RLFR 105(F) Advanced French I: Linguistic and Cultural Intrigue in the Francophone World
What mysterious set of connections brings together a young Québecoise
graduate student, an 18th-century French manuscript by the author of
Dangerous Liaisons, a chameleon-like Parisian bent on tracking the young
student, a sinister French police inspector, and a suave Caribbean book collector
with roots in two continents? Where is the kaleidoscope of cultural signs leading
us: the Zydeco culture of Louisiana and New Orleans, enigmatic Creole
proverbs such as "The green beans are not salted" and "Okra is not eaten with
one finger," the dizzying shift of international locales, and the autumnal radiance
of Paris? We set out with Claire Plouffe and her young, somewhat sinister
admirer, Jean-Louis Royer, through a deepening international mystery set in a
Francophone environment and embracing the rich variety of cultural and
linguistic experience that has helped shape the role of France in the world.
Against this backdrop, the course seeks to build on the writing, reading, and
aural comprehension skills in French developed at the elementary and
intermediate levels (especially those of French 103). It will consist of a
continued review of fundamental grammar structures, but will emphasize the
application and assimilation of those structures in activities of composition, oral
presentation, and discussion. Conducted in French. Format: Lecture/discussion.
Requirements: class participation, attendance, short papers, and five hour-long
exams.
Prerequisites: French 101-102, 103, or examination placement. Enrollment
limit: 20 (expected: 20). Preference given to students needing the course for
foreign study admission and those continuing from French 103.