• FREN 101: Elementary French

    This course introduces the basic structures of the French language and everyday vocabulary in the context of common cultural situations. Students are exposed to all four skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking). Taught five days a week in French. Prerequisites:

    Not open to students whose previous French language experience exceeds the requirements of FREN 101.

     6 credits; No Exploration; offered Fall 2024 · Sarah Anthony, Éva Pósfay, Katharine Hargrave

  • FREN 102: Elementary French

    Building on the material covered in French 101, this course introduces complex sentences and additional verb tenses. Students apply the tools of narration in context through the reading of short literary and cultural texts. The focus of the course is on all four skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking). Taught five days a week in French. Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): FREN 101 with a grade of C- or better or equivalent.

     6 credits; No Exploration; offered Winter 2025 · Stephanie Cox, Sarah Anthony

  • FREN 103: Intermediate French

    This course continues the study of complex sentence structures and reviews basic patterns in greater depth, partly through the discussion of authentic short stories and cultural topics. Throughout the course, students practice all four skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking). Taught five days a week in French. Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): FREN 102 with a grade of C- or better or equivalent.

     6 credits; No Exploration; offered Fall 2024, Spring 2025 · Chérif Keïta, Sarah Anthony, Stephanie Cox

  • FREN 204: Intermediate French

    Through readings, discussions, analysis of media, and other activities, this course increases students’ skill and confidence in French. Continuing the emphasis on all modes of communication begun in French 101-103, French 204 focuses on Francophone cultures, contemporary issues, and an iconic text in French. Taught three days a week in French. Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): FREN 103 with a grade of C- or better or equivalent.

     6 credits; LP Language Requirement; offered Fall 2024, Winter 2025 · Sandra Rousseau, Katharine Hargrave, Éva Pósfay

  • FREN 206: Contemporary French and Francophone Culture

    Through texts, images and films coming from different continents, this class will present Francophone cultures and discuss the connections and tensions that have emerged between France and other French speaking countries. Focused on oral and written expression this class aims to strengthen students’ linguistic skills while introducing them to the academic discipline of French and Francophone studies. The theme will be school and education in the Francophone world. Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): FREN 204 with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 4 or better on the French Language and Culture AP exam or received a score of 6 or better on the French: Language B IB exam or equivalent.

     6 credits; IS, International Studies, LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis; offered Winter 2025 · Sandra Rousseau

  • FREN 208: French and Francophone Studies in Paris Program: Contemporary France: Cultures, Politics, Society

    This course seeks to deepen students’ knowledge of contemporary French culture through a pluridisciplinary approach, using multimedia (books, newspaper and magazine articles, videos, etc.) to generate discussion. It will also promote the practice of both oral and written French through exercises, debates, and oral presentations. Prerequisites:

    Acceptance in the Carleton OCS French and Francophone Studies in Paris Program and student has completed any of the following course(s): FREN 204 or higher level course with a grade of C- or better.

     6 credits; HI, Humanistic Inquiry, IS, International Studies; offered Spring 2025 · Sandra Rousseau

  • FREN 210: Coffee and News

    Keep up your French while learning about current issues in France, as well as world issues from a French perspective. Requirements include reading specific sections of leading French newspapers, (Le Monde, Libération, etc.) on the internet, and then meeting once a week to exchange ideas over coffee with a small group of students.

     Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): FREN 204 with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 4 or better on the French Language and Culture AP exam or received a score of 6 or better on the French: Language B IB exam or equivalent.

     2 credits; S/CR/NC; HI, Humanistic Inquiry, IS, International Studies; offered Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Spring 2025 · Éva Pósfay

  • FREN 231: Paris: The Eras Tour

    American-born entertainer, civil rights activist, and spy for the French Resistance, Josephine Baker famously sang, "I have two loves, my country and Paris." What attracts people to Paris and does the reality live up to the fantasy? Explore the evolution of Paris from the Gallo-Roman period to the present through art, literature, music, and film. Learn about its visitors and residents, from individuals buried in the Catacombs to a Jewish student at the Sorbonne during the Nazi occupation, and analyze how lived experiences are shaped by the politics, culture, and infrastructure of the cities we call home. Conducted in French.

     Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): FREN 204 with grade C- or better.

     not offered 2024–2025

  • FREN 236: Francophone Cinema and the African Experience

    Born as a response to the colonial gaze (ethnographic films, in particular) and ideological discourse, African cinema has been a determined effort to capture and affirm an African personality and consciousness. Focusing on film production from Francophone Africa and its diaspora over the past few decades, this course will address themes such as slavery, colonialism, and national identity, as well as the immigrant experience in France and in Quebec. It will provide an introduction to African symbolisms, world-views, and narrative techniques. Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): FREN 204 with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 4 or better on the French Language and Culture AP exam or received a score of 6 or better on the French: Language B IB exam or equivalent.

