Courses: FRAN122 Introduction to modern French-language Literature - Autumn 2024
ECTS Credits
10
Level of Study
Bachelor
Language of Instruction
French
Teaching semester
Spring
Place of Instruction
Bergen
This course can also be taken as online study (FRAN622)
Objectives and Content
The course provides an introduction into French and Francophone literature and literary history from 1900 and up to today. The goal is to develop the student´s ability to read and interpret literary texts by honing their skills in literary analysis and their knowledge of relevant periods and writers. In the study of these texts, special consideration is given to salient literary and linguistic devices, but also to how the texts are tied to French literary and cultural history.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completing the course, the student is expected to:
Knowledge
- have knowledge about the texts on the reading list and be aware of their cultural context
- have knowledge about the important trends in French literary history from the 1900 up to today
Skills
- be able to detail thematic aspects of the curriculum in French
- be able to situate the texts in relation to the key trends in French literary history
- be able to use attained knowledge in independent analyses and discussions of the texts on the reading list
General competence
- be well equipped to further develop his/her knowledge about and understanding of French literary texts and their cultural and historic context, also in relation the literatures in other languages
Required Previous Knowledge
No formal requirement, but see Recommended Previous Knowledge.
Recommended Previous Knowledge
To complete the course with a good result, level II French from high school or the equivalent is needed.
Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap
Due to academic overlaps, credits awarded for taking FRAN122 are reduced by 10 ECTS if combined with FRAN102 or FRAN622, and 5 ECTS if combined with FRAN105 orFRAN106.
Access to the Course
The course is open to all students admitted to the University of Bergen.
Teaching and learning methods
Approx. 3 hours of teaching weekly for 10 weeks.
Before the teaching starts, the students have access to preparation material on the learning platform MittUiB. The material may include e.g. introduction videos, videotaped lectures, notes, assignments and a discussion forum. The teaching is normally conducted on campus and presupposes that the students have worked actively with the preparation material. The teaching consists of lectures, seminars and film screenings.
At the beginning of the term, the department normally organizes a four-week course for the students at the Norwegian Study Center in Caen, with a focus on oral and written French. The course is free, but students must pay for travel and accommodation themselves. It is possible to stay with a French host family.
Provided that there are sufficient resources available, assignment seminars will be organized.
If less than five students sign up for the course, the teaching may be adjusted to fit the number of students, e.g. by replacing lectures with seminars or other forms of individually suited teaching. If this should occur, students will be notified about the alternative teaching arrangements before the registration deadline
Compulsory Assignments and Attendance
Students must attend at least 75 % of the lectures (including digital teaching) in order to qualify for assessment in this course.
During the first four weeks of the course the students must write a French-English word list (minimum 50 words) based on a given text from the curriculum to be published on the platform for the use of the group.
As a part of teaching, students are required to give a 10 -15 min. oral presentation. Students prepare their papers under the supervision of the instructor. The assignment must be approved before taking the exam.
Mandatory assignments are valid for two additional semesters following the semester of instruction.
Forms of Assessment
The assessment of the course is a twenty-minute oral exam. Ability to express oneself orally in French and knowledge of the syllabus count for approximately the same in the final grade.
Examination Support Material
Grading Scale
The grading scale is A-F, where F is a fail.
Assessment Semester
Spring. An exam will be offered early in the Autumn semester for students who passed the obligatory requirements.
Reading List
a) Text curriculum: the reading list comprises a selection of texts from different genres and periods of French literary history ranging from 1900 and up to today. The reading list provides information on what texts are on the curriculum at any given time.
b) Literary history: Students are required to attain further knowledge of relevant literary history and the writers on the reading list. Materials on the specific writers can be found in literary histories, encyclopedias and commentaries on the works on the reading list.
The reading list will be ready by December 1st.
Course Evaluation
Evaluation of the course is carried out in accordance with the University of Bergen quality assurance system.
Programme Committee
The program committee is responsible for the academic content and structure of the study program, and for the quality of all the subjects therein.
Course Coordinator
Course Administrator
The Department of Foreign Languages at the Faculty of Humanities has the administrative responsibility for the course and the study program.
Contact Information
Student councilor: studierettleiar@if.uib.no
Exam administration: eksamen@if.uib.no