French Studies

This subject offers students an introduction to the study of language and culture in the French Studies discipline. The subject is designed to equip students who have little or no previous study of the French language with the skills necessary to become independent language learners, and to develop awareness and understanding of French-speaking cultures throughout the world. While developing mastery of the basic grammatical structures of the language, students will begin interpreting and discussing authentic documents in French, including short written texts, for example poems and proverbs, and audiovisual material such as songs and advertisements. Class work and assessment will focus on the development of reading and writing skills via the interpretation of authentic texts, and also on oral communication skills, including listening comprehension, pronunciation, and discussion of the texts studied. Students will undertake a group project on an aspect of French-speaking cultures. Throughout the semester, students will develop increasing autonomy in their study of the French language and French-speaking cultures throughout the world.

This subject offers students who have completed French 1, or equivalent, an increasing immersion into the study of the French language and of French-speaking cultures throughout the world. Students will develop further autonomy in their study of more sophisticated grammatical structures of the language and in their interpretation of the cultural reference of authentic texts. These documents will be of greater complexity in relation to the previous semester’s work and will include written texts, for example poems and proverbs, and audio-visual material such as songs and a feature film. Students will undertake a research project on an aspect of French-speaking cultures. Reading and writing skills will be developed through the interpretation of authentic texts in French. Oral communication skills will be developed through more sophisticated listening comprehension and pronunciation exercises as well as an in-class oral presentation based on the research project and discussion of the texts studied.

Intensive French 3 and 4 is designed to provide students with a systematic revision and consolidation of the essential structures of French. Classes will present grammar, syntax and vocabulary in meaningful situations. The subject also stresses the productive aspect of language use in practical situations, while extending grammatical and lexical knowledge and refining oral skills. Listening skills are also developed by use of authentic documents. Students will also spend time in private study working on written and oral exercises and using online resources. On completion of the subject students should be able to sustain conversations and express opinions on topics of general interest, have consolidated their knowledge of all basic structures of French, and have attained level B1 of competence in the Common European Reference Framework in the target language. They will also have read a short story in French and explore the linguistic and cultural aspects contained in it.

This subject will build on the grammatical, lexical and cultural knowledge and the oral skills acquired in French 1 and 2. The course also stresses the productive aspect of language use in practical situations by means of regular small-group activities. In terms of cultural knowledge, students will increase their historical awareness of the background to the birth of Republic. The key character and moment around which the cultural content of the subject will be articulated is “Molière, theatre and the arts in 17th Century France”. Using materials on these topics, the subject will build on the formal study of French by developing the competences needed for résumé. Students will be given the tools to become active storytellers through the study of narrative/historical tenses (présent, passé composé/imparfait, passé simple), third-person narrative, and the logical connectors needed for cohesive discourse. The subject will systematically relate the structures encountered in the scripts of the films and in written texts to a reference grammar, and will teach students how to use that grammar for their own investigation of the mechanisms of syntax and grammatical rules. Students will also learn how to use a French monolingual dictionary to discover the grammatical and semantic information they need for processing texts.

The subject will follow the motto of the French Republic and explore the cultural, social and political aspects linked to these concepts. It will build on the skills developed in French 3 for the purpose of résumé and narrative competencies in oral and written form and expand into more complex sentences and verb forms (subjunctive, gerund, present and past participles). Work on discourse structure will continue.

The material used will centre on the important events of the 19th century that will see the gradual consolidation of the republican system through a succession of empires, monarchies and republics. Students will explore modern representations in film and other media of these events, and demonstrate their relevance for the understanding of today’s French-speaking world.

The concepts of “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” will be explored in relationship to the revolutions of that century, the evolution of the legal system and the development of the French colonial empire. Students will undertake small research projects on “key personalities” – significant historical figures and their influence.

The study of the documents will be associated with the use of a reference grammar and a French monolingual dictionary to discover semantic, syntactic and lexical information they need for processing texts on these topics.

This subject aims to consolidate and enhance the overall language competencies that students from the beginner and intermediate streams have previously acquired in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Students will be introduced to the rich history and diversity of the Francophonie, and invited to explore a series of culturally and linguistically diverse Francophone communities around the world. Through their research projects, the weekly reading, discussions and analysis of a wide range of authentic materials (such as short stories, graphic novels, articles, songs, documentaries, films, interviews, news clips, etc.), students will develop effective and appropriate learning and research strategies such that they become independent and competent users of French.

What does it mean to be French in the 21st century? Why should this question be asked? The program will explore the controversies concerning French unity that are currently taking place in France, not only in political terms but primarily as a conception of language and culture. The background to these controversies will also be explored by looking into contemporary debates and what feeds into them from the recent past. To this end, the subject will draw on a range of material from popular culture such as songs, advertisements, news articles, comics, TV shows, sport as well as French cinema and literature to explore and analyse the way in which this identity has been negotiated by individuals or groups of individuals at different points in time. Parallels and contrasts will be made with the various policies and initiatives taken by successive governments to promote national unity and patriotic sentiment (from street names to museums, the army and the republican school). The way this myth of unity was initially construed will also be discussed in the light of key national and international events.

