on these
documents.
COUNTRY PROFILE (profil francophone): During the first part of the semester, you will work with a
team to create a country profile. The goal is to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the culture of the
region and a familiarity with its business or professional climate, and to present a comprehensive report on
one major business or professional enterprise in the chosen geographic area. The project should be accurate
in terms of content and clear and engaging in its presentation of information. Projects will be presented in
class in mid-February and will be recorded for self-evaluation.
COMPANY PROFILE (profil d’une enterprise): During the course of the semester, you will work in small
groups to create an electronic portfolio of a local French or Francophone business. The project will require
a site visit to the company and the creation of an online company profile, including a video-taped interview
with the business owner in French. The profile will become part of a WordPress web site devoted to local
French and Francophone businesses. You will receive a list of persons to contact, as well as explicit
guidelines for the project.
MARKETING PROJECT (campagne publicitaire): At the end of the semester, you will work in teams to
create a digital marketing campaign to sell an American product or service to a French-speaking region.
Each team will give a presentation to the class, and each individual will submit a short reaction paper due
by May 3rd. The presentation will include a marketing pitch, a print advertisement, and a 2 minute
commercial (video recording) or radio spot (oral recording). Presentations should last approximately 15
minutes and will take place during the last week of class.
EXAMS: There will be two exams in this class. Exams are based on the textbooks and course materials,
and are generally a combination of short answer and essay.
EXAMEN CCIP: This course prepares you to take the Diplôme de français professionel AFFAIRES B2
(DFP-B2, épreuves écrites et orales), which will be administered at Duke in mid-April. The cost is $150,
and you must sign up for the exam in February. This is an exam created by the Chambre de Commerce et
d’Industrie de Paris, designed to recognize a certain level of proficiency in doing French for Business. It is
very impressive documentation to put on your c.v.! For more information, see: http://www.fda.ccip.fr
DUKE COMMUNITY STANDARD: Your participation in this course comes with the expectation that
your work will be completed in full observance of the Duke Community Standard
(http://www.integrity.duke.edu/ugrad/student.html). If you have any questions about your responsibilities
within this course, please do not hesitate to consult me.
ACCOMMODATIONS: If you have a documented disability and need accommodations or have questions,
please contact either Donna Hall, Director of the Academic Resource Center, at dhall@duke.edu or John
Blackshear, Clinical Director of the Academic Resource Center; at john.blackshear@duke.edu.
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