Interim in Martinique 2008

For information contact Prof. O. Selles.

W60 Martinique: Language and Culture in the French Antilles

For students interested in African Diaspora studies, Caribbean culture, and in improving French language skills, this course offers linguistic and cultural immersion experience in Martinique. Martinique is located in the Caribbean and provides a case study of the role of Africa in the formation of the Americas. Students in the program study at the Centre International de Recherches, d’Échanges, et de Coopération de la Caraïbe et des Amériques, in Fort-de-France. Lectures, readings in cultural literacy, intensive language training, site visits, group discussions, and home stays with Martiniquan families form the framework of this study abroad program. Evaluation is based on participation, completion of guided journal activities, and one reflection essay in English. This course may be counted towards the minor program in the African and African Diaspora Studies Minor program. Prerequisites: French 113 or 201 and permission of instructor. French 202 is recommended.  Off Campus. (Does NOT count towards French major/minor)

W80 Martinique: Language and Culture in the French Antilles

For students interested in African Diaspora Studies, Caribbean culture, and in improving French language skills, this course offers linguistic and cultural immersion experience in Martinique. A French overseas department, Martinique is part of the European Union, all the while located in the Caribbean, thereby providing a case study of the role of Africa in the formation of the Americas. Students in the program study at the Centre International de Recherches, d’Échanges, et de Coopération de la Caraïbe et des Amériques, in Fort-de-France. Lectures, readings in cultural literacy, intensive language training, site visits, group discussions, and home stays with Martiniquan families form the framework of this study abroad program. Evaluation is based on participation, completion of guided journal activities and one reflection essay, in French. This course may be counted towards the minor program in the African and African Diaspora Studies Minor program. Prerequisites: French 215 and permission of the instructor. NOTE: This is the same course as FRENCH W60 but has additional language expectations, reading and writing requirements, and is only for those taking the course for major/minor credit in French. (DOES count towards French major/minor)

The Study in France Program, Fall 2007

The current Study in France program is open only to advanced students.  The program will be offered again in Fall 2007 as well as in Fall 2008.  Below is a description of the Fall 2005 academic program. The program in 2008 will follow a similar format.

After a brief orientation in Grenoble (late August early September), students will enroll in Grenoble at the Centre universitaire d’études françaises (CUEF), Université Stendhal Grenoble 3.  The CUEF is a French language school housed within the university. Students in CUEF classes are not French, but come from all over world. CUEF instructors are native French speakers.

CUEF courses

Following a placement test, students take at the CUEF between 8 hours to 10 hours of French language classes, as well as 2 hours of English-French translation.  Students also choose three 90-minute lecture courses, usually given in an amphitheater.  CUEF courses will transfer as the following Calvin courses:

STFR 315      Advanced Stylistics and Phonetics (3 s.h.)
STFR 316      Advanced Language Study in France (4 s.h.)
STFR 295      Special Topics (3 s.h.)

The CUEF offers the following lecture courses according to two language levels:

Please note:

• If students are very advanced (native or near-native fluency), they may be placed in a third level, C1-C2 niveau autonome-maîtrise, and take courses at the CUEF with other international students and also courses at the university with French students.  To date, no Calvin student has been placed at that level, but it remains an attractive possibility, which would require, however, consultation on course transfers with the program director, the Director of Off-campus Programs, and the Registrar.

Calvin courses

The program director teaches two courses, which may be the following: 

STFR 230      Contemporary France (2 s.h.)

Catalog description: An introduction to contemporary French culture through readings, discussion with guest speakers, and excursions. Begins early September with an orientation in Grenoble. Fulfills Cross-Cultural Engagement Core.

In Grenoble, students receive a practical orientation to the city (transit system, bank, post office, etc.).  Orientation classroom sessions are dedicated to discussing “cultural misunderstandings” and preparing for the CUEF placement test.

One of the excursions will be to Paris (early fall), from a Thursday to a Sunday. In Paris, students visit numerous sites of cultural, historical and political significance such as monuments, museums, and cathedrals.  Required reading and lectures on the cultural and historical context prepare students for the visits.  In Paris, students see sites such as Notre Dame de Paris, Sacré-Cœur, the Musée d'Orsay, the Louvre, and the Sainte-Chapelle. 
           
The course includes other excursions, including weekend excursions.

In addition to discussions held during the orientation period, the group meets on the average one hour per week, either in class or during a weekend excursion, for discussions on French culture with the instructor.

Evaluation is based on regular participation, a test of various aspects of French culture, and a 5-6 page reflective paper on an aspect of French culture.

The main text for this course will be Lonely Planet: France: 7th  Edition  by Nicola Williams. January 2007. ISBN 9781741042337.  ($24.99)

STFR 220      French Culture and Society through the Media Arts and Literature  (3 s.h.)

Catalog description: A study of current and popular culture and society as perceived and created through various forms of literature and media art. Conducted mainly in French.

The course will have three major components: the first will be a French text that has chapters on the law, the pursuit of happiness, religion, family life, stages of life, eating and drinking; the second will be a compilation of short stories of which all but one are from current-day France; and the third will be a phonetics book which students will use for language purposes. Texts: To be announced.

Credit and Grades

Students obtain a combined 15 semester hours credit through CUEF and Calvin courses. Overall class-room “seat-time” (potentially between 18.5 and 20.5 hours) will be greater than a regular semester at Calvin.  Homework assignments for CUEF courses, however, are generally less demanding. 

In France, teachers generally grade more severely than in the United States.  The French grading system is on a scale of 0 to 20, with 20 being perfect (very rare) and 0 being terrible.  In the French system, 10/20 and higher is considered passing.  Your French grades will be converted to the American letter system for your transcript according to the scale below. 

0-6/20= F
0-7/20 = D+
8/20   = C-
9/20   = C
10/20 = C+
11/20 = B-
12/20 = B
13/20 = B+
14/20 = A-
15-20/20 = A

As with grading, French instructors are usually much more critical in class than North American instructors. It is not uncommon for mistakes to be pointed out openly—and bluntly. In such cases, students should not take the comments personally. Attendance is taken seriously and absences will be recorded.

Courses taken at the CUEF will not affect a student’s GPA but will be recorded on a transcript according to the scale given above. Courses given by the program director will count towards a student’s GPA.   

Application process: Study in France Fall 2008

Preliminary applications will be be available from the Off-Campus Programs office (Hiemenga Hall 322) or online (http://www.calvin.edu/academic/off-campus/). Following approval at the preliminary level, the Off-Campus Programs Office will send students an application to the Study in France program. The due date for applications will be announced in Spring 2008.  Students who plan on applying should complete by the end of Spring 2008 French 215 and 216 (prerequisites); French 217 is highly recommended.