Undergraduate French Courses

Undergraduate Courses

FRN 111 Beginning French I (A,R)

Provides students with an active command of basic French in four skill areas (speaking, writing, reading, and listening) and increases cultural awareness of the French-speaking world. 3 Cr.

FRN 112 Beginning French II (A,R)

Provides further development of language proficiency in four skill areas (speaking, writing, reading, and listening) as well as increased familiarity with the culture of the French-speaking world. 3 Cr. Every Semester.

FRN 211 Intermediate French I (A,R)

Prerequiste: FRN 112. Course provides further refinement of language skills (speaking, writing, reading, and listening) and concentrates on increasing students' ability to communicate across a broad range of cultural situations. 3 Cr. Every Semester.

FRN 212 Intermediate French II (A,R)

Continuation of FRN 211. Course provides further refinement of lanuage skills (speaking, writing, reading, and listening) and concentrates on increasing students' ablility to communicate across a broad range of cultural situations. 3 Cr. Every Semester.

FRN 213 Accelerated Intermediate French (A,R)

Covers the concepts of the intermediate sequence (211/212) with an emphasis on preparing students for upper division courses. Provides further refinement of language skills (speaking, writing, reading, and listening) and concentrates on increasing students’ ability to communicate across a broad range of cultural situations. 3-4 Cr. Every Semester.

FRN 300 French for Global Business (A)

French for Global Business will build students’ intercultural competence-from the basics of understanding core concepts of culture to the complex work of negotiating identity and resolving cultural differences. The program covers traditional business topics, as well as career practices, communication skills, and cultural concepts particular to French businesses. Students will acquire valuable vocabulary and insights that will improve their understanding of the French and Canadian business worlds. 3 Cr.

FRN 301 Haiti The Most Important Country in the World (A,I,Y)

Haiti is the home of the only successful slave revolt in history and this highly interdisciplinary course analyzes its history, society, music, film, art, dance and religious practices. Evaluates French and American colonization and exploitation of the country in addition to its contentious relationship with the Dominican Republic. Contextualizes Zombies, which originated as manifestations of post-slavery fear. Note: All course work will be completed in French for French credit. Crosslisted with: FCE301. 3 Cr.

FRN 302 Advanced French Grammar (A)

Designed to expand active vocabulary, including idioms, as well as modern usage as the basis for oral and written language. It examines linguistic and cultural contrasts as reflected in the language. Emphasis will be placed on correct written expression. 3 Cr.

FRN 312 French Civilization to 1945 (A)

Beginning in prehistoric times and ending with World War II, students will explore artistic, social,political, and cultural events which have produced a rich and varied French culture. Includes reading of short literary texts and use of audiovisual materials. 3 Cr.

FRN 320 Diction and Comprehension (A)

Practice in hearing and producing French speech sounds. Emphasis on accuracy to produce native-like intonations of words and cadence of connected speech and listening comprehension of a variety of French accents. 3 Cr.

FRN 321 Introduction to French Literature (A)

Introduction of elements of literary genres, fiction, poetry and drama used by representative writers of French literature. Presentation of films to illustrate various genres. 3 Cr.

FRN 323 French Composition (A)

Provides active class discussion on a variety of topics geared to the readings in the course. Allows for practice with vocabulary, idiomatic expressions and grammatical structures. Requires weekly compositions. Offered only in a study abroad context. 3 Cr.

FRN 324 Reading French (A)

Improves reading comprehension and introduces rudiments of written and oral textual analysis. Includes readings, brief at first, which will increase in length and difficulty throughout the semester. Includes short written assignments, oral presentation and a final exam. 3 Cr.

FRN 325 France Today (A)

An introduction to France, its people and its institutions. Concentrates on France after World War II: the school system, political and cultural life, the economy, family life. Contrastive analysis of French and American cultures. Continued practice in oral and written French. 3 Cr.

FRN 333 French Hip-Hop and Rock: How Music Mirrors Society (A,I)

Traces the development of popular music in France and the manner in which it reflects societal change. Contextualizes cultural transformation from the youth revolt of the 60’s to the modern day issues of racial/religious integration. Studies the effect of globalization and increasing influence of America on French mainstream culture. Students will listen to a wide variety of songs, analyze their lyrics in translation and view video selections from television and cinema. 3 Cr.

FRN 340 Hip-Hop Music and Culture (A,I)

Crosslisted: with FCE340. Historical and societal analysis of Hip-Hop culture as it moved from its humble beginnings in the south Bronx in the 1970s to become a national and international movement with an ever growing influence on popular consciousness across the globe. Highly interdisciplinary course that covers music, dance, art, film, social revolutions, economic inequality, film, television, gender, class and race. 3 Cr.

FRN 350 Conversing with French Cinema (A,Y)

This film-based course builds upper division students’ language skills through engaging activities that move students from basic comprehension to analysis and synthesis while reinforcing communication and critical thinking. Emphasis will be placed on discourse strategies, range of expression, and vocabulary acquisition. A review of French grammar will expand knowledge of idioms and improve accuracy. 3 Cr. Fall.

