Fall 2021

French 3303 – French Composition and Conversation
Professor: Dr. Moira Di Mauro-Jackson, md11@txstate.edu

Description:
The specific topic of this course centers on an introduction to Business French (FR 3381), which is a course designed for Juniors and Seniors interested in the opportunity to take the exams for the Diplômes de Français Professionnel granted by the French Chamber of Commerce, a state agency that certifies your fluency in professional French, the recommendations of which are widely followed internationally by businesses trading with France. In this introductory class students will use Objectif Express 1: Le monde professionnel en français (Objectif Express 2 is used in FR 3381) to explore the terminology and practices specific to the French business world with a hands-on approach. The main objective of the course is to transition students from the intermediate level to the more advanced level of conversation and composition, while focusing on topics such as introducing oneself in a professional manner, communicating online, managing professional daily activities, finding an internship, and writing a career-oriented project, all in French!

French 3350 – History of French Cinema, 1896-1960
Professor: Dr. Jennifer Forrest, jf05@txstate.edu

Description: French filmmakers have made invaluable contributions to film style, technology, and criticism since the beginnings of the medium. This course will trace the evolution of French cinema from 1895, the year of the first demonstration of the Lumière cinématographe (camera and projector) to the eve of the Nouvelle vague (New Wave) in the late 1950s. Students will examine the primary stylistic movements (the magical trick films of Georges Méliès, silent genres like the comic chase movie from the first decade, the melo-mystery serials of Louis Feuillade of the 1910s, French Impressionism from the 1920s, Poetic Realism from the 1930s, French film under the German Occupation, and the Cinema of Quality associated with the late 1940s and 1950s). It will also prepare them for a course on French cinema from 1960 to the present and for the study of selected topics in French film.

*This course is stacked, meaning that there is a French registration number and an Honors one. If you are an Honors student, please register for HON 3350 (it will have the following CRN: 14842). If you are seeking French credit, make sure to register for the French “section.” Contact Dr. Forrest (jf05@txstate.edu) if you encounter any registration obstacles.

French 4307 – Study of French Language
Professor: Dr. Peter Golato, pgolato@txstate.edu

Description: This course will be an introduction to linguistics, i.e., to the scientific study of language, and of the French language in particular. We’ll cover a wide range of topics including (though not limited to) the sound system of French (i.e., to key elements of phonetics and phonology), the internal structure of its nouns and verbs (i.e., morphology) and sentences (i.e., syntax), their situationally-independent (i.e., semantics) and -dependent meaning (i.e., pragmatics), and whether and how social class, gender, etc. can influence a person’s use of language (i.e., sociolinguistics). Time permitting, we’ll also review some key differences between Metropolitan Standard French and Canadian French. It should be a fun ride, so I hope to see you there!

French 4330A – History of French Media
Professor: Dr. Carole Martin, cm25@txstate.edu

Description: As a new sub-field in the Humanities, Media Studies continues to grow both in extent and depth. History of French Media will more specifically introduce students to the multifaceted context – from the early modern period to the post-war era – that has informed the prominent role performed by the media in France today. Through the discussion of short readings and visual exhibits, and the creation of a poster exhibition for the Department of World Languages and Literatures, we will explore topics such as the role of ideology and collective memory, the importance of illustration, the place of propaganda and censorship, and the development of the French intellectual figure. Specific emphasis will be given to the coverage of women's issues.