Spring 2025 upper-level French course descriptions
FRH 216: Studies in French and Francophone Literature and Culture: “Le Récit policier: Crime Stories”
MWF 11-11:50 / Prof. Anthony / Prerequisite: FRH 212, 213, or 214
Murder, betrayal, duplicity, and deceit: What draws us to stories about moral and social transgression? How do authors portray criminals, villains, and antiheros? Is a crime story more compelling when it is based on actual events, remains unexplained, or contains an element of the supernatural? These are some of the questions we will consider in our study of French and francophone crime narratives next semester. We will see how selected authors and filmmakers explore criminality as their stories of infidelity, revenge, and deception unravel. We will study works from a variety of periods, places, and genres to broaden our appreciation and understanding of crime narratives, literary trends, and French and francophone culture.
*Did you know? You can repeat FRH 216 once for credit when topics vary
FRH 319: Grammar & Composition
MWF 12-12:50 (Section A) 2-2:50 (Section C) / Prof. McNelly / Prerequisite: FRH 200-level or equivalent
This course solidifies your foundation of grammar and supports your integration of rules and structures in your writing. You will gain deeper knowledge of grammar by focusing on topics on a detailed level which, in turn, will afford you greater control over writing skills. At the same time, the writing component in this course is designed to reinforce your control of grammar: putting your ideas into words and creating your own sentences is the best way to memorize and master grammar rules. Whether you are moving towards upper-division courses, preparing for study abroad, or returning from abroad, this course will increase your accuracy in French.
FRH 321: Introduction to Translation
MW 2-3:15 / Prof. Eyestone / Prerequisite: FRH 319
In a world that is increasingly monolingual and reliant on AI translation tools like ChatGPT and Google Translate, the study and practice of translation might seem antiquated. However, as the author Anthony Burgess wrote, “Translation is not a matter of words only: it is a matter of making intelligible a whole culture.” Translation is fundamental to communicating who and what we are. It is at the heart of language study and the humanities but extends to the social sciences and STEM fields as well. This course looks at the place of translation throughout history and in our globalized contemporary moment, considering its role in fields as diverse as literature, cinema, law, international politics, machine translation, and debates about pluri- and monolingualism. The course will help students to understand the theoretical questions that arise from the transfer of meaning between languages. It will emphasize the importance of metalinguistic factors in facilitating intercultural communication. We will also continue reinforcing French grammar and vocabulary to develop a deeper understanding of language mechanics and an appreciation of how meaning differs between languages.
FRH 329: French for Business Communication
WF 12:30-1:45 / Prof. Vincent / Prerequisite: FRH 200 level course or equivalent*
This course will prepare you to work in an international, French-speaking context by introducing you to French business language, practices, and cultural concepts. Course objectives include developing skills for the job search and everyday business interactions and communication, through roleplaying, projects, case studies, authentic documents, and study of current events. Through these course elements, you will develop your ability to identify and critically analyze cultural differences among national and regional business climates. You will acquire a better understanding of the role culture plays in the production and circulation of discourses and representations of the business world. This course will also prepare you to take the Diplôme de Français Professionnel – Affaires, an optional language exam administered by the Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie de Paris-Île-de-France. Successful completion of this exam will certify your competency in Business French according to internationally recognized European Union standards.
*Exclusively for second language learners
FRH 370: Seminar in French and Francophone Studies: “La francophonie queer”
TR 11-12:15 / Prof. Schroth / Prerequisite: FRH 216, 315
This course explores queer identities in the French-speaking world through various modes of cultural production from France, North Africa, and Quebec. Students will engage with novels, film, visual art, and essays by LGBTQ+ artists who challenge and redefine cultural norms within the context of postcolonialism, migration, and identity politics. We will analyze how gender, sexuality, race, and language intersect in these texts, offering a nuanced understanding of queer experiences across different Francophone regions. Through close readings, class discussions, and critical essays, students will examine how queer Francophone artists from diverse sociocultural backgrounds challenge conventional (heteronormative) narratives, and, in doing so, how they produce novel perspectives on identity, resistance, and the complexities of belonging as a queer subject.