French 210 : Intermediate French
French conversation through films
Instructor : Elodie Phan
Office : Building 5, Room 161
Hours : 11h30-12h30 MWF, and by appt.
Emails : ElodieP@spokanefalls.edu
Phone : 509.533.3598; 509.533.3892
COURSE DESCRIPTION: French 210 is for students wishing to develop their French conversational skills up to an intermediate level, through class discussions and short oral presentations. The topics are oriented toward French and Francophone cultures (politics, economics, society, European Union, news, etc.), and current events. Lab hours in the ILC are recommended. This quarter, the class will focus on developing French conversation and comprehension skills through movies, discussions on current interests and events in French culture and society. At the first meeting, class participants will have the opportunity to design the course topic discussions based on, but not limited to, the following topics of discussion: politics, economics, European Union, currency, family values, stereotypes, history, geography, media, French cultural and literary traditions.
COURSE OUTCOMES :
Ø World Views : Students will articulate their own cultural beliefs and values, recognize the influence of culturally based assumptions on perception and behavior, identify common and dissimilar values and/or patterns in aesthetic expressions such as literature, music, and film, demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the differences in cultures and societies (between France and the U.S., and in all their diversity).
Ø Responsibility : Students will develop the ability to recognize, understand, and accept ownership of their learning.
Ø Communications : Students will observe, read, and listen critically with openness, identify and use new vocabularies, organize information to develop and support their own ideas, logically articulate their own position on an issue, effectively communicate with varied audiences for a variety of purposes : from simple conversation to problem-solving.
Ø Analysis/problem solving : Students will access, evaluate and apply information from a variety of sources and in a variety of contexts.
The material and methods of this course encourage students to develop and practice their skills in all of these areas. However, the abilities that we will emphasize in this course are Communications and World Views.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOME:
1. Increase vocabulary and understanding in the domain of politics, economics, geography, media and telecommunications.
2. Develop listening and speaking skills to increase fluency;
3. Communicate in French on areas of politics, economics, European Union, currency, family values, stereotypes, history, geography, media, French cultural and literary traditions;
4. Make accurate observations and criticisms on American and French/Francophone cultures;
5. Observe and appreciate the differences in the cultures;
6. Develop awareness of cultural diversity in the French and Francophone cultures, understand how culturally biased assumptions will influence one’s perception and behavior, and understand how culture(s) can influence our ways of dealing with problems and societal conflicts;
7. Develop knowledge and understanding of the French and Francophone attitudes towards class, sexual orientation, religion, age, and sex;
8. Demonstrate an understanding of the varying cultural customs, values and mores of the French and Francophone world;
9. Draw justifiable inferences about other cultures and ethnicities without stereotyping or ethnocentric bias;
10. Analyze global social, political, and economic issues from their own and the French/Francophone perspectives;
11. Develop the ability to recognize, analyze and evaluate diverse perspectives and issues in order to articulate and understand the interconnected local and global concerns.
FORMAT OF EVALUATION: Students will be evaluated/graded based on the following criteria:
1. Attendance: 25%
2. Projects/Presentations/Active participation : 50%
3. Final interview : 25%
Please be punctual.
Projects/presentations: Each student will be responsible for leading a discussion session on a topic of their choice (with approval of the instructor).