French and Italian

Matthew Senior, Ruberta T. McCandless Professor of French, Chair
Eunjung Grace An, Associate Professor of French and Cinema Studies
Adrianne Barbo, Visiting Assistant Professor of French
Preeamvada Leelah, Lecturer of French
E. Elizabeth Murphy, Associate Professor of French
Kévin Rocheron, Lecturer of French
Ivana Di Siena, Instructor of Italian

The Department of French and Italian offers a major and minor in French and Francophone studies and courses in beginning and intermediate Italian language and culture. Both programs are supported by a range of co-curricular activities and a selection of affiliated study away programs.

FRENCH

Cultural ties between France and America go back to the origin of the American republic, when Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, and Thomas Paine borrowed and shared concepts with French revolutionaries to frame the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Today, French and Francophone literature, philosophy, art, and cinema continue to exert a powerful influence over students and intellectuals around the world. The legacy of French thought reaches back to Descartes, Rousseau, Flaubert, Bergson, Proust, Sartre, Fanon, Camus, and Beauvoir and continues into the present, where the concepts of Derrida, Foucault, Deleuze, Glissant, Latour, Fassin and others are indispensable to theory in the human and social sciences and real-world struggles related to race, nation, gender, class, and the environment. Writers such as Assia Djebar, Tahar Ben Jelloun, and Maryse Condé, and cinéastes such as Jean-Luc Godard, Claire Denis, and Ousmane Sembène have given world literature and film new faces and voices, while Médecins sans frontières has defined the concept of humanitarian aid beyond national boundaries.

The French program offers a unique interdisciplinary liberal arts curriculum aimed at preparing students to engage in ways that are meaningful to them with the diverse and dynamic Francophone world. The major and minor prepare students to be life-long, autonomous learners and users of French, a fast-growing, global language spoken on five continents. Students develop linguistic, cultural, and communicative competence, allowing them not just to hold a conversation in French, but also to begin to think and to view the world through cultural references, attitudes, and traditions that are different from their own. Students complete the major or minor prepared to join an engaged, digitally connected, global community of Francophones, having gained access to the rich traditions of the Francophone world and to the challenges facing it today.

Students who are interested in French and Francophone Studies and are motivated to learn French can, with proper planning, complete a major or minor in French, even if they have no previous language preparation. The French curriculum includes four levels of study. The first level (FREN 101, 102, 205) consists of beginning and intermediate language and culture courses for students who are new to French or building on prior preparation. The second level (FREN 206, 301, 302, 309, 321) includes a range of language and culture courses for students with different proficiency levels. All of these courses count toward the major and minor. The third level includes a variety of courses in literature, history, film, and cultural studies, including interdisciplinary courses focused on topics such as Balzac’s Comédie Humaine and “lost women” in 19th-century France; Francophone literature and the history of “esclavage et liberté,” French Creole, and “Writing the Self in the Maghreb.” The fourth and final level consists of 400-level seminar-style courses focused on specific authors, works, topics, or trends in the French-speaking world. These courses serve as culminating or capstone experiences and provide students opportunities to work on course-related creative and research projects of their own design. French majors with the requisite GPA and a well-crafted research plan can apply at the end of their junior year to develop a year-long Honors project during their senior year.

In addition to French-taught courses, the department regularly offers English-taught courses, some of which can be combined with an optional discussion section in French. Students are likewise encouraged to reach beyond the curriculum offered by our department, to explore the dozens of English-taught courses in the wider Oberlin curriculum that deal with the Francophone world. These courses count as full or partial credit toward the major and minor. Advisors in French maintain an up-to-date list of such courses, which are regularly offered in programs and departments such as Comparative Literature, Creative Writing, History, Art History, Middle East and North African Studies, Africana Studies, and Music.

The French department offers students opportunities to integrate classroom learning with on-campus activities. We encourage majors to live in La Maison Francophone, where they have the opportunity of immersion in the target language and culture in daily contact with native speakers. French Conversation hours, held at French tables in Stevenson dining hall, in the coops, and in local cafés, are animated by native speakers and student leaders. Advisors work with students to find opportunities for study abroad in France, Senegal, and other Francophone countries, including winter term and summer opportunities for students who cannot spend a full semester or year away.

ITALIAN

In addition to courses supporting the French major, the department offers courses in beginning and intermediate Italian language and culture and co-curricular activities such as Italian movie nights and an Italian language table.

