Florida International University – Dept. of Modern Languages Fall

Florida International University – Dept. of Modern Languages Fall 2014
FRE 3410 Advanced French Conversation (3 credits) Section 01
Tuesdays & Thursdays GC 278B 5:00-6:15 PM
Dr. María Antonieta García Office: DM 495-D ph. 305-348-3521
Email: [email protected]
Office hours: Mondays 2:00-5:00 PM and by appointment
Course description: To develop oral proficiency skills and a greater awareness of French culture.
The pre-requisite for this class is FRE 2241 or equivalent (FIU catalog).
This course has been redesigned thanks to a Wolfsonian Infusion Grant made possible with
funding provided by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The purpose of this grant is to provide
opportunities for students to engage with the museum’s collections.
Course Objectives & Learning Goals: You will bring your oral proficiency to an advanced level in
the French language while acquiring a deeper understanding of French culture. You will
accomplish these goals by viewing and discussing selected French films on varied topics and
periods in history, by reading related material, by attending exhibits at the Frost Art Museum ,
and by visiting the Wolfsonian Museum with your class to view and research French documents.
You will then incorporate these newly learned concepts to class discussions and presentations.
At the end of the semester you will be able to communicate your ideas and opinions with ease
and to hold discussions on several aspects of the French culture and society.
Classroom etiquette: Because this is a conversation class, perfect attendance and punctuality
are essential. You are expected to be in class and to be prepared for class. Please do not hold
conversations with classmates when the instructor or another student is speaking. Also refrain
from participating in any other distractive behavior. ALL ELECTRONICS MUST BE TURNED OFF
DRING THE ENTIRE SESSION. Your undivided attention in class is a must and an atmosphere of
mutual respect is in order. Please try to be on time and remain for the entire period: arriving
late and/or leaving early is a distraction to your classmates who are trying to listen to a lecture
or participate in a discussion. If you must be absent one day, you are still responsible for any
written or oral assignment given for the next day you come to class. You may want to keep in
contact with a couple of reliable classmates who will let you know exactly what you missed and
what is expected from you in case you’re not able to contact me immediately.
Required Textbook: Cinema for French Conversation by Anne-Christine Rice, 4th ed. (2013)
ISBN: 978-1-58510-636-3
Course structure: Our class discussions will revolve mainly around four contemporary
films which are our text, at least one (1) visit to the Wolfsonian Museum and three (3) visits to
the Frost Art Museum. The films will be shown on campus in and outside of class. One copy of
each film has been put in Reserve for you in the Sound & Image Library (GL 5th floor). Also,
Netflix and the Miami-Dade Public Libraries own copies of the four films studied. You may also
be able to access these films online.
Selected Readings/Viewings to inform your class discussions:
--- Le dîner des cons and pp. 371-375 from our textbook
---Joyeux Noël and pp. 97-100 from our textbook
--- Molière and pp. 328-335 from our textbook
--- Le dernier métro and pp. 351-358 and pp. 240-244 from our textbook.
For this fourth and last discussion you will have one (1) extra film to watch from the following
choices (in Reserve for you in the 5th floor Sound and Image Library)
--- Indigènes
PN1997.2.163 2007
---Nuit et brouillard
D804.3.N847 2008
---Lacombe Lucien
FF1518-1521
Quizzes/Contrôles: There will be a total of 12 short written quizzes on the films studied. This
activity will take only a few minutes at the very beginning of class and if you’re absent or late
you will miss it. This will be my attendance check. NO MAKE-UPS will be possible but the two
lowest grades will be dropped.
Oral presentations: You will give two (2) oral presentations on a topic of your choice previously
approved by your instructor. Each presentation will last no more than 5 minutes (including
equipment preparation if needed), and will be evaluated based on vocabulary, use of language,
fluency, pronunciation and intonation, critical thinking and creativity.
For your first presentation you may choose a topic related to any of the first three films studied.
Your second and last presentation must be on a topic from our fourth film, Le dernier métro.
This final exposé will be informed by your research on the Wolfsonian documents that we’ll visit
together.
Activités culturelles: Since language cannot be separated from culture, you will participate in
three (3) of the many cultural activities organized by Le Cercle Français and Pi Delta Phi
throughout the semester.
A note to native/heritage speakers: Please be aware that having a native or near native
command of the language does not necessarily imply a good understanding of the material
studied: critical thinking is required when discussing any topic and being fluent in French doesn’t
guarantee a good grade in itself.
Evaluation Criteria: In this course your final grade will be based on the following:
Daily preparation and active participation*
25%
Quizzes/Contrôles
20%
2 oral présentations/exposés
50%
Activités culturelles
5%
*Absences/tardiness will affect your participation negatively.