FRN 351 Compose Yourself: Writing in French (A)

This course teaches upper division students to write clear expository French with correct syntax, clear organization, and with some degree of sophistication in the use of French vocabulary. Numerous compositions will be written covering a variety of modes and using a process approach. A review of French grammar will facilitate accuracy and range of expression. 3 Cr.

FRN 352 French Civilization (A)

From prehistoric cave paintings to the end of World War II, this class goes beyond names and dates to study how literary texts reflect the socio-cultural reality found in French history books. Seeks to immerse the student in the sights and sounds of France through the history of art, architecture, and music. Regular tastings of French cheese will equally engage the senses while simultaneously teaching geography. 3 Cr. Every Semester.

FRN 355 France Under the Fifth Republic (A)

Couscous: A popular North African dish now widely available in France; Coca-cola: An icon of American culture recognized around the world; Camembert, a symbol of Frenchness. This course will address questions of identity. What is Frenchness? To what extent is France a melting-pot? Examines whether globalization, immigration, and the European Union threaten the French language and the cultural heritage that has made France a privileged nation. 3 Cr.

FRN 369 French Theater: From Farce to Comédie (A)

Covers 500 years of funny French plays from the Medieval Farce all the way through 20th century Absurdist anti-plays. Analyzes how the whimsical façade of comedy is always linked to more serious societal and cultural movements. 3 Cr.

FRN 371 Community Service Learning in French (B)

This course provides French majors the opportunity to participate in Community Service Learning (CLS) programs that apply language skills outside the classroom. CLS aims to connect the classroom with the local French-Speaking community in a way that is mutually beneficial to all participants: students, faculty, and the community partners. The community can contribute in multiple and meaningful ways to the student learning objectives and Brockport students can contribute knowledge and skills towards developing sustainable solutions to community-identified needs. Civic engagement also allows students to make positive impact in local and global communities. 1-3 Cr. By Arrangement.

FRN 399 Independent Study in French (A)

Content to be identified in consultation with the instructor/sponsor and in accordance with the procedures of the Office of Academic Advisement prior to registration. 1-3 Cr. Every Semester.

FRN 401 Culture Wars? France and the United States (A,I)

Analyzes the complex, plural and uneven nature of cultural globalization using France and the United State as case studies. Examines the history of cultural globalization, the nature of culture, the contribution of the media and contemporary information and communications technologies to cultural globalization, the emergence of global culture , globalization and national culture, globalization and cultural conflict and the impact of globalization on attitudes and lifestyles. 3 Cr.

FRN 404 Advanced French Grammar and Conversation (A)

The goal of Advanced French Grammar and Conversation is to improve communicative competence through the study of grammatical structures used in context. Students will increase their ability to express themselves accurately and comprehensibly in conversation and use grammatical knowledge practically and critically across a range of communicative situations. 3 Cr. Odd Spring.

FRN 450 French Studies (A)

Closely studies a specific topic in French/Francophone language, civilization, or culture. Requires practice in oral and written French at the advanced level. 3 Cr.

FRN 453 The French Female Gaze: Women Writers and Filmmakers (A)

Through an exploration of texts and films authored by women, introduces students to a range of leading contemporary French-speaking writers and directors. Students examine recurrent themes and forms in recent women’s writing and filmmaking, including the representation of identity; the concept of origins; the intersection of class, race and gender; sexual repression and/or liberation; and the textual and cinematic strategies underpinning these considerations. 3 Cr.

FRN 454 French Literature I: Texts and Context (A)

Examines texts by major authors from the Middle Ages to the Revolution. Emphasis is placed on an in-depth reading of texts (including prose, poetry, and theatre) with the purpose of expanding vocabulary and improving writing skills. French history will provide the backdrop to help students understand the social forces at play in the periods under study. 3 Cr.

FRN 456 Literature and Cultures of the Francophone World (A)

Through an exploration of short stories, poems, novels, plays or films written by authors from France, Africa, North America, and/or the Caribbean; examines the framework of the International Organization of La Francophone (IOF) within the context of Francophone postcoloniality. Themes include (colonial) education, the use and promotion of the French language, cultural and national identity, immigration and women’s roles as they evolve from colonialism to today. 3 Cr.

FRN 457 French Thought in Social Contexts (A)

A collage of literature, philosophy, and history gives students a broad perspective of major intellectual currents in their social context. Readings will be selected from early periods to the 18th century. 3 Cr.

FRN 458 Romanticsm to Existentialism: French Literary Movements (A)

Examines texts by major authors from the Napoleonic era to the recent past. Emphasis is placed on close reading of the texts (including prose, poetry, and theatre) with the purpose of expanding vocabulary and improving writing skills. The course is also designed to acquaint students with the social circumstances that determined the aesthetic movements that marked the period: romanticism, realism, symbolism, surrealism, and existentialism. 3 Cr.

FRN 499 Independent Study in French (A)

Arranged in consultation with the instructor-sponsor in accordance with the procedures of the Office of Academic Advisement prior to registration. 1-3 Cr. Every Semester.