Dream Course

Here is a dream syllabus for a 300 level French course that I would love to teach one day about cultural studies in modern France.



Modern French Cultural Studies
3:00 Tues. & Thurs.
Julia Camp
Office Hours 10:00 M-F

Course Objectives
The objective of the course is to gain a better understanding and appreciation for modern French culture, dealing primarily with the time period post WWII to the present day. Using as a primary text the brilliant book Pas si fous ces Français! ( 6o Million French People Can’t Be Wrong), by Jean-Benoit Nadeau and Julie Barlow, we will come to understand French culture beyond the common stereotypes. A strong emphasis will be placed on conversational French in class and students should walk away from the course with an improved ease of speaking in this foreign language. A few times throughout the course we will have native French-speaking visitors to the class who will share their expertise on modern French culture. In addition to the primary book for the course, we will learn about current events and issues in France through weekly presentations by students (see next section). Cultural comparisons will be encouraged to gain a better understanding of the world and what can be learned from French culture or American culture as the case may be.

Grading & Assignments
Every student will be responsible for two short presentations throughout the course. For these presentations the student must select an article or video from a major French news source and present it to the class, putting the article in context for the class and explaining the significance of the event or idea and relating it to course material as appropriate. These presentations should only be approximately 5 minutes in length and will take place at the beginning of each class period. Reading assignment must be finished before class. I will provide related discussion questions for each reading assignment, which you will be expected to have notes on for class/group/partner discussion. There will be two tests and one final exam.
Participation/ Attendance 30%
Oral Presentations 15%
Exam I 15%
Exam II 15%
Final 25%

Week 1
T Introduction to the course.
Th Chapter 1
Week 2
T Chapter 2
Th Chapter 3. Visitor: Professor of Politics, France
Week 3
T Chapter 4-5
Th Chapter 6. Exam I
Week 4
T Chapter 7-8. Visitors: Study abroad students from France
Th Ch. 9
Week 5
T Ch. 10-11
Th Ch. 12
Week 6
T Ch. 13-14
Th Ch. 15. Visitor (via skype) columnist and blogger: David Lebowitz
Week 7
T Ch. 16-17
Th Ch. 18. Exam II
Week 8
T Ch. 19-20
Th Ch. 21. Visitor: French chef, M. B of local restaurant “A”. Come with an appetite!
Week 9
T Ch. 22-23
Th Ch. 24
Week 10
T Ch. 25-26.
Th Ch. 27

Final, Date TBA