Spring 2027 Upper-Level Course Descriptions
French Studies Courses
FRH 216: Literature and Culture: “Dreams and Illusions”
MWF 11-11:50 / Prof. Anthony / Prerequisite: FRH 212, 213, or 214
In this course, we will explore Francophone literatures and cultures of the Caribbean, West Africa and the Maghreb. We will analyze stories in which characters dream and daydream about a life free of the burden of the colonial past, persecution, intolerance, and economic struggles. We will encounter characters who are drawn to America or Europe and the promise of prosperity and personal fulfillment only to discover the travails of migration and the illusion of a life free from hardship. We will also meet voices of resistance, characters who discover that education (both Western and knowledge passed down orally by elders) is a key to their personal growth and understanding of the world. As you deepen your understanding of the histories and effects of colonialism in several francophone regions, you will develop an awareness of varying cultural values and perspectives. Throughout the course, you will also hone your skills in reading comprehension, textual analysis, and oral and written expression in French.
*Did you know? You can repeat FRH 216 once for credit when topics vary.
**This FRH 216 course fulfills the Studies in World Cultures (SWC) 21cs requirement.
FRH 319: Composition and Review of Grammar
Section A: MWF 9-9:50 / Prof. Schroth
Section B: MWF 2-2:50 / Prof. McNelly
Prerequisite: FRH 200-level course 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
TR 2-3:15 / Prof. Pellet / Prerequisite: FRH 319 or prerequisite override required
What does it take to translate a text? Much more, it turns out, than simply knowing two languages. A translator must consider the text type (genre) and its context, its place of production (France? Canada? Africa?) but also the intended readership of the translated text. In this course, we will explore translation techniques and digital resources which we’ll apply to various genres (e.g., literature, news, bande dessinée) with a focus on contemporary, practical French. We’ll also continue developing fundamental grammar skills through hands-on activities and discussions. By the end of the course, you will be able to apply translation methodologies; have a deeper knowledge of French grammar, vocabulary, and culture; and have the tools to analyze language in general.
FRH 329: French for Business Communication
TR 11-12:15 / 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: “Animalité et Humanité”
MWF 10-10:50 / Prof. Murphy / Prerequisite: FRH 216, 315, or prerequisite override required
In this class we will explore the literary status of animals and chart the frontiers between humans and non-human animals. Students will discover various literary forms from medieval beast fables to La Fontaine’s Fables to modern fiction and essays, and cultural contexts from France to the non-European world. Animals will figure as characters and even as narrators; we will be interested in themes like the relationship between society and nature and changing attitudes towards the non-human world. We will ask: do animals themselves write?
French in Translation Courses
FRT 210: French-Language Literature in Translation: “Between Africa and France: Contemporary Francophone Literature of Migration and Displacement”
MWF 9-9:50 / Prof. Tarte
In 2010s Paris, undocumented immigrants work as security guards in Sephora on the Champs-Élysées and offer witty observations of Parisian shoppers and of their own situation. A young boy in Senegal dreams of joining his sister in France and becoming a famous soccer player. In post-WWII Morocco, two French-Moroccan newlyweds face domestic challenges that are mirrored by the country’s tensions between French colonists and Moroccan citizens. In these stories and others, contemporary Francophone writers explore the lives of Africans at home and abroad. In this discussion-based course, we will read and analyze books (in English translation) by French-language writers whose works and lives move between Africa and France. Together, we will examine themes such as migration and displacement, the situation of the post-colonial immigrant in contemporary France, family and coming-of-age, and identity.
*Please note: FRT 210 fulfills the WFU Division II (Literatures) requirement. This FRT 210 course also fulfills the Studies in World Cultures (SWC) 21cs requirement.
**All French in Translation (FRT) courses are taught in English. Students who declare a French Studies major or minor in fall 2026 or later may count one FRT course as a major/minor elective.