LANGUAGE LABORATORY

The Paul and Edith Cooper International Learning Center, located on the third floor of Peters Hall, is a state-of-the-art facility designed for both class and individual use at all levels of language learning. A staff of experts helps students develop their language skills and connect with French speakers around the world. Multi-media practice is encouraged for all students who wish to improve their speaking and oral comprehension.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT

Students who have received a score of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement (AP) exam in French Language or French Literature, a score of 6 or 7 on the French (advanced) exam of the IB, a score of 626-800 on the French SAT II Exam, or who have completed the baccalaureate (bac) in a French lycée will be automatically awarded credit for one course toward graduation (FREN 300) which may be counted towards the minor or the major. They should enroll in one of the gateway courses for the French major (French 301, 309, or 321).

PREREQUISITES AND PLACEMENT STUDENTS

It is the department’s policy to advance students as fast as achievement warrants. Students who have taken the SAT II Exam in French should enroll in courses according to their score:

550-625 French 205, 206
626-800 French 301, 309, or 321

Students with previous study of French who have not taken the SAT II exam should take the Oberlin French Placement Test online to determine their appropriate level.

SUGGESTED COURSE SEQUENCE

French 101-102, 205-206, 301, other 300-level courses in French, followed by 400-level courses. French 301, 309, or 321 is the prerequisite for other courses at the 300-level. Two 300-level courses beyond 301 are the prerequisite for 400-level courses. Other prerequisites may be noted: see the course descriptions below.

Major

The French major consists of at least nine full courses, beginning at the level of French 206. Students who enter the major at a higher level are still required to complete nine full courses. Any course dealing with the Francophone world, taken at Oberlin or abroad, may count toward the major; two half courses may count as a full course.

At least seven of the courses must be French-taught. French-taught Languages across the Curriculum (LxC) sections, which are generally half courses, will count as French-taught credits.
Courses that dedicate at least 30% of the syllabus to French or Francophone content may, with the Chair’s approval, be counted as partial major credit.
A gateway course is required of all majors. FREN 301, FREN 309, or FREN 321 may serve as a gateway course. FREN 301 is the normal gateway course, but for more advanced students, either FREN 309 or FREN 321 may serve as a gateway course.
At least three courses must be completed at the 400-level, one of which must be in residence, and two of which may be fulfilled by Honors (FREN 505). Two 300-level courses beyond the gateway course are the prerequisite for 400-level courses.
Four courses may be counted from approved study abroad programs or an accredited college/university.
Five courses must be in residence, except in the case of a student who spends an entire year enrolled in a French-speaking university, in which case three courses must be in residence.

Minor

The French minor consists of at least five courses, beginning at the level of French 206. A gateway course (see above) and at least one course at the 400-level are required. Two 300-level courses beyond the gateway are the prerequisite for 400-level courses. At least one 400-level course must be in residence. Courses at the 100 and 200 level are not counted toward the minor. An AP score of 4 or 5 will result in placement in a gateway course and one full course (FREN 300) credited toward graduation and the minor.

Restrictions for the Major and Minor

Students must earn minimum grades of C- or P for all courses that apply toward the major.

Transfer of Credit

The department will accept up to 4 courses of approved transfer credit toward the nine courses of the major. Students who complete two semesters or a semester and a summer session from an approved study away program may count six courses toward the major. Five courses of the major must be taken in residence at the advanced level, i.e., French 301 and above, plus at least one course at the 400-level (except when 6 courses of study away are awarded to a student who has studied for two semesters abroad, enrolled in a French-speaking university). Up to two courses of approved transfer credit may be applied to the minor, but at least three courses must be taken in residence at the advanced level.

Honors

The Honors Program in French provides qualified majors with the opportunity to complete a special project during their senior year. An Honors Project entails independent study in French, in consultation with a faculty sponsor, completed over two semesters (FREN 505). Qualified students are invited to apply to the program during the second semester of their junior year. Admission is determined on the basis of faculty evaluation and approval of honors proposals and overall and major GPA. Further information on the Honors Program may be obtained from the departmental website. See also the statement on Honors in the “General Information” section of this catalog.

