French
Departmental Guidelines and Mission Statement
The Department of Modern Languages brings the world to our students and offers opportunities for them to forge human connections, engage with difference, and develop cultural and linguistic competency. In doing so, students fundamentally transform their relationship to the world around them by learning to think and speak from another viewpoint. By studying the languages and cultural production of other global societies, students develop skills for critical analysis, unlock creative potential, and discover new possibilities within themselves. Sustained study in one of our languages helps students maximize their study abroad experience so their acquired linguistic and cultural competency enhances the breadth and depth of options in their professional portfolio. Modern Languages prepares students to connect, work, and thrive in a global world.
Our basic courses offer the opportunity to begin acquiring the skills and knowledge necessary for the eventual mastery of a language. When students take full advantage of that opportunity, they can use the target language in all subsequent courses. The department emphasizes the use of the target language in most of its courses because students can best appreciate another culture from within its own mode of expression.
With a view toward career opportunities, the department encourages integrating language study with a variety of other academic areas, such as history, philosophy, international studies, sustainability and environmental studies, biology, economics, politics and public affairs, global commerce, global health, and English. Courses in cultural studies and literature, aside from their intrinsic worth, also present multiple perspectives on other cultures and areas of intellectual experience.
A student who wants to spend a summer, a semester, or a year abroad with programs approved by Denison should consult members of the department and the Center for Global Programs (see Off-Campus Programs). On-campus opportunities to improve command of the language are provided by language tables, international films, club meetings, and similar activities sponsored by the department. There are also subsidized field trips to museums and pertinent activities in cities across the country, and in some cases, international travel.
Faculty
Associate Professor Charles St-Georges, Chair
Associate Professor Melissa Huerta, Associate Chair
Professor: Christine Armstrong, Associate Professors: Isabelle Choquet, Yvonne-Marie Mokam
Academic Program Coordinator
Liz Barringer-Smith
French Major
Major Requirements
Students majoring in French must take a minimum of nine courses.
Core
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| FREN 211 | Intermediate French |
Conversation and Pronunciation (fulfill ONE)
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| FREN 220-229 Francophone Film in Africa: French Conversation and Pronunciation | |
| FREN 230-239 Francophone Film in the Americas: French Conversation and Pronunciation | |
| FREN 240-249 Cinema for French Conversation and Pronunciation | |
Introduction to Culture (fulfill ONE)
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| FREN 250-259 Intro to Francophone Cultures: Africa & Le Monde Noir | |
| FREN 260-269 Intro to Francophone Cultures: North America & the Caribbean | |
| FREN 270-279 Intro to Francophone Cultures: Europe & French Overseas Departments | |
Engaging with the Francophone World (fulfill TWO)
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| FREN 320-329 Francophone Africa & Le Monde Noir | |
| FREN 330-339 Francophone North America & The Caribbean | |
| FREN 340-349 Francophone Europe and French Overseas Departments | |
Electives (fulfill THREE)
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| FREN 350-359 Special Topics in Francophone Africa & Le Monde Noir | |
| FREN 360-369 Special Topics in Francophone North America & The Caribbean | |
| FREN 370-379 Special Topics in Francophone Europe & French Overseas Departments | |
Directed and Independent Studies (361-364) will not be applied as electives without prior permission from the French Language Department Chair.
Senior Experience
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| FREN 400 | Senior Experience |
Minor Requirements
Students minoring in French must take six courses.
