This Course at MIT

Course Overview

This page focuses on the course 21F.311 Introduction to French Culture as it was taught by Professor Catherine Clark in Spring 2014.

This course examines major social and political trends, events, debates and personalities which help place various aspects of contemporary French culture in their historical perspective.

Course Outcomes

Course Goals for Students

Students may take the course in order to

  • improve their French language skills
  • gain a deeper understanding of contemporary French culture

The class attracts students who

  • want to learn more about French society and culture in preparation for a visit or internship
  • are interested in learning more about culture, and in studying French culture, to better understand their own
 

Curriculum Information

Prerequisites

One intermediate subject in French, or permission of the instructor.

Requirements Satisfied

HASS-H

Offered

This course is generally taught during the fall semester, but is not necessarily offered each year.

The Classroom

  • Flat classroom with a capacity of ~25, includes modern tablet arm chairs, computer, monitor, LCD projector, screen, and wireless network.

    Room 1 of 1

    Lecture

    Flat classroom with a capacity of ~25, includes modern tablet arm chairs, computer, monitor, LCD projector, screen, and wireless network. (Image courtesy of Shannon Larkin.)

 

Assessment

The students' grades were based on the following activities:

The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by participation. 20% Participation
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by response papers. 20% Responses
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by student presentations. 15% Student presentation
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by a research paper. 25% Research paper
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by the final paper. 20% Final exam
 

Student Information

On average, 13 students take this course each time it is offered.

Breakdown by Year

Mainly freshmen and sophomores, but varies by year.

Typical Student Background

Students who take the course have, in general, completed at least French IV or AP/IB equivalents. This is usually either the first or second intermediate-level French class they take. It can also work for native speakers with very little experience reading and writing.

Enrollment Cap

24

 

How Student Time Was Spent

During an average week, students were expected to spend 12 hours on the course, roughly divided as follows:

In Class/Lecture

3 hours per week
  • Met 2 times per week for 90 minutes per session; 26 sessions total; mandatory attendance.
  • Sessions were divided between class discussion of assigned materials, weekly responses, and students’ presentations.
 

Out of Class

9 hours per week

Students prepared readings, oral presentations, weekly papers, and an individual research paper.

 

Semester Breakdown

WEEK M T W Th F
1 No classes throughout MIT. No session scheduled. Class session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled.
2 Class session scheduled; assignment due date. No session scheduled. Class session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled.
3 No classes throughout MIT. Class session scheduled; assignment due date. Class session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled.
4 Class session scheduled; assignment due date. No session scheduled. Class session scheduled; assignment due date. No session scheduled. No session scheduled.
5 Class session scheduled. No session scheduled. Class session scheduled; assignment due date. No session scheduled. No session scheduled.
6 Class session scheduled. No session scheduled. Class session scheduled; assignment due date. No session scheduled. No session scheduled.
7 Class session scheduled. No session scheduled. Class session scheduled; assignment due date. No session scheduled. No session scheduled.
8 No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT.
9 Class session scheduled; student presentations held. No session scheduled. Class session scheduled; student presentations held; assignment due date. No session scheduled. No session scheduled.
10 Class session scheduled. No session scheduled. Class session scheduled; assignment due date. No session scheduled. No session scheduled; assignment due date.
11 Class session scheduled. No session scheduled. Class session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled.
12 No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. Class session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled; assignment due date.
13 Class session scheduled. No session scheduled. Class session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled.
14 Class session scheduled. No session scheduled. Class session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled.
15 Class session scheduled. No session scheduled. Class session scheduled; exam held. No session scheduled. No classes throughout MIT.
16 No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT.
Displays the color and pattern used on the preceding table to indicate dates when classes are not held at MIT. No classes throughout MIT
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when class sessions are held. Class session
Displays the symbol used on the preceding table to indicate dates when assignments are due. Assignment due date
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when no class session is scheduled. No class session scheduled
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when student presentations are held. Student presentations
Displays the symbol used on the preceding table to indicate dates when exams are held. Exam