French Language Program

The Department offers a series of courses for the acquisition and practice of the French language. The Language Program's general philosophy and corresponding pedagogy derive from a recognition of the diversity of needs, interests and objectives among its students. The program strives to adapt to these individual differences in particular at the beginning level (with an accelerated track in FR200) and, at the other end of the spectrum, in the advanced courses where students are encouraged to participate in the construction of their program of study by selecting their own readings and writing activities.

The general objectives of the Language Program are the gradual mastery of the four basic language skills: listening comprehension, speaking, reading comprehension and writing. In all courses (except Advanced Writing, FR1610), class interaction is devoted entirely to oral communication: oral communicative activities at the beginning and intermediate levels gradually leading to discussions and free conversation as students become more advanced. Starting in the 5th-semester course, students may select their own readings, according to their interests and objectives. Writing activities at the advanced level (FR1510 and 1610) are also individualized, according to students needs and preferences.

The course distribution is as follows:
(Semester 1 and 2) French 100-200 (a year course)
(Semester 3) French 300
(Semester 4) French 400
(Semester 5) French 500 (prerequisite for 1000-level courses)
(Semester 6) French 600 (prerequisite for study abroad)
(Semester 7) French 1510 (required of concentrators)
(Semester 8) French 1610

Students are normally placed at the appropriate level according to their high-school achievement in French. A placement test is administered at the beginning of each semester for those who have not been placed prior to their coming to Brown.

Students are strongly encouraged to study abroad for one or two semesters, under the auspices of either the Brown-in-France program or a Brown-approved program in a francophone country. The sixth-semester language course (FR600) is the pre-requisite for study abroad and specifically prepares students for that experience. Freshmen enrolled in FR200 accelerated may be able to take FR600 as early as 2nd semester sophomore year and to study abroad in their junior year.

Further information on the Language Program may be obtained at the Departmental Open House during Freshmen Week each Fall, from individual course instructors, and from the Department of French Studies.

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