Core
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| FREN 211 | Intermediate French |
Conversation and Pronunciation (fulfill ONE)
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| FREN 220-229 Francophone Film in Africa: French Conversation and Pronunciation | |
| FREN 230-239 Francophone Film in the Americas: French Conversation and Pronunciation | |
| FREN 240-249 Cinema for French Conversation and Pronunciation | |
Introduction to Culture (fulfill ONE)
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| FREN 250-259 Intro to Francophone Cultures: Africa & Le Monde Noir | |
| FREN 260-269 Intro to Francophone Cultures: North America & the Caribbean | |
| FREN 270-279 Intro to Francophone Cultures: Europe & French Overseas Departments | |
Engaging with the Francophone World (fulfill TWO)
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| FREN 320-329 Francophone Africa & Le Monde Noir | |
| FREN 330-339 Francophone North America & The Caribbean | |
| FREN 340-349 Francophone Europe and French Overseas Departments | |
Electives (fulfill ONE)
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| FREN 350-359 Special Topics in Francophone Africa & Le Monde Noir | |
| FREN 360-369 Special Topics in Francophone North America & The Caribbean | |
| FREN 370-379 Special Topics in Francophone Europe & French Overseas Departments | |
Directed and Independent Studies (361-364) will not be applied as electives without prior permission from the French Language Department Chair.
Additional Points of Interest
The Language Lab
An important asset of the department is the Language Lab with its 27 Macs, zone-free Blu-ray player and document camera. It also has a VIA Connect PRO which is a wireless collaboration and presentation solution that makes sharing and presenting easier for all computers in the room. The lab provides support for learning activities outside and inside the classroom, ranging from grammar drills to research and collaborative writing projects, as well as discussions of authentic materials published on the Internet. The area is designed not only for individualized instruction but also for group work and small seminars that use a variety of digital materials for class discussion.
General Department Regulations
Students planning to major in the department are advised to begin course work in the first year. Those who wish to fulfill the basic requirement in language by continuing one begun in secondary school will find it advantageous to begin their course work in the first year. Whether students satisfy the language requirement by continuing with their secondary-school language or by taking up a new language, the Department of Modern Languages strongly recommends that students complete their language requirement by the end of their sophomore year.
Cultural Enrichment
Each semester the department offers students exceptional opportunities for cultural enrichment in language study. These opportunities include, for example, off-campus trips to target-culture plays, movies and performances, as well as campus visits by native scholars and performers. In that way, experiences in target cultures become more readily available to our students. These opportunities are made possible through a most generous endowment bestowed on the Department of Modern Languages by the Patty Foresman Fund. The department maintains a Modern Languages Facebook page where Denison community members can view upcoming events.
The Foresman Lounge
Located in the central hub of the department, the lounge provides the Denison community with a space for a wide range of activities such as receptions, classes, and informal gatherings. This area has a kitchenette with a table and chairs for sharing lunch or a coffee with our faculty as well as mobile soft seating for easy reconfiguration of the space. It is also equipped with a wide range of technological devices to enrich our students’ learning experiences. This room has a 52-inch flat screen TV connected to a webcam, zone-free Blu-ray player and a document camera. The lounge also has a ceiling-mounted laser projector that connects to a networked Mac computer, the Blu-ray player and a VIA for wireless connection to the data projector.
Courses
FREN 111 - Beginning French I (4 Credit Hours)
A comprehensive introductory course in French through the four basic skills: aural comprehension, speaking, reading and writing. Does not count as credit toward a major or minor. Conducted in French.
FREN 112 - Beginning French II (4 Credit Hours)
A continuation in the development of the four basic skills: aural comprehension, speaking, reading and writing. Does not count as credit toward a major or minor. Conducted in French.
Prerequisite(s): FREN 111.
FREN 211 - Intermediate French (4 Credit Hours)
A completion of an overview of the structure of French. Emphasis placed on developing skills in speaking, writing, listening, and reading. Does not count as credit toward a major or minor. Conducted in French.
Prerequisite(s): FREN 112 or placement.
FREN 220 - Africa on Screen: From Colonial Myths to African Realities (4 Credit Hours)
This course explores how Africa has been portrayed in cinema, with a focus on the shift from colonial myths to contemporary African realities. The course will refine students' French language skills, with an emphasis on pronunciation, listening comprehension, and oral communication. Through the analysis of films by African filmmakers, students will discuss a range of themes such as global issues, health, humanitarian crises, and environmental challenges, while actively developing their ability to communicate in French.
