Intermediate French II

Catalog description

FREN 0400 is the second half of a two-semester intermediate sequence designed to help you attain a level of proficiency to allow you to function comfortably in a French-speaking environment. You are expected to have already learned the most basic grammatical structures in elementary French. This course invites you to listen to the stories of the French-speaking population outside the borders of France. The figure of the griot, the West African storyteller and guardian of cultural heritage, will be our guide as we learn about the history and traditions of Senegal and Martinique. We will explore the cities of Dakar and Fort-de-France, investigating the diverse perspectives and voices reflected in historical sites, folktales, poetry, film, art, and music. These authentic materials will introduce you to important values and customs, and engage you to consider issues related to identity, the role of education, the influence of Western ideas on non-Western cultures, and the use of oral tradition to preserve cultural heritage. This course is specifically designed to develop your communicative competence as well as your writing and reading skills through the in-depth review and practice of essential grammatical points (past tenses, subjunctive, passive voice, and the passé simple). Finally, as you listen to the stories from this part of the world, you will have the opportunity to participate in a storytelling project to recount your own personal experiences and preserve the stories that have helped shape the person you are!