What are the Assessment Courses?
There are two assessment courses included in the curriculum. The first, French
295: Intermediate Assessment consists of a battery of tests in
reading, writing, speaking, listening and culture that help you to determine
your strong and weak areas. The course will also advise you as to requirements
for the certificate, minor and major, as well as career possibilities,
study abroad opportunities, and other resourses for French study. You will
also learn about the required performance levels for French 496 and French
500 so that you can begin to collect materials for your Senior Portfolio.
Most students take this course at the end of their second-year of college
French (i.e. French 202 or French 250).
Transfer students should try to take this course as soon as possible.
The French 496: Senior Assessment helps to determine the
progress you've made during your French studies. There is another battery
of tests, as well as a Senior Portfolio that documents your abilities. Because
teachers must achieve the Advanced Level in all 5 skills, the French
500: Advanced Performance Assessment course is required for those
students who wish to avoid taking the C-SET (formerly, PRAXIS) examination
in order to enter a teacher credential program.
Course Descriptions
101: College French I : Emphasizes listening and speaking,
with reading and writing as supporting skills. Students learn to formulate
and respond to questions about their daily life, express preferences, as
well as master the ability to list, enumerate, identify, compare, agree and
disagree. (4 units)
102: College French II : Develops listening and active
speaking skills with further development of reading and writing skills while
expanding vocabulary of daily life. Ability to describe events in present,
near past and near future. Prerequisite: French 101 or consent of department.
(4 units)
150: Intermediate French : Develops listening and speaking
with emphasis on reading and writing skills. Students will be able to negotiate
routine social situations and some more complex tasks. Ability to recount
events in the past, present and future. Prerequisite: French 102 or consent
of department. (4 units)
200: Culture and Communication I : Intermediate-level course
in French culture and in the four language skills-- oral comprehension, speaking,
reading, and writing-- designed to prepare students for the required courses
in the core. Prerequisite: French 150 or equivalent. (4 units) PC
201: Culture and Communication II : Second-year course
to build proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing while enhancing
knowledge of the French-speaking world. May not be taken for credit by students
who have received credit for French 104 or French 212. Prerequisite: French
150 or 200 or consent of department. (4 units) PC
201: Culture and Communication III : Second-year course
to build proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing while enhancing
knowledge of the French-speaking world. Formerly French 214. Prerequisite:
French 201 or consent of department. (4 units) PC
250: Reading and Interpretation : Concentration on reading
and interprestive writing skills in preparation for upper-division coursework
in French. Prerequisite: French 202 or consent of department. (4 units)
295: Intermediate Assessment : Assessment of skills in
reading, writing, listening, speaking and knowledge of culture based on defined
performance standards. Students will be advised on how to improve skills
and will also begin their online assessment portfolios. Satisfactory completion
is required for enrollment in all upper-division French courses except French
303 and 307. Graded credit/no credit. (2 units) PC
303: Contemporary Spoken French : Practice of contemporary
spoken French through the reading and discussion of current topics in the
French-speaking world. Formerly French 340. Prerequisite: French 202 or consent
of department. (4 units)
307: Phonetics : In-depth study of the French sound system.
Oral practice and study of general principles of French phonology and dialectology.
Formerly French 306. Prerequisite: French 202 or consent of department. (4
units)
309: French for Translators : Extensive practice in precise
written translations from French into English and from English into French.
May be repeated for credit as topics change. Prerequisites: French 250 and
295 or consent of department. OL, FC
- A. General Translation (4 units)
- B. Commercial Translation. May be taken concurrently with 309C. (2 units)
- C. Technical Translation. May be taken concurrently with French 309B.
(2 units)
310: Approaches to Literature : Introduction to a variety
of approaches to literature: how to read,interpret, understand, and explain
a variety of literary genres (short stories, novels, poetry, theatre). Prerequisite:
French 295 or consent of department. French 350 strongly recommended. (4
units)
336: Francophone Women Writers : Exploration of selected
works by Francophone women writers, with emphasis on issues in women's lives.
Prerequisites: French 295; and 250 or 310; or consent of department. (4 units)
350: Advanced French Composition : Improvement of written
expression in a variety of genres, including narrative, correspondence, summaries
and research reports. Frequent writing required. Course may be repeated once
for credit. Formerly French 302. Prerequisites: French 250 and 295or consent
of department. (4 units) PC
360: Contemporary French Fiction : Exploration of fictional
works by Francophone authors published since 1980. Particular attention will
focus on how contemporary issues are revealed through these novels. Prerequisites:
French 295; and 250 or 310; or consent of department. (4 units) PC
370: Francophone Film and Culture : EAnalysis and historical
examination of Francophone cultures, literatures and themes through French-language
films. Prerequisites: French 295; and 250 or 310; or consent of department.
(4 units)
381: French Civilization I : Explores the national identity
of the French people, as reflected in the arts and social & politidcal
institutions from the Middle Ages to the Enlightenment. Prerequisites: French
295; and 250 or 310; or consent of department. (4 units) OL, FC
381: French Civilization II : Explores the national identity
of the French people, as reflected in the arts and social & politidcal
institutions in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Prerequisites: French
295; and 250 or 310; or consent of department. (4 units) PC (occasionally
OL, FC)
399: Community Service Project : Credit for performing
academically related tasks in such agencies as governmental, social service
and educationa institutions. May be repeated for a toal of six units. No
more than six units of credit for Community Service Project may be applied
toward degree requirements. Graded credit/no credit. Prerequisite: consent
of department. (Credit to be arranged: 1 or 2 units)
407: Comparative Linguistics: French/English : Application
of modern linguistic theory to the problems of second-language acquisition
in the areas of phonology, morphology and sytax. Emphasis on practical implementation
for teaching purposes. Prerequisites: French 295 and 307; or consent of department.
(4 units) OL, FC
409: Business French : Introduction to commercial institutions
and socioeconomic aspects of contemporary France; development of useful vocabulary
in commercial French. Prerequisites: French 295 or consent of department.
(4 units) OL, FC
411: Studies in the Novel : Analysis of major novels written
in French from various periods and Francophone cultures. Prerequisites: French
295; and 250 or 310; or consent of department. French 350 strongly recommended.
(4 units)
412: Studies in Theater : Reading and discussion of representative
dramatic works written in French from the seventeenth to the twentieth century.
Prerequisites: French 295; and 250 or 310; or consent of department. French
350 strongly recommended. (4 units)
413: Studies in Poetry : Introduction to poetry as a genre,
principles of French versification. Major contributions of French poets.
Prerequisites: French 295; and 250 or 310; or consent of department. French
350 strongly recommended. (4 units) FC
420: Special Topics in French Literature : Critical examination
of selected works in Francophone literature focusing on a particular theme
or literary movement. May be repeated for credit as topics change. Prerequisites:
French 295; and 250 or 310; or consent of department. French 350 strongly
recommended. (4 units)
450: Advanced Grammar Review : An intensive review of advanced
French grammar, including vocabulary building, proficiency in the written
and spoken language. Prerequisites: French 295 and 350; or consent of department.
French 350 strongly recommended. (4 units) OL
460: Contemporary France : Focus on society, politics and
institutions of the Fifth Republic. Prerequisites: French 295; and 250 or
310; or consent of department. French 350 strongly recommended. (4 units)
461: Contempoary Issues in the Francophone World : Issues
affecting the contempoary Francophone world, such as colonialism, regionalism,
women's issues, intellectual movements, education and the arts. Prerequisites:
French 295; and 250 or 310; or consent of department. French 350 strongly
recommended. (4 units)
470: Special Topics in Francophone Cultures : Critical
examination of selected Francophone works focusing on a particular aspect
of Francophone society or historical period. May be repeated for credit as
topics change. Prerequisites: French 295; and 250 or 310; and 381 or 382;
or consent of instructor. (Credit to be arranged: 2 or 4 units) (occasionally
OL, FC)
471: Culture and Identity : Exploration of how Francophone
literature, film, and histories can reveal cultural identities as well as
analyses of how authors express their identities through these media. Particular
attention will be paid to the development of post-colonial issues. Prerequisites:
French 295; and 250 or 310; and 381 or 382 or consent of instructor. (4 units)
FC
496: Senior Assessment :Assessment of proficiency and performance
in five skill areas-- listening, speaking, reading, writing and culture.
Submission of a student portfolio. Students who have not yet demonstrated
the required proficiencies in all areas will not pass the course. Additional
coursework may be assigned before the course can be repeated; therefore,
students should take this course at least two quarters prior to their anticipated
graduation. Students planning on entering a teacher credential program should
take French 500 concurrently. Graded credit/no credit. (2 units) PC
500: Advanced Performance Assessment :Students' performance
in the five skills assessments of French 496 and the portfolio will be mesured
according to the outcomes expectations for teacher credential candidates.
Minimum required performance in all areas is advanced-low with a required
overall average of advanced-mid. Students will have additional required items
in their assessment portfolios, including an offical oral proficiency interview
(additional fees required). Graded credit/no credit. Corequisite: French
496. (2 units) PC
514: Seminar in French Language, Literature or Civilization :Advanced
study of a single author, a literary movement, linguistics, or civilization.
May be repeated for credit as topics change. Prerequisite: one 400-level
French course. (4 units)
575: Internship : Internship offers students wishing to
pursue careers using French opportunities to observe and work with professionals
in the field. Requires 30 hours of work/study per unit of credit plus a report
documenting activities and reflecting upon experiences. Graded credit/no
credit. May be repeated for a maximum of 4 units. Prerequisites: French 295
and consent of department. French 350 strongly recommended. (Credit to be
arranged: 1-4 units)