Crosslisting: BLST 220.
FREN 230 - Quebecois Cinema for French Conversation (4 Credit Hours)
This course is intended to refine all aspects of your linguistic skills in French (reading, writing, speaking, and listening), as well as to familiarize you with some aspects of Francophone cultures and histories. Since our main focus will be on speech production, we will pay special attention to pronunciation, formal (i.e., speech/debate/play/presentation) and informal oral communication through language immersion.
Prerequisite(s): FREN 211 or placement.
FREN 240 - Cinema for French Conversation and Pronunciation (4 Credit Hours)
Training and refining of all skills, with an emphasis on pronunciation and oral communication. Conducted in French. The course topic for the fall 2025 term is "Africa on the Screen". This course surveys the evolution of the visual representations of Africa from colonial depictions to contemporary African perspectives. Through the analysis of a selection of films and music clips, students will engage with themes such as 1/ Constructing the Other, 2/ Reclaiming African Stories, 3/ Migration, Belonging, Cultural Identity in Flux, 4/ Youth, Urban Life & Everyday Realities, 5/ Globalization, Conflict, and Family Bonds, 6/ Gender and Liberation 7/ Environmental Advocacy, and 8/ Afro-futurism. The course emphasizes refining French language skills, with particular attention to pronunciation, listening comprehension, and oral communication. Discussions, debates, and oral presentations will help students develop critical thinking and confidence in expressing complex ideas in French. By the course’s end, students will gain a deeper understanding of Africa’s diverse realities and confidently discuss complex ideas in French.
Prerequisite(s): FREN 211 or placement.
FREN 260 - Francophone identities in North America and the Caribbean (4 Credit Hours)
This course will survey francophone identities in North America (Acadians, Cajuns, Francos, i.e., French speakers of New England, Quebecois, French-speaking Canadians outside of Quebec) and the Caribbean (Haiti, Martinique, and Guadeloupe). Although a historical focus will first show that all these francophone identities originally stem from French colonization in North America and the Caribbean, we will discuss how they evolved dramatically differently over the centuries. Some, like Acadians, do not have a territorial or national legal existence; others, like Guadeloupeans and Martinicans, are French citizens, whereas Haitians became an independent nation in 1804. Despite radical differences asserted through centuries, migrations have connected all these societies, be it Acadians deported by the British in 1755 who immigrated to Saint Domingue or Louisiana, or planters from Saint Domingue going to Louisiana during the Haitian revolution, Quebecois going to New England to work in factories in the 20th century or Haitians migrating to Canada or the Antillean in the 20 and 21st centuries.
Prerequisite(s): FREN 220-249 or placement.
FREN 320 - Le Monde Noir - Africa, Blackness & Diasporic Imagination (4 Credit Hours)
This course examines African and diasporic literatures as imaginative responses to systems of power, oppression, and struggles for liberation across the Global Black world. Through oral traditions, poetry, fiction, autobiography, theater, and film, students examine how writers confront the historical forces that have shaped Black lives, including slavery, colonialism, racism, patriarchy, migration, economic exploitation, and state violence. Particular attention is given to movements such as Négritude, Panafricanism, Afrofeminism, and postcolonial thought, highlighting how literature becomes a tool for resistance, memory, and collective dignity. Students analyze how literature constructs identity, challenges oppressive discourses, and imagines alternative futures grounded in justice and solidarity. Assignments emphasize close reading (commentaire composé), oral interpretation, and the application of literary insight to contemporary issues. By the end of the course, students understand literature not only as artistic expression but as a medium through which communities articulate rights, humanity, and visions of equitable societies.
Prerequisite(s): one course from the FREN 250- FREN 279 course range or placement.
FREN 361 - Directed Study (1-4 Credit Hours)
A student in good standing may work intensively in areas of special interest under the Directed Study plan. A Directed Study is appropriate when, under the guidance of a faculty member, a student wants to explore a subject more fully than is possible in a regular course or to study a subject not covered in the regular curriculum. A Directed Study should not normally duplicate a course that is regularly offered. Directed Studies are normally taken for 3 or 4 credits. A one-semester Directed Study is limited to a maximum of 4 credit hours. Note: Directed Studies may not be used to fulfill General Education requirements.
FREN 362 - Directed Study (1-4 Credit Hours)
A student in good standing may work intensively in areas of special interest under the Directed Study plan. A Directed Study is appropriate when, under the guidance of a faculty member, a student wants to explore a subject more fully than is possible in a regular course or to study a subject not covered in the regular curriculum. A Directed Study should not normally duplicate a course that is regularly offered. Directed Studies are normally taken for 3 or 4 credits. A one-semester Directed Study is limited to a maximum of 4 credit hours. Note: Directed Studies may not be used to fulfill General Education requirements.
FREN 363 - Independent Study (1-4 Credit Hours)
Independent Study engages a student in the pursuit of clearly defined goals. In this effort, a student may employ skills and information developed in previous course experiences or may develop some mastery of new knowledge or skills. A proposal for an Independent Study project must be approved in advance by the faculty member who agrees to serve as the project advisor. Note: Independent Studies may not be used to fulfill General Education requirements.
FREN 364 - Independent Study (1-4 Credit Hours)
Independent Study engages a student in the pursuit of clearly defined goals. In this effort, a student may employ skills and information developed in previous course experiences or may develop some mastery of new knowledge or skills. A proposal for an Independent Study project must be approved in advance by the faculty member who agrees to serve as the project advisor. Note: Independent Studies may not be used to fulfill General Education requirements.
FREN 370 - Terrorism & Its Aftermath in France (4 Credit Hours)
This course proposes the study of texts of French expression (taken in the broad definition, including the written text, film, music) through a theme such as Childhood Narratives in Francophone Caribbean Literature, Women Voices in Francophone Africa, Literary Children of the French Revolution, French Gastronomy, Maghrebi Immigration to France, Gide, etc. Conducted in French. This course satisfies the upper-level writing requirement.
Prerequisite(s): FREN 320-349.
FREN 400 - Senior Experience (1 Credit Hour)
This one-credit course allows our graduating majors to showcase the knowledge, skills, and growth they have achieved over four years of studying French and various cultures of the French-speaking world. Students integrate academic learning with experiences outside the classroom, such as study abroad, internships, research, tutoring, and community engagement, through a comprehensive portfolio. The course emphasizes professional preparation (CVs, interviews, etc.), critical analysis (literary analytical essay, current news presentation, etc.), and language proficiency (STAMP testing). It concludes with a summative reflection video providing students with an opportunity to articulate their intellectual journey, professional readiness, and future aspirations.
Prerequisite(s): Open to senior FREN majors only or by consent of the instructor.
FREN 451 - Senior Research (4 Credit Hours)
Students may enroll in Senior Research in their final year at Denison. Normally, Senior Research requires a major thesis, report, or project in the student's field of concentration and carries eight semester-hours of credit for the year. Typically, a final grade for a year-long Senior Research will not be assigned until the completion of the year-long Senior Research at the end of the second semester. Each semester of Senior Research is limited to a maximum of 4 credit hours. Note: Senior Research may not be used to fulfill General Education requirements.
FREN 452 - Senior Research (4 Credit Hours)
Students may enroll in Senior Research in their final year at Denison. Normally, Senior Research requires a major thesis, report, or project in the student's field of concentration and carries eight semester-hours of credit for the year. Typically, a final grade for a year-long Senior Research will not be assigned until the completion of the year-long Senior Research at the end of the second semester. Each semester of Senior Research is limited to a maximum of 4 credit hours. Note: Senior Research may not be used to fulfill General Education requirements.