Grading scale:
100-94 A
93-90 A79-77 C+
76-74 C
59- F
89-87 B+
73-70 C-
86-84 B
69-67 D+
83-80 B66-64 D
63-60 D-
PLAN DE TRAVAIL/ Please allow for changes, if necessary.
Août 26
28
Présentations
L’expression orale
Sept 2
4
Film 1: Le dîner des cons au GC 140 4h00-5h30. Class meets in GC 140
Contrôle #1. Discussion
9
11
Contrôle #2. Discussion
Contrôle #3. Discussion
16
18
Visite du Frost
Discussion de la visite du Frost. Exposés
23
25
Film 2 : Joyeux Noël au GC 150 3 :30-5 :30. Class meets in GC 150
Contrôle #4. Discussion. Exposés
30
Oct. 2
samedi 13 @ 12 PM : WOLFSONIAN
Contrôle #5. Discussion. Exposés
Contrôle #6. Discussion. Exposés
7
9
Visite du Frost
Discussion de la visite du Frost. Exposés
14
16
Film 3: Molière au GC 140 4h00-6h00. Class meets in GC 140
Contrôle #7. Discussion. Exposés
21
23
Contrôle #8. Discussion. Exposés
Contrôle #9. Discussion. Exposés
28
30
CREOLE DAY: Haitian film “Les amours d’un zombie”. Class meets in GC 140 4:00-6:00
Discussion. Exposés
Nov 4
6
samedi 11 @ 12 PM : WOLFSONIAN
11
13
Visite du Frost
Compte-rendu écrit de la visite du Frost
Court-métrages français (FRENCH WEEK) au GC 140, 5 -6 PM
vendredi 7 @ 12 PM : WOLFSONIAN
VETERANS’S DAY
Film 4 : Le dernier métro en classe
18
20
Le dernier métro en classe
Contrôle #10. Discussion. Exposés
25
27
Contrôle #11. Discussion. Exposés
THANKSGIVING
Déc 2
4
Contrôle #12. Discussion. Exposés
Derniers exposés
Quelques suggestions pour les exposés oraux
LE DÎNER DES CONS
1. Les origines du dîner des cons
2. le divorce en France
3. la France technologique
4. les registres de la langue
5. le rôle de la femme en France
6. la gestuelle
7. le classement des films en France et aux Etats-Unis
8. la théâtralité dans les films
9. la bourgeoisie
10. les humoristes français
11. le Festival de Cannes
12. l’intelligence vs. l’imbécillité
13. la France gastronomique
14. le rôle de l’art dans la vie
15. Francis Veber metteur en scène
JOYEUX NOËL
1. la Première guerre mondiale
2. la vie dans les tranchées
3. l’art DADA
4. le Surréalisme
5. la littérature à l’époque du film
6. la région des batailles aujourd’hui
7. le traitement des animaux à l’époque
8. les commémorations du 11 novembre
9. l’armistice de 1918
10. le Traité de Versailles
11. Versailles à travers le temps
12. la vie en France pendant la Première guerre mondiale
13. L’Alsace-Lorraine
14. la Belle Époque
15. Christian Carion metteur en scène
MOLIÈRE
1. Versailles au XVIIe siècle
2. les salons particuliers au XVIIe siècle
3. les classes sociales au XVIIe siècle
4. les acteurs à l’époque de Molière
5. l’Académie française
6. le cardinal Richelieu
7. la condition de la femme au XVIIe siècle
8. l’art de l’époque
9. la préciosité
10. la tragédie classique
11. la musique à la cour
12. la mode
13. la religion
14. la moquerie
15. Laurent Tirard metteur en scène
Le dernier métro
(Our visits to the Wolfsonian will provide you with several other ideas for oral presentations).
1. le régime de Vichy
2. la Résistance
3. la Libération
4. la vie sous l’Occupation
5. les juifs en France
6. le théâtre en France pendant l’Occupation
7. la propagande nazie
8. le maréchal Pétain
9. Adolf Hitler et le nazisme
10. l’art sous l’Occupation
11. le Vel d’Hiv
12. la vie dans les camps de concentration
13. les collaborateurs
14. les troupes nord-africaines
15. François Truffaut metteur en scène
A CODE OF HONOR IS IN EFFECT AT ALL TIMES: In this learning community, we are expected to
act as moral beings governed by a sense of ethics. In simple language, in this course you will not
cheat, misrepresent others' work as your own (plagiarism), or lie to the instructor or others.
Thank you.
Bon travail et bon courage!