     6 credits; IS, International Studies, LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis; offered Fall 2024 · Chérif Keïta

  • FREN 244: Contemporary France and Humor

    This class is an overview of France’s social, cultural, and political history from 1939 onwards. The core units of this class (WWII, decolonization, May 1968, the Women’s liberation movement, the rise of the National Front, globalization, and immigration) will be studied through their comic representations. Sources for this class will include historical, political, literary and journalistic texts as well as photographs, paintings, videos, blogs, and music. The contrast between comical and non-comical texts and objects will highlight the uses and functions of humor in communicating about history, and illustrate the impact of comic discourses in everyday culture. In French. Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): FREN 204 with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 4 or better on the French Language and Culture AP exam or received a score of 6 or better on the French: Language B IB exam or equivalent.

     6 credits; IS, International Studies, LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis; not offered 2024–2025

  • FREN 245: Francophone Literature of Africa and the Caribbean

    Reading and discussion of literary works, with analysis of social, historical and political issues, with an emphasis on cultural and literary movements such as Négritude (El Negrismo, in Cuba) and their role in shaping ideas of self-determination, Nationalism and Independence in the French colonies of the Caribbean and Black Africa. We will read works by Aimé Césaire (Martinique), Léopold Sédar Senghor (Senegal), Léon Gontran Damas (French Guiana), Jacques Roumain (Haîti), Laye Camara (Guinea), Mongo Béti (Cameroun), Simone Schwartz-Bart (Guadeloupe) and Alain Mabanckou (Congo). Conducted in French. Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): FREN 204 with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 4 or better on the French Language and Culture AP exam or received a score of 6 or better on the French: Language B IB exam or equivalent.

     6 credits; IS, International Studies, LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis; offered Spring 2025 · Chérif Keïta

  • FREN 246: Contemporary Senegal

    This course is the second part of a two-term course sequece beginning with French 308. This course will be a critical examination of the Francophone label within the context of literature, education, history and daily life in Senegal. During the December break field trip, students will visit significant cultural sites in Dakar and Saint Louis and meet with writers, artists, and other major thought leaders. During the winter term, students will complete an independent project based on their experience in Senegal as part of this course. Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): FREN 308 with a grade of C- or better.

     6 credits; No Exploration; not offered 2024–2025

  • FREN 250: French History in 10 Objects

    This class is an overview of French history through the analysis of ten cultural objects borrowed from different socio-political, geographic and aesthetic spaces. Starting with the Gauls, this class will take students across centuries and ask how cultural productions (the Vix Krater, the Versailles Palace, the guillotine, etc.) come to represent a mentalité and often become integrated in the French nationalist project. Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): FREN 204 with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 4 or better on the French Language and Culture AP exam or received a score of 6 or better on the French: Language B IB exam or equivalent.

     6 credits; IS, International Studies, LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis; not offered 2024–2025

  • FREN 253: The French Revolution, Then and Now

    From an ad campaign showing Kylie Jenner dressed as Marie Antoinette to the mascot for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, the French Revolution is alive today. What does this say about its legacy? This course first investigates the systemic inequalities that contributed to the storming of the Bastille. Through texts, films, and music, we will analyze the denunciation of these inequities and the consequent transatlantic engagement with Haiti and the U.S. We will finish by discussing whose rights were affirmed during the French Revolution, whose were denied, and how this continues to inform contemporary culture and society.

     Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): FREN 204 with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 4 or better on the French Language and Culture AP exam or received a score of 6 or better on the French: Language B IB exam or equivalent.

     6 credits; IS, International Studies, LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis; offered Winter 2025 · Katharine Hargrave

  • FREN 254: French and Francophone Studies in Paris Program: French Art in Context

    Home of some of the finest and best known museums in the world, Paris has long been recognized as a center for artistic activity. Students will have the opportunity to study art from various periods on site, including Impressionism, Expressionism, and Surrealism. In-class lectures and discussions will be complemented by guided visits to the unparalleled collections of the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, the Centre Pompidou, local art galleries, and other appropriate destinations. Special attention will be paid to the program theme. Prerequisites:

    Acceptance in the Carleton OCS French and Francophone Studies in Paris Program and student has completed any of the following course(s): FREN 204 or higher level course with a grade of C- or better.

