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French

The French Department at Manhattanville College encourages the study of the French language, since learning a language opens windows to different cultures and ways of thinking.

The Department offers you an opportunity to major or minor in French, or just to improve or brush up on your language skills. You can choose from an array of courses in language, literature, society, and cinema of France and the French-speaking world.  You can combine your study of French with other disciplines such as International Studies, International Business, Law, Economics, Music, Film and Art History.  The Department aims to develop the four skills of listening, reading, writing, and speaking French within the classroom and through the study abroad program in France.  The Department currently has an exchange program with the University Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3 located in Montpellier, France.  The French Department also organizes a French Film Festival every spring.

 Learning Objectives for French majors

  • Demonstrate the ability to read, write, listen, and speak at the advanced level according to American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Proficiency Guidelines.

    http://www.actfl.org/files/public/ACTFLProficiencyGuidelines2012_FINAL.pdf

  • Develop conversational skills in everyday and specialized contexts.
    Integrate the development of advanced language skills with culture and literature.
  • Write interpretive and expository essays, and/or develop creative work related to the French-speaking world and its history.
  • Recognize key periods, genres, modes and techniques in French and Francophone Literature.

  • Describe, contextualize, and interpret French texts and cultural and historical documents in written and oral reports.

  • Develop critical thinking skills by establishing connections between literary works and cultural/historical traditions.

  • Write interpretive and expository essays on literary texts, and their aesthetic, cultural and historical contexts.

  • Interpret and explain the texts of one major literary movement or cultural period.

  • Demonstrate information literacy skills with the Internet and other multimedia in French.