Department of French and Francophone StudiesResidential Program – Gregory College HouseM & W: 7-8pm

Lauriane Guihard, Program directorlguihard@sas.upenn.edu

MAISON FRANÇAISE

FREN 180-301Syllabus Spring 2019

Tour Eiffel (Île-de-France) Grand-Fougeray (Bretagne)

•• Course description:Course description:

La Maison Française is a Modern Languages Program (MLP) that intends to develop conversationalskills in French for Gregory residents, and to expose them to French culture and contemporary debates.La Maison Française meets twice a week, on Mondays and Wednesdays from 7 to 8pm in theGreenhouse or the TV lounge of Gregory's Class of '25 building.

•• Course Credit:Course Credit:

Gregory residents can register for Advanced French in Residence FREN 180-301 with departmentalpermission and earn ½ credit per semester. The Maison française remains open to all Penn students fornon-credit.

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•• Absences:Absences:

Because there is no homework, grades will be based exclusively on class participation and attendance.You may not miss more than the equivalent of one week of class during the semester (i.e. 2 classes).After 2 absences your final grade in the class will be lowered by one sign with each subsequentabsence. (So if a student were to receive a A, but has had one more absence than authorized, his/hergrade would be lowered to a A-. If the student missed another class, the grade would be lowered to aB+, etc). Repetitive lateness will count as one absence.

If you have more than 2 absences, you will be given the possibility to lead a 1hdiscussion in class, or to submit a written reflection on a topic discussed in classduring the semester (5 pages in English, 2 pages in French). These extra works willprevent you from having your final grade lowered in case of several absences.

•• Sessions:Sessions:

Our weekly sessions alternate between (1) informal conversations about French news: “Cette semaineen France,” and (2) culturally focused activities: “Point Culture.”

(1) “Cette semaine en France” traces contemporary developments in France through themedia. We will look at French news through different media (articles, audio, video) anddiscuss current French issues.

(2) “Point Culture” explores the French culture and its history. The students will beimmersed in French culture through readings, games, creative writings, etc. We willlook at some French specificities, regional or national.

These sessions aim to provide a meaningful context of what it is to live in France and to be Frenchnowadays, in comparison to American culture. Sessions will be supplemented and occasionallysupplanted entirely by special events, from cooking classes to restaurant trips, film screenings and othercultural events beyond the frontiers of the Penn campus.

If you would like to broaden your understanding of some particular French aspects you are interested inor curious about, you are encouraged to propose ideas of discussions and/or activities in order to stayinvolved in our Spring program. All suggestions are welcome!

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CALENDAR FOR SPRING 2019 SEMESTER

Week: Date: Event: Note:

1 W 01/16/2019 Introductory Meeting

2 M 01/21/2019 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Observed (no class)

W 01/23/2019 Cette semaine en France Les gilets jaunes

3 M 01/28/2019 Point Culture La Révolution française

W 01/30/2019 Cette semaine en France

4 M 02/04/2019 Cuisine Galette des rois (2h)

5 M 02/11/2019 Point Culture L'amour en littérature

W 02/13/2019 Cette semaine en France

6 M 02/18/2019 Point Culture Les soldes en France

W 02/20/2019 Cette semaine en France Suggestion?

7 M 02/25/2019 Movie Night: L'arnacoeur (2h)

Spring Term Break Saturday-Sunday: March 2-10

9 M 03/11/2019 Cuisine Soirée crêpes: Mardi Gras (03/05/2019)

W 03/13/2019 Cette semaine en France

10 M 03/18/2019 Movie Night: La journée de la jupe (2h)

11 M 03/25/2019 Point Culture Le football en France

W 03/27/2018 Cette semaine en France Suggestion?

12 M 04/01/2019 Cuisine Dîner français (2h)

13 M 04/08/2019 Point Culture Système de santé français

W 04/10/2019 Cette semaine en France

14 M 04/15/2019 Cuisine Dîner français (2h)

15 W 04/24/2019 Movie Night: Suggestion?

16 M 04/29/2019 Point Culture La musique française

W 05/01/2019 Restaurant trip

*** Note: Syllabus is subject to change.

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