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Course Descriptions:

FREN 1001 French-Speaking Cultures (in English)
Introduction to French-Speaking regions and cultures: geography, history, social institutions, cultural values, and the arts. Emphasis on development of cultural sensitivity with applications to functioning in the target culture. (Prerequisites: None). (3 C/3 lect, 0 lab). MNTC: Goal 2/CT, Goal 8/GP.

FREN 1101 Beginning French I
This course is an introduction to the fundamentals of French language and culture within the context of daily life in French-speaking regions worldwide. Communication skills include: speaking, listening, reading and writing. Sensitivity to culture differences is emphasized. Designed for the student with NO previous foreign language study. This course uses audio, video, text website, and news media. (Prerequisites: None). (4 C/4 lect, 0 lab). MNTC: Goal 8/GP.

FREN 1102 Beginning French II
This course is the conclusion of the introduction to fundamentals of French culture and language skills, including speaking, listening, reading, and elementary creative writing, with an emphasis on awareness and sensitivity to cultural differences. The course is taught in French and uses text, audio and video, as well as websites and news of some of the 44 Francophone communities in the world. (Prerequisites: FREN 1101 or equivalent). (4 C/4 lect, 0 lab). MNTC: Goal 8/GP.

FREN 1111 French Conversation Topics
Development of French conversational skills (pronunciation, vocabulary, expansion and correct structure usage) based on multiple media, such as current events, magazine and news articles, poetry, film, music and art from Francophone communities throughout the world. Course content varies each semester so that course may be repeated for additional language practice. (Prerequisites: FREN 1101). (2 C/2 lect, 0 lab).

FREN 2101 Intermediate French I
Short literary forms (poetry, short stories, excerpts from novels or theater), and authentic texts such as songs and news articles are basis for reading, speaking, interpretation, vocabulary development and writing practice . Review/expansion of selected structure topics. Emphasis on discovering cultural, social, religious and linguistic values and differences within a Francophone cultural context. (Prerequisites: 1 yr college, 3-4 years of high school French or equivalent). (3 C/3 lect, 0 lab). MNTC: Goal 2/CT, Goal 8/GP.

FREN 2902 Intermediate French II (Honors Credits)
Intermediate French, continued. Short literary forms such as poetry, short stories, excerpts from novels or theater, and authentic media such as news articles, music and art are basis for reading, interpretation, speaking, vocabulary development and writing practice. Review/expansion of selected structure topics. Emphasis on discovering cultural, social, religious and linguistic differences within a Francophone cultural context. (Prerequisites: FREN 2101 or equivalent). (3 C/3 lect, 0 lab). MNTC: Goal 2/CT, Goal 8/GP.

Lower division courses which lead to a French major or minor at a four-year institution:

French 1101 4 credits Beginning French I
French 1102 4 credits Beginning French II

French 2101 3 credits Intermediate French I
French 2902 3 credits Intermediate French II

French major or minor at a four-year institution:
The student typically studies French language (conversation, composition), literature (by periods, author, or special topic such as Poetry of Quebec or The French Press) and French-speaking cultures (e.g. Francophone Africa). The student may obtain a B.A. major in French, French-Italian, French with a Business Concentration, International Relations, B.A. minor in French, French-Italian, a B.S. major in French (Teaching), International Business, B.S. minor in French (Teaching), Linguistics, International Studies, or combine a French major or minor with another major (see careers). Students of French often spend time studying overseas.

Additional lower division courses which complement the above major/minor courses:
French 1111 2 credits French Conversation
(This course provides additional credits to meet transfer
institution lower division credit-total requirements.)

French 1001 3 credits Introduction to French-Speaking Cultures (in English)

An encouraging word!
Many universities offer retroactive credit at a nominal fee upon completion of an upper-level course with a grade of A or B. The student with previous language experience should continue the same foreign language, and enter the sequence at RCTC at as high a level as possible, so as to complete the entire lower division sequence before transfer. The University of Minnesota also offers FLIP and FLAC, Foreign Language Immersion and Across the Curriculum certificate programs. For the past 5 years, the University of Minnesota-Rochester has offered a successful certificate program for Interpreters and Translators as an extension of Continuing Education.