French

Mais oui! French remains an important language for diplomatic and professional use … not to mention for sampling some of the best cuisine in the world! At North Central College, you can develop your French skills and become more knowledgeable about French-speaking areas around the globe. 

Do you like lively classroom conversations and debates? You’ll get plenty of that in your French classes! Want to find additional ways to practice your French? Check out the services of the Language Resource Center.

You’ll also find plenty of informal opportunities to help you develop your French skills. We schedule language tables, le Cercle français (French club), field trips to French-related sites in the Chicago area, and community events. Spending time with exchange students from France and other francophone areas will help you build your language skills. Venez voir!

Every year we send several students on our exchange program to Angers, France, where they study side-by-side with French students at the Université Catholique de l’Ouest. It’s a great way to perfect your abilities in French, experience French culture and meet new friends. We invite all our French students to participate in study abroad opportunities.

Explore the French-Speaking World with us!

Since 2006, North Central French students have traveled to France and to Morocco with our faculty members in French. You can be part of the next group to go!  

 

French, B.A.

For additional programs and courses in this department, see World Languages and Cultures.

The French major consists of a minimum of 33 credit hours (FREN or FRST), at or above the 201-level. Of the 33 credit hours, at least 28 credit hours must come from courses taught in French (FREN) and five credit hours must be at the 400-level including FREN 480. This major will automatically satisfy the elementary competency in a foreign language requirement of the B.A. degree as noted in the B.A. Degree Requirements within the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.

Note:

Students seeking teaching licensure must also complete the Secondary Education major requirements.

Students must demonstrate elementary competence in a foreign language. For more information, see the B.A. Degree Requirements within the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.

French and Francophone Studies, B.A.

For additional programs and courses in this department, see World Languages and Cultures.

A major in French and Francophone Studies (FRST) consists of at least 33 credit hours. This major will automatically satisfy the elementary competency in a foreign language requirement of the B.A. degree as noted in the  B.A. Degree Requirements within the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.

French Language

Four credit hours taught in French (FREN) at the 300-level. *

Note:

*FREN courses leading to the 300-level apply to the Additional Electives category below.

French Studies Courses

Seven credit hours from the following:

Additional Electives

Remaining credit hours from the following:

Note:

*With department approval, the following courses may also serve as electives:

  • GSST 390 - Gender and Sexuality in the World
  • GLST courses focusing on French or Francophone areas
  • POLS 300 - Great Decisions in International Politics
  • POLS 321 - Model United Nations

Note:

Students may not complete both the French major and the French and Francophone Studies major.

Students must demonstrate elementary competence in a foreign language. For more information, see the B.A. Degree Requirements within the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.

FREN 101 - Elementary French I

4.00 credit hours Introduction to the basic structures of the French language and cultural practices, with emphasis on listening and speaking. Taught in French.

 

 

FREN 102 - Elementary French II

4.00 credit hours Continued introduction to the French language and cultures of the Francophone regions of the world. Language skills expand to include expression beyond the present tense. Taught in French.

Prerequisite(s): FREN 101.

 

 

FREN 201 - Intermediate French I

4.00 credit hours Development of reading, writing, listening and speaking skills at the intermediate level in the context of an exploration of the cultures of the French-speaking world. Taught in French.

Prerequisite(s): FREN 102.

 

 

FREN 202 - Intermediate French II

4.00 credit hours Continued development of reading, writing, speaking and listening skills at the intermediate level in French, in the context of an exploration of the cultures of the French-speaking regions of the world. Taught in French.

Prerequisite(s): FREN 201.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Humanities.
iCon(s): Thinking Globally.

 

 

FREN 250 - French Composition & Communication

4.00 credit hours Communicative approach to develop written proficiency in descriptive and narrative prose. Attention given to awareness of rhetorical techniques and cultural context.

Prerequisite(s): FREN 202.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Writing Intensive.

 

 

FREN 293 - French Enrichment

1.00-2.00 credit hours Individual projects related to other courses that support the development of proficiencies in French. Taught in French.

Prerequisite(s): Instructor consent.