Related Disciplines

Students who major or minor in French are encouraged to discuss with their advisor courses in other departments which will broaden and deepen their studies of French language, and French and Francophone literatures and cultures. Examples might include coursework in comparative literature, in medieval art history, modern European history, literary theory, and cinema studies. Students who major in French often complete a major in a second field. Examples include majors in fields as diverse as Art History, Biology, Comparative Literature, Creative Writing, Economics, English, Environmental Studies, Hispanic Studies, History, Music (both within the College and Conservatory), Neuroscience, Philosophy, Politics, and Religion. As students plan their major or minor in French, they should keep in mind the manner in which other disciplines can enrich their major coursework. The International Studies Concentration provides an appropriate grounding in the social sciences for majors interested in international affairs.

La Maison Francophone

An important element in the department’s program is La Maison Francophone, a program house accommodating 35 students. A Faculty-in-Residence is assisted by two French exchange students. Regular programming includes French language dining at La Table Française at Stevenson Dining Hall, films, games, cooking classes and other workshops, discussions on topics relating to French and Francophone cultures, and various other cultural and social activities.

Study Abroad

The department encourages all majors to study abroad at the appropriate time in their college career. The Office of Study Away has an approved list of programs and the faculty members of the department advise students in choosing a program that best suits student needs. Oberlin’s own bilateral exchange with the Institut d’études politiques de Paris, “Sciences Po,” allows students majoring in History, Economics, Politics, and other subjects to study at an elite grande école in Paris. Study Away programs in Paris, Rennes, Aix, Marseille, Brussels, and Dakar offer many possibilities for studying while engaging in community service. The Council on International Educational Exchanges (CIEE) Center for Critical Studies program in Paris is an attractive option for students interested in literature, cinema, and philosophy. Like CIEE-Critical Studies, the Center for University Programs Abroad (CUPA) in Paris allows students to enroll directly in the Université de Paris, taking classes in literature, the humanities, or sciences. Oberlin Conservatory students are able to study with Conservatoire de Paris faculty through CUPA. The School for International Training (SIT) in Madagascar allows students to pursue environmental studies in French. The SIT program in Dakar is popular with Oberlin students because of the opportunity to study and do field work in global health. (See a faculty member and student testimonials on the French department website for more information about these programs.)

Winter Term

The department sponsors a number of group and individual projects each year. Projects may take place in the U.S. or overseas. For information on possible Winter Term projects, consult the department website. (See also “Winter Term” in the General Information section.)

First Year Seminars

I. Language Courses (Offered Every Year)

II. 300-Level Literature and Culture Courses Taught in French

FREN 372 - Litterature Francaise II: De la Revolution a nos Jours

III. 400-Level Literature and Culture Courses Taught in French

IV. Courses Offered in English

V. Courses in Other Departments that May be Counted Towards the French Major

AAST 227 - Saint Domingue/Haiti in the Atlantic World
ARTS 335 - Saints and Relics in Medieval and Renaissance Art
ARTS 315 - Medieval and Renaissance Illuminated Manuscripts
CINE 398 - New Wave, New Hollywood, New Cinema Studies
CMPL/CRWR 250 - Introduction to Literary Translation: Theory, History, Practice
CMPL/CRWR 350 - Advanced Translation Workshop: Poetry
CMPL/CRWR 351 - Advanced Translation Workshop: Prose and Drama
FYSP 173 - The French Revolution and the Making of the Modern World
HIST 282 - The French Empire: 18th Century to the Present
HIST 486 - France and Algeria, 1830-1962
MUTH 221 - The Mélodie
MUTH 362 - French Music from the Belle Époque, 1871-1900

Italian

There is no major or minor in Italian, but the Department offers a series of three courses that are designed to help students begin to develop the ability to use Italian as a means of oral and written communication and to increase their understanding of Italian culture. The curriculum consists of a beginning language sequence (ITAL 101 and 102) and an accelerated intermediate course (ITAL 203). Students have access to a split-level advanced half-course (301/401) in Italian literature, taught in Italian through the Comparative Literature department, which explores a topic in contemporary Italian literature and culture. Other English-taught courses offered outside the Department of French and Italian, in Comparative Literature, Creative Writing, Cinema Studies, Art History, and History, give students further exposure to Italian history and cultural production. Courses offered through approved study away programs and winter term self-study help students develop proficiency beyond the intermediate level. The Italian curriculum is supported by the work of a native-speaker of Italian who serves as program assistant, running a film screening and discussion once a week at the Maison francophone, and helping animate the Italian Table.