     6 credits; IS, International Studies, LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis; offered Spring 2025 · Sandra Rousseau

  • FREN 255: French and Francophone Studies in Paris Program: Islam in France: Historical Approaches and Current Debates

    In this course, students will explore the historical, cultural, social, and religious traces of Islam as they have been woven over time into the modern fabric of French society. Through images drawn from film, photography, television, and museum displays, they will discover the important role this cultural contact zone has played in the French experience. The course will take advantage of the resources of the city of Paris and will include excursions to museums as well as cultural and religious centers. Prerequisites:

    Acceptance in the Carleton OCS French and Francophone Studies in Paris Program and student has completed any of the following course(s): FREN 204 or higher level course with a grade of C- or better.

     6 credits; LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis; offered Spring 2025 · Sandra Rousseau

  • FREN 259: French and Francophone Studies in Paris Program: Hybrid Paris

    Through literature, cultural texts, and experiential learning in the city, this course will explore the development of both the “Frenchness” and the hybridity that constitute contemporary Paris. Immigrant cultures, notably North African, will also be highlighted. Plays, music, and visits to cultural sites will complement the readings. Prerequisites:

    Acceptance in the Carleton OCS French and Francophone Studies in Paris Program and student has completed any of the following course(s): FREN 204 or higher level course with a grade of C- or better.

     6 credits; IS, International Studies, LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis; offered Spring 2025 · Sandra Rousseau

  • FREN 280: Argue! Practicing Eloquence

    Eloquence has been described as being able to say what is necessary and not say what is not. The idea of “speaking well” has changed over time and continues to evolve in French society. Can one speak well with an accent, with grammatical mistakes, with slang, or with curse words? How has France fabricated its language as a sacred treasure, and how has this vision excluded native and non-native French speakers? The history of eloquence will be complemented by its practice as students learn to master different registers of French language and learn to argue effectively. Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): FREN 204 with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 4 or better on the French Language and Culture AP exam or received a score of 6 or better on the French: Language B IB exam or equivalent.

     6 credits; IS, International Studies, LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis; not offered 2024–2025

  • FREN 302: Creative Writing in French

    This course will give students the opportunity to refine their knowledge of French by practicing the art of creative writing. Guided by short readings in a variety of genres, students will engage in workshop-based activities, including class discussion, creative writing exercises (some using visual media or music), and constructive peer review. No previous experience in creative writing necessary.

     Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): One 200 or 300 level FREN course excluding FREN 204 and Independent Studies with a grade of C- or better.

     6 credits; S/CR/NC; ARP, Arts Practice, IS, International Studies; offered Winter 2025 · Éva Pósfay

  • FREN 303: That’s Entertainment!

    Blaise Pascal wrote, “[t]he only thing that consoles us from our miseries is our diversion. And yet, it is the greatest of our miseries.” In other words, amusement is a way of avoiding one’s own unhappiness. Is the role of entertainment to escape reality? If so, what role do politics play in shaping the cultural scene? Read the queer fairy tales of Madame de Murat, listen to French podcasts currently topping charts, and discuss theatrical performances in Charleston’s French Quarter as you examine the interaction between politics and play from the Middle Ages to the present day. Conducted in French.

     Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): One 200 or 300 level FREN course excluding FREN 204 and Independent Studies with a grade of C- or better.

     LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis; not offered 2024–2025

  • FREN 308: France and the African Imagination

    This course will look at the presence of France and its capital Paris in the imaginary landscape of a number of prominent African writers, filmmakers and musicians such as Bernard Dadié (Côte d’ Ivoire), Ousmane Sembène (Senegal), Calixthe Beyala (Cameroun), Alain Mabanckou (Congo-Brazzaville), Salif Keïta (Mali) and others. The history of Franco-African relations will be used as a background for our analysis of these works. Conducted in French. Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): One 200 or 300 level FREN course excluding FREN 204 and Independent Studies with a grade of C- or better.

     6 credits; IS, International Studies, LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis; not offered 2024–2025

  • FREN 310: The Art of Scandal

    What is scandal? Is it a product of the time and place where it occurs, or can it transcend national and temporal boundaries? This course seeks answers to these questions by examining the texts, films, and artistic productions that caused, exposed, or critiqued a scandal. We will explore topics such as passion, lies, revenge, rumor, and murder. From the Affair of the Poisons during the reign of Louis XIV to controversy over France’s literary prize (the Goncourt), we will analyze the evolution of social norms and public opinions in global French culture from the seventeenth century to the present day.

     Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): One 200 or 300 level FREN course excluding FREN 204 and Independent Studies with a grade of C- or better.

     6 credits; IS, International Studies, LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis; offered Spring 2025 · Katharine Hargrave

  • FREN 350: Middle East and French Connection

    Persepolis, Syngue Sabour, Le rocher de Tanios—three prize-winning texts written in French by authors whose native tongue was not French but Arabic or Farsi. In this class we will direct our attention to the close—albeit problematic—relations between France and the Middle East (broadly considered) through an analysis of cultural and literary objects. What has this “French connection” meant for the Middle-Eastern and for French culture?

     Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): One 200 or 300 level FREN course excluding FREN 204 and Independent Studies with a grade of C- or better.

     6 credits; IS, International Studies, LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis; offered Fall 2024 · Sandra Rousseau

  • FREN 353: The French Chanson

    In Beaumarchais’s oft-cited words, “Everything ends with songs.” This course will study the distinctiveness of French chanson (song) and its unique role in French history and culture from Montmartre’s cafés-concerts to the present. We will examine iconic performances in Parisian cabarets, music halls, and nightclubs; the rise of the singer-songwriter; the changing dynamics between lyrics (poetry), music, and performance over time; song categories such as yé-yé, the protest song, and the chanson about Paris; rap and slam’s poetic affiliation with chanson; musical hybridity and identity politics; and the clout of the music industry. No musical experience necessary. Conducted in French.

     Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): One 200 or 300 level FREN course excluding FREN 204 and Independent Studies with a grade of C- or better.

     6 credits; IS, International Studies, LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis; not offered 2024–2025

  • FREN 359: French and Francophone Studies in Paris Program: Hybrid Paris

    Through literature, cultural texts, and experiential learning in the city, this course will explore the development of both the “Frenchness” and the hybridity that constitute contemporary Paris. Immigrant cultures, notably North African, will also be highlighted. Plays, music, and visits to cultural sites will complement the readings. Prerequisites:

    Acceptance in the Carleton OCS French and Francophone Studies in Paris Program and student has completed any of the following course(s): FREN 204 or higher level course with a grade of C- or better.

     6 credits; IS, International Studies, LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis; offered Spring 2025 · Sandra Rousseau

  • FREN 360: The Algerian War of Liberation and Its Representations

    Over fifty years after Algeria’s independence from France, discourses and representations about the cause, the violence, and the political and social consequences of that conflict still animate public life in both France and Algeria. This class aims at presenting the Algerian war through its various representations. Starting with discussions about the origins of French colonialism in North Africa, it will develop into an analysis of the war of liberation and the ways it has been recorded in history books, pop culture, and canonical texts. We will reflect on the conflict and on its meanings in the twenty-first century, and analyze how different media become memorial artifacts. Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): One 200 or 300 level FREN course excluding FREN 204 and Independent Studies with a grade of C- or better.

     6 credits; IS, International Studies, LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis; not offered 2024–2025

  • FREN 370: Cultural Mutations in the Francophone World: Theory and Practice

    Racisé, transclasse, personne valide, female gaze are all concepts that have emerged recently in the Francophone world even though they reflect experiences that have existed for a very long time. In this class we will work through such concepts and explore how central they are to the contemporary Francophone world. Through theoretical texts and cultural artefacts (films, songs, BD, literature) from Morocco, France, Belgium, Senegal, and other spaces, this class seeks to develop a deeper understanding of the issues that animate the French-speaking world today. Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): One 200 or 300 level FREN course excluding FREN 204 and Independent Studies with a grade of C- or better.

     6 credits; IS, International Studies, LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis; not offered 2024–2025

  • FREN 380: Comics: Sequence with Consequence

    In the Francophone world comics are known as the ninth art, a popular, legitimate–albeit contested–art form. What then differentiates this art form from others? How do comics create meaning? How do they tell stories? What stories do they tell? In this class we will develop a multilayered approach to comics by analyzing the form and content of texts, but also by questioning the place of comics in French, Algerian, and Québecois societies. Readings will include iconic texts (Asterix, Tintin), alternative comics (by Fabcaro, Louerrad, Ziadé), theoretical pieces on bandes dessinées, and conversations with working artists. Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): One 200 or 300 level FREN course excluding FREN 204 and Independent Studies with a grade of C- or better.

     6 credits; IS, International Studies, LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis; not offered 2024–2025

  • FREN 400: Integrative Exercise

    During their senior year, students expand and deepen an essay in French from one of their advanced courses in the major. Normally, but not always, the director for this project will be the professor from that course. This essay may be completed during any term, but must be finished by the end of winter term. In the spring term, students deliver an oral presentation (in English) summarizing their work. Seniors may choose either of the following: 1) A substantial individual essay, or 2) An individual essay that complements work done in a second major (subject to approval by the Department). Further details are available on the Department’s website. Prerequisites:

    Student is a French and Francophone Studies major and has Senior Priority.

     3 credits; S/NC; offered Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Spring 2025 · Éva Pósfay