 

 

FREN 295 - Practicum

1.00-4.00 credit hours Students assist faculty with pedagogical or other projects in French. Activities vary according to the project needs and student background, but may include such work as the preparation of materials for language learning or assisting faculty through bibliographic research.

 

 

FREN 297 - Internship

0.00-12.00 credit hours

 

 

FREN 299 - Independent Study

1.00-12.00 credit hours

 

 

FREN 320 - French-English Translation

2.00 credit hours Study of translation theories and their application to the translation of texts between French and English. Taught in French.

Prerequisite(s): FREN 250.

 

 

FREN 325 - Survey of French Literature

4.00 credit hours A survey of significant works of French and Francophone literature. Taught in French.

Prerequisite(s): FREN 250.

 

 

FREN 326 - French Poetry

2.00 credit hours Analysis of the form, content and context of significant poetic works from French and Francophone traditions. Taught in French.

Prerequisite(s): FREN 250.

 

 

FREN 327 - French Women Writers

4.00 credit hours An introduction to the works of women writers from Medieval France to contemporary France and Francophone cultures. Taught in French.

Prerequisite(s): FREN 250.

 

 

FREN 330 - History of France

4.00 credit hours A survey of the development of French culture and civilization from its origins to the beginning of the Fifth Republic. Taught in French.

Prerequisite(s): FREN 250.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Humanities.
iCon(s): Experiencing Place.

 

 

FREN 331 - Contemporary France

4.00 credit hours The institutions and social structures of France from the establishment of the Fifth Republic to the present. Taught in French.

Prerequisite(s): FREN 250.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Social Science.
iCon(s): Engaging Civic Life.

 

 

FREN 370 - The Maghreb

4.00 credit hours A survey of the literature, theory and cultural production in French from the Maghreb. Taught in French.

Prerequisite(s): FREN 250.

 

 

FREN 390 - Topics

4.00 credit hours Taught in French.

Prerequisite(s): FREN 250.

 

 

FREN 397 - Internship

0.00-12.00 credit hours

 

 

FREN 399 - Independent Study

1.00-12.00 credit hours

 

 

FREN 420 - Medieval French Literature

4.00 credit hours A study of authors and texts from various periods in the French Middle Ages. Taught in French.

Prerequisite(s): One 300-level french course.

 

 

FREN 430 - Contemporary French Novel

4.00 credit hours A study of the contemporary novel in France and its social contexts. Taught in French.

Prerequisite(s): One 300-level french course.

 

 

FREN 440 - Vichy France

4.00 credit hours A study of France under the Nazi occupation in World War II, including topics on collaboration, rescue and resistance, survival and memory. Taught in French.

Prerequisite(s): One 300-level french course.

 

 

FREN 480 - Capstone Portfolio

1.00 credit hours Preparation of a collection of documents including revised work from prior courses, reflections on the student’s growth as a French major and intercultural questions. Additional assignments may be included but the portfolio must represent all five skills and include evidence of the student’s extracurricular participation in the French program. Required for the French major. Taught in French.

 

 

FREN 490 - Topics

4.00 credit hours Prerequisite(s): One 300-level french course.

 

 

FREN 497 - Internship

0.00-12.00 credit hours

 

 

FREN 499 - Independent Study

1.00-12.00 credit hours

Enrich your French Experience at North Central

Sur le campus. At North Central we know you want opportunities to use your French in real-life situations. Le Cercle français (French club) meets weekly to sponsor activities related to French themes. In conjunction with our courses, we schedule occasional trips to take advantage of French-related sites in the Chicago area. Additionally, the presence of French-speaking international students provides you with almost daily opportunities to use your French on campus.

A l’étranger. Every year there are options to travel abroad and earn credit for North Central while studying in French-speaking environments. For instance, we send several students on our exchange program to Angers, France, where they study side-by-side with French students at a French university. It’s a great way to perfect your abilities in French, experience French culture, and meet new friends. In recent years we have also sent students to study in Sénégal, in West Africa.

A quick, short-term way to experience French or francophone culture is to participate in one of the travel/study programs offered during D-Term. These are short, focused courses led by French professors to allow you to develop your understanding of cultural topics on site. Previous trips have gone to France and to Morocco! Venez avec nous!