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Introduction

French studies in the University of Toronto provide varied and flexible approaches to one of the world’s major international languages and the diversity of cultures expressed in it.

The courses listed here fall into six main sequences: Literature, Linguistics, French as a Second Language, French Culture, Translation and Second Language Learning. Through modular programming, students enjoy the freedom to concentrate or diversify their interests in these areas. The skills and knowledge acquired will lay the groundwork for careers in teaching, journalism, translation, publishing, and government service, as well as research in a variety of fields.

Literature (FRE): 200-level courses introduce students to literary analysis and present Québécois and French literature in their cultural and historical contexts. 300-level courses encompass the full range of major works of French and Québécois literature. 400-level courses raise questions about notions of literary tradition and mainstream methods of study: the scope of literature is stretched further back or ahead in time, further away in space from traditional centres (France and Québec) and away from dominant sensibilities (to include women’s voices and non-traditional modes of writing); and connections are made to other disciplines. The actual content of most 400-level courses varies considerably according to the instructor. Students should consult the Department of French Undergraduate Brochure (which is also available on-line at www.chass.utoronto.ca/french/under) for content specific to a given year.

Linguistics (FRE): A 100-level course introduces students to the study of grammatical concepts. 200-level courses initiate students into analysis of contemporary French and into the history of its development. 300-level courses break the discipline of linguistic analysis into its chief component parts. 400-level courses extend the study of the French language back in time or out from the idealized standard form; and connections are made to other disciplines (including second language acquisition).

Translation (FRE): Courses on French and English translation at the 300/400-level may be used in a Minor in French Translation that may be added to any other Minor, Major or Specialist program. Such courses are, however, not limited to students taking this program. Certification for this program should not be viewed as the equivalent to a professional diploma in translation but may stand students in good stead should they seek admission to such a program following graduation.

French as a Second Language (FSL): The FSL program is designed to accommodate the widest possible range of previous learning, special needs, and particular interests of students. Emphasis is placed on both written and spoken language; at higher levels, half-courses allow for specialized study of one or the other. The on-line placement test (www.lang.utoronto.ca/placement/french) is mandatory for all students who register in an FRE or FSL course for the first time. The test must be taken prior to registration and at the latest by the end of the first week of classes in order to ensure enrolment in the appropriate course. Based on students’ results, the Department reserves the right to place students in the language course most suitable to developing their French reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. Note that, given 100, 200, 300 and 400-level FSL courses correspond to levels of competence in French, a student may be recommended to enroll in a course at a level higher than his/her year of study. Students not having access to a computer capable of managing sound files should write to french.placement@utoronto.ca to arrange to take the test at the Multimedia Centre. For students in Major and Specialist French programs, emphasis is on precise academic writing and speech approximating as closely as possible that of native speakers. For students not in Major and Specialist French programs, emphasis is on listening and reading skills in varying social and cultural contexts and on the acquisition of vocabulary.

French Cultural Studies (FCS): Courses on French and Francophone culture, taught in English, may be used in a Minor in French Cultural Studies program that may be added to any other Minor, Major or Specialist program. These courses may also be used to fulfil distribution requirements.

Second Language Learning: A Major program in Second Language Learning may be combined with a similar Major program in Italian to produce a Combined Specialist program. The core course for this program is JFI225Y1 which instructs students in the methodology of second-language learning and will be of particular interest to those planning a career in teaching. It will be taught alternately by instructors from the Departments of French and Italian Studies.

Study Elsewhere: To be entitled to participate in the Department’s Third Year Study Elsewhere Program, a student must satisfy the following requirements: overall average of at least 70% in courses completed in second year, and an average of 70% in at least two French courses (FRE) required in a Major or Specialist program. Information on these programs and on the Second Language Summer Program is available on-line at www.chass.utoronto.ca/french/under/else.htm. For further counselling on these programs, contact the Study Elsewhere Advisor at 416-926-1300 ext. 3141 or french.elsewhere@utoronto.ca.

Exclusions and prerequisites: Students must abide by all requirements stated in the exclusions and prerequisites to register in a course. Students who do not have the co- or prerequisites for a given course must obtain the permission of the Department, prior to registration. The Department will assess the students’ admissibility to the course in consultation with the instructor. For FSL courses, exclusions ensure that students follow the best progression in language learning.

Further Information: The Department of French Undergraduate Brochure, available at the Department, contains more detailed information about all the courses and programs listed below. It is also available in an electronic form, which is regularly updated, at www.chass.utoronto.ca/french/under.

Counselling: 50 St. Joseph St., Rm. 226 (416-926-2333), email: french.undergraduate@utoronto.ca

Enquiries: 50 St. Joseph St., Rm. 210 (416-926-2302), email: french.secretary@utoronto.ca; website: www.chass.utoronto.ca/french

French Programs

Enrolment in all French programs requires the completion of four courses. No minimum GPA is required.

Note:
FRE172H1 provides useful basics for further studies in Linguistics and Second Language Learning, and for students who feel they would benefit from a better understanding of the grammatical structure of the language.

French Language and Literature (Arts program)

Specialist program:

(11 full courses or their equivalent)

1 FSL221Y1 (Students exempted from this course may replace it with FRE250Y1); FSL341Y1, FSL442H1, FSL443H1 (Students exempted from FSL341Y1 may replace it with any FRE course. Students with 77% in FSL341Y1 may replace FSL442H1, FSL443H1 with a 300+ series FRE course.
2. FRE240Y1
3. FRE272H1, FRE273H1
4. FRE 444H – Literary Theory.
5. 5.5 additional FRE literature courses including the following: at least 0.5 course in each group A, B, C and D, and another 1.0 at the 400 level

Major program:

(8 full courses or their equivalent)

1. FSL221Y1. (Students exempted from this course may replace it with FRE250Y1); FSL341Y1 (Students exempted from this course may replace it with any FRE course)
2. FRE240Y1
3. FRE272H1, FRE273H1
4. 4 additional FRE literature courses including the following: at least 0.5 course in each group A, B, C and D, and another 1.0 course at the 400 level.

Note: COURSES IN EACH GROUP ARE OFFERED IN ALTERNATE YEARS AS FOLLOWS:

Courses offered in Even Years (2008-09)
A – FRE322H1 (18th Century); B – FRE326H1 (20th Century); C – FRE332H1 (Francophonie); D – FRE319H1 (Renaissance)

Courses offered in Odd Years: (2009-10)
A – FRE320H1 (17th Century); B - FRE364H1 (19th Century); C - FRE314H1 (Quebec); D - FRE321H1 (Middle Ages)

French Language and French Linguistics (Arts programs)

Specialist program:

(10 full courses or their equivalent)

1. FSL221Y1. Students exempted from this course may replace it with FRE172H1 and an additional FRE Linguistics half-course.
2. FRE272H1, FRE273H1, FRE274H1
3. FRE210Y1/FRE240Y1
4. FSL341Y1, FSL442H1, FSL443H1. Students exempted from FSL341Y1 may replace it with any FRE course. Students with 77% in FSL341Y1 may replace FSL442H1, FSL443H1 with a 300+ series FRE course.
5. FRE376H1, FRE378H1
6. Four additional FRE Linguistics courses. At least two of these courses must be at the 300/400-level, including one at the 400-level. FRE375Y1 may be substituted for one of these four courses.

Major program:

(7 full courses or their equivalent)

1 FSL221Y1. Students exempted from this course may replace it with FRE172H1 and an additional FRE Linguistics half-course.
2. FRE272H1, FRE273H1, FRE274H1
3. FRE210Y1/FRE240Y1
4. FSL341Y1. Students exempted from this course may replace it with any FRE course.
5. FRE376H1, FRE378H1
6. 1.5 additional FRE Linguistics courses. At least one of these courses must be at the 300/400-level, including one half-course at the 400-level. FRE375Y1 may be substituted for one of these two courses.

Second Language Learning (French) (Arts Program)

Major program:

(8 full courses or their equivalent including at least 2 FRE courses at the 300+ level)

1. FSL221Y1. Students exempted from this course may replace it with higher-level FSL courses of their choice.
2. JFI225Y1, FRE272H1, FRE273H1, FSL277Y1, FSL341Y1
3. FRE210Y1/FRE240Y1
4. Two additional FRE courses among the following: FRE375Y1/FRE384H1/FRE385H1/473H1

French as a Second Language (Arts Program)

Minor program:

(4 full courses or their equivalent)

1. FSL221Y1. Students exempted from this course may replace it with higher-level FSL courses of their choice.
2. One 300-level FSL course
3. One 400-level FSL course
4. One other FSL course or FRE375Y1 or any 200+-level FRE course, except FRE480Y1. (FSL121Y1 may be included if taken before FSL221Y1).

French Translation (Arts Program)

Minor program:

(4 full courses or their equivalent)

1. FRE375Y1
2. FRE480Y1, FRE481Y1
3. An additional FRE course at the 200+level

French Studies (Arts Program)

Minor program:

(4 full courses or their equivalent)

1. FSL221Y1
2. Three FRE courses at the 200+ level including one at the 300/400-level (FSL121Y1 may be included if taken before FSL221Y1)

French Cultural Studies (Arts Program)

Minor program:

(4 full courses or their equivalent)

Any four FCS full course equivalents including at least one course at the 300/400-level.

Note: For students meeting prerequisites set by other departments/programs, up to 1.5 courses from the following list may be substituted for FCS courses: FAH245H1, FAH345H1, FAH346H1, FAH445H1, FAH446H1, FAH447H1; FRE literature courses; HIS314Y1, HIS387H1, HIS388H1, HIS457H1; JEF100Y1; JFV323H1; INI385Y1, INI386H1; SMC228Y1

Faculty of Arts & Science Language Citation

The Department of French participates in the Faculty of Arts and Science’s Language Citation initiative for French.
In order to receive a language citation in our Department students should have completed any two course among the following with a minimum mark of B-: FSL 300+, FRE200+.

Students should note that, as explained on page 21 of this Calendar, the Language Citation is not equivalent to an academic program and that enrolment in a program is not necessary in order to earn the recognition bestowed by the Citation.

For other programs in French, see also: Modern Languages and Literatures; Linguistics and Languages.