(1) Who has to take the Brown placement exam?
Any freshman who has had previous coursework in French before beginning French at Brown must take the Brown placement exam UNLESS s/he has presented AP scores or recent SAT II scores. (However, those who received an AP score of 3 or under and have no SAT II score should also take the Brown placement exam.)Students with substantial non-academic contact with French (living abroad, speaking French at home).Upper-classmen who were enrolled in a French course at Brown last year and who did a French program during the summer.
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(2) When and where is the placement exam given?
The exam is given each fall during Orientation week and during the first several days of classes. In the Spring, it is given Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of the first week of classes. The exam is given at the Language Resource Center, on the second floor of the CIT (Center for Information Technology) at the corner of Waterman and Brook Streets, next to the 14-story Sciences Library.
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(3) How do I get help determining my correct placement?
The Brown placement test in French is comprised of two parts. All students should take Test 1, which is especially useful in placing students at the beginning and lower intermediate levels. Those students who score in the intermediate or higher range on Test 1 (see chart below) should take Test 2 as well.
If your result on Test 1 is:
If the placement you received seems right, start in that course (you may still consult with your instructor later if doubts or questions arise).
If there seems to be a mismatch between your level and your placement you should consult with an advisor. We invite you to attend our departmental Placement Counseling/Open House on Friday, September 7, from 1:00 to 3:00 on the first floor of Rochambeau House, 84 Prospect Street. Bring your test score(s) and be prepared to describe what you have done in French so far, including books you have read and textbooks you have used. You may also consult placement advisors during office hours: Professors Krause, Waryn and Kervennic will be available during the first week of classes to discuss placement matters. Call French Studies at 863-3517 to learn their schedules.
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(4) What if the course/section I wish to take is not on my class list?
It may happen that you haven't been able to register for the course you wish to take or that the Registrar rejected your attempt. Do not give up: you have until September 16 to add courses without a fine. And, given the way enrollments shift during the first week of classes, there is a good possibility that you will be able to get into the course of your choice. You should go to the section(s) of the class that fit(s) your schedule, attend the first three classes persistently, and hope that things work out. If you need to attend two classes at one time, please go to one of them and speak with the instructor of the other immediately before or after the class. You must also do all the homework assigned in the course you wish to add.
NB: shifting occurs mostly during the first week; by the second week it becomes more difficult to find open sections.
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(5) What do I do if after the first class I realize I have been placed too high or too low?
There is no perfect placement tool and it may be that your test scores do not reflect your level. Talk with your instructor, who might be able to confirm your impression right away, or who might direct you to a course supervisor or placement advisor. It would also be a good idea to sit in on courses at a higher and/or lower level, and to talk to that/those instructor(s).
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(6) When I place at higher levels on the AP (4+), SAT II (700K+) or Brown placement exam (Test 2: 80+), there is an array of courses I can choose from (FR-50, 52-60-75-76-100+). How do I know where to start? In what order should I take these courses?
If you are interested in a 100-level course see question (7).
If you placed at the 5th semester level: FR50, "Writing and Speaking French 1" is a language class in which various types of documents are used: films, cultural and literary documents, press articles, etc. FR52 has been conceived for students with a strong interest in literature: though it is a language class (your grade will be based on your linguistic ability) all documents in the course are literary-based. It is possible (but not mandatory) to take both FR50 and FR52, in any sequence.
The same "tracks" exist at the 6th semester level: FR60: "Writing and Speaking French 2" offers activities based on documents drawn from current events, cinema, the press, and literature. FR75: "Introduction to Literature: Literature and Social Thought." FR76: "Intensive Introduction to Literature and Literary Methods." Passing one of these courses is the prerequisite for 100-level courses. You may take two or all three, in any sequence.
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(7) Can I take 100-level courses right away?
All 100-level courses at Brown have prerequisites. In French Studies, the equivalent of a 6th semester course, i.e., FR60, 75 and 76, is the prerequisite. Courses taken abroad or at another institution might be equivalent: students who scored 5 on the AP Literature test and/or above 95 on Part 2 of the Brown placement test might qualify. In this case you should consult with either a placement advisor or with the faculty member teaching the 100-level course you are considering.
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(8) What level of study is required for study in a French speaking country?
FR60.
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(9) What level of study satisfies the International Relations Concentration requirement?
FR60.
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(10) How do I get information regarding a concentration in French Studies?
By attending our Open House on Friday, September 7, from 1:00 to 3:00, at 84 Prospect Street or the Academic Expo; by consulting the Course Announcement section on Concentrations; by speaking with our Concentration Advisor, Professor Lewis Seifert, any time during the year.
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