Summer and Fall 2022 French Course Descriptions

Course Number, Title, and Code

FREN 101-41 (CRN 31079)

SON – meets MTWR 10am-12:30pm online

FREN 112-41 (CRN 30180)

SON – meets MTWR 10am-12:30pm online

FREN 121-41 (CRN 30181)

AON – meets asynchronously, online

FREN 369-41 (CRN 30766)

MLLT 367-41 (CRN 30769)

FREN 515-41 (CRN 30768)

Conducted in English, this course offers training in the special computer and technology skills as well as research methodology and techniques expected of today’s technology-driven translator, with special emphasis on computer-assisted translation (CAT). Students are not only exposed to key concepts of CAT-based approaches to translation, but also to the technological tools that aid in the automation and streamlining of certain translation tasks using computers and specialized terminology databases and software.

Notes

[CRN 40676]

[CRN 40677]

[CRN 40678]

The main goal of the course is learning the mechanics and application of relevant grammatical points into short writing assignments. The course aims not only at gaining a mastery of French grammar, but also at improving reading comprehension and expanding vocabulary. A variety of grammatical concepts and rules will be introduced and taught through reading authentic texts. At the end of the course, students will be able to incorporate grammar, vocabulary, and sentence syntax into their own writing and become more adept at self-editing. The course will be conducted in French.

Prerequisite(s): FREN 121 or departmental approval

Required for all 3 French major concentrations, LBC, and minor

FREN 205: Perfecting French Pronunciation [45163]

La Phonétique, . Weekly lecture and lab sessions including  transcriptions, articulationrhythm. accentuation, and intonation to study the sounds of  French to achieve perfect pronunciation.

Prerequisite(s): FREN 112 or departmental approval.

Required for all 3 French major concentrations; elective for minor; does not count for LBC

Not appropriate for native speakers or some heritage speakers of French. See Dr Loysen for advising.

[CRN 45164]

In this course, we will watch and discuss Francophone African and Caribbean films as a window into the Francophone world outside the developed world, with a view to exploring the various cultural and civilizational themes and issues tackled therein. Because of the various embattled situations in which Africa and its formerly enslaved Diaspora find themselves as a result of French colonization, it will be interesting to see how France-colonized African and Caribbean societies, and the filmmakers from these societies, cope with the issues of colonialism, acculturation, identity, exile, tradition, change, modernity, gender, class, politics, and culture in their respective postcolonial contexts.

Prerequisite(s): FREN 121 or departmental approval. Co-sat with FRIN 289 (for non French majors and minors).

Elective for all 3 French major concentrations and minor; does not count for LBC; satisfies Gen Ed: Global Cultural Perspectives; satisfied World Cultures graduation requirement

[40679]

This course covers methods, techniques, and problems involved in translating from French into English, and English into French. It integrates theory and skill building with content that covers (but is not limited to) the following five disciplines:  journalism, politics, literature, economics/business, and movie subtitling.  Students will receive individual attention, immediate feedback, and intensive mentoring from their professor, greatly accelerating their development. While the course offers authentic practice opportunities, it also examines vocabulary, comparative sentence structure, grammar, and syntax, and how best to communicate ideas and imagery in both languages. Students will also begin their study of translation theory, exploring concepts such as: translation units; borrowing; calque; literal translation; degrees of freedom; translation loss; cultural issues; compensation; and more.

Prerequisite(s): FREN 203 or departmental approval.

Required for French Translation major; elective for French Civ, Education, and LBC majors; also satisfies French minor and the Graduation Writing Requirement

FREN 352: 20th Century French Literature

[CRN 45181]

It has recently been said by poet / critic Marjorie Perloff that modernism refuses to recede from the forefront of the literary and visual arts, that despite an inherent racism, sexism, and elitism, and our increasing awareness of those attributes, it simply remains.  Just what is “modernism after post-modernism” (as Perloff has termed it)?  More specifically, what does that mean in relation to mid-to-late twentieth century French literature – in particular, the novel – and even the novel of the 21st century?  The objective of this course is to explore the work of French writers of the last 50-60 years with a number of questions in mind:  Why, for example, did French literature become profoundly interdisciplinary, allying itself very closely at a moment in time with philosophy?  What were the revolutionary motivations that impelled mid-20th century modernist texts and, subsequently, those that became known as post-modern only to retain a fundamentally modernist aesthetic? What are the most compelling directions being taken by French novelists at this time?  These are some of the questions we will investigate in this course.

Literature elective for all 3 major concentrations; elective for French minor; does not count for LBC

[CRN 45165]

Conducted in French. Students will engage in close textual analysis in order to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of various translation approaches. They will also develop their cultural sensibilities so as to be attuned to target audiences’ needs, which vary not only according to geography, but also according to education, gender, age, social background, etc. Bringing this cultural awareness into close contact with textual analysis and awareness of genre, students will then develop their proficiency in translating across genres and areas of specialization, paying attention to textual purpose, generic conventions, specialized jargons, etc. Students will be sensitized to how cultural issues influence the task of translation. Students will combine theoretical readings on the issue of the interaction of culture, linguistics, and translation with textual/translation analyses organized around thematic units.

[CRN 45166]

This online course offers students the tools to build essential spoken language conversion skills, relevant knowledge of medical subjects, and professional protocol and ethics. It enables students to prepare for work as on-site or remote interpreters in community-based settings that include medical offices, hospitals, and clinics. Students will learn techniques to sharpen their listening skills and enhance their short-term memory, as well as basic interpreting abilities such as shadowing and note-taking. Practice will include the most common delivery modes, such as consecutive and simultaneous interpreting, as well as terminology-building exercises.

[CRN 45167]

It has recently been said by poet / critic Marjorie Perloff that modernism refuses to recede from the forefront of the literary and visual arts, that despite an inherent racism, sexism, and elitism, and our increasing awareness of those attributes, it simply remains.  Just what is “modernism after post-modernism” (as Perloff has termed it)?  More specifically, what does that mean in relation to mid-to-late twentieth century French literature – in particular, the novel – and even the novel of the 21st century?  The objective of this course is to explore the work of French writers of the last 50-60 years with a number of questions in mind:  Why, for example, did French literature become profoundly interdisciplinary, allying itself very closely at a moment in time with philosophy?  What were the revolutionary motivations that impelled mid-20th century modernist texts and, subsequently, those that became known as post-modern only to retain a fundamentally modernist aesthetic? What are the most compelling directions being taken by French novelists at this time?  These are some of the questions we will investigate in this course.

For students who have completed at  least 20 credits of the MA in Professional French Translation. By permission only. Contact Dr. Emery.

Please contact Dr. Emery for advisement