This subject offers high-level French students a course in advanced conversation structure and analysis. It will build on the linguistic and cultural competences acquired in previous levels to develop greater awareness of how the historical, intercultural, political and social aspects of language impact on oral communication in French.

The program will focus on two main areas of conversation: the refinement of conversation as an expression of elegance, intelligence and “esprit” during the Ancien Régime and the political dimensions of contemporary conversation and debate. It will include material on significant cultural taboos and the historical underpinnings of sensitive topics, as well as politeness and registers. Current affairs and contemporary debates will be analysed with an emphasis on situational contexts to consider factors such as goals, intentions, situational constraints and contextual expectancies.

The aims of this subject are to understand the historical significance of the value placed on conversational skills in French society. It will build on the introduction to argumentation in French 5 in oral communication, while strengthening aural comprehension competences. Reading and writing will be maintained, and students will refine their understanding of the differences between the written and the spoken language and of how to move from one to the other.

This subject will build on the grammatical, lexical and cultural knowledge and the oral skills acquired in French 1 and 2. The course also stresses the productive aspect of language use in practical situations by means of regular small-group activities. In terms of cultural knowledge, students will increase their historical awareness of the background to the birth of Republic. The key character and moment around which the cultural content of the subject will be articulated is “Molière, theatre and the arts in 17th Century France". Using materials on these topics, the subject will build on the formal study of French by developing the competences needed for résumé. Students will be given the tools to become active storytellers through the study of narrative/historical tenses (présent, passé composé/imparfait, passé simple), third-person narrative, and the logical connectors needed for cohesive discourse. The subject will systematically relate the structures encountered in the scripts of the films and in written texts to a reference grammar, and will teach students how to use that grammar for their own investigation of the mechanisms of syntax and grammatical rules. Students will also learn how to use a French monolingual dictionary to discover the grammatical and semantic information they need for processing texts.

The subject will follow the motto of the French Republic and explore the cultural, social and political aspects linked to these concepts. It will build on the skills developed in French 3 for the purpose of résumé and narrative competencies in oral and written form and expand into more complex sentences and verb forms (subjunctive, gerund, present and past participles). Work on discourse structure will continue.

The material used will centre on the important events of the 19th century that will see the gradual consolidation of the republican system through a succession of empires, monarchies and republics. Students will explore modern representations in film and other media of these events, and demonstrate their relevance for the understanding of today’s French-speaking world.

The concepts of “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” will be explored in relationship to the revolutions of that century, the evolution of the legal system and the development of the French colonial empire. Students will undertake small research projects on “key personalities” – significant historical figures and their influence.

The study of the documents will be associated with the use of a reference grammar and a French monolingual dictionary to discover semantic, syntactic and lexical information they need for processing texts on these topics.

What does it mean to be French in the 21st century? Why should this question be asked? The program will explore the controversies concerning French unity that are currently taking place in France, not only in political terms but primarily as a conception of language and culture. The background to these controversies will also be explored by looking into contemporary debates and what feeds into them from the recent past. To this end, the subject will draw on a range of material from popular culture such as songs, advertisements, news articles, comics, TV shows, sport as well as French cinema and literature to explore and analyse the way in which this identity has been negotiated by individuals or groups of individuals at different points in time. Parallels and contrasts will be made with the various policies and initiatives taken by successive governments to promote national unity and patriotic sentiment (from street names to museums, the army and the republican school). The way this myth of unity was initially construed will also be discussed in the light of key national and international events.

This subject offers high-level French students a course in advanced conversation structure and analysis. It will build on the linguistic and cultural competences acquired in previous levels to develop greater awareness of how the historical, intercultural, political and social aspects of language impact on oral communication in French.

The program will focus on two main areas of conversation: the refinement of conversation as an expression of elegance, intelligence and “esprit” during the Ancien Régime and the political dimensions of contemporary conversation and debate. It will include material on significant cultural taboos and the historical underpinnings of sensitive topics, as well as politeness and registers. Current affairs and contemporary debates will be analysedwith an emphasis on situational contexts to consider factors such as goals, intentions, situational constraints and contextual expectancies.

The aims of this subject are to understand the historical significance of the value placed on conversational skills in French society. It will build on the introduction to argumentation in French 5 in oral communication, while strengthening aural comprehension competences. Reading and writing will be maintained, and students will refine their understanding of the differences between the written and the spoken language and of how to move from one to the other.

This course will explore the comparative stylistics of French and English from a theoretical as well as a practical perspective. It will consist of lectures on the methodology of translation from French to English followed by tutorials where it will be put into practice. Students will explore aspects of literary, technical and official translation and their application in today’s world.

Following the focus on advanced oral skills at French 6, students will now develop advanced writing skills. Building on their mastery of résumé and synthèse acquired in previous subjects students will learn how to structure and present more developed essays, such as French “dissertations”. This will be done working with the theme, “The culture of the language” in which French is viewed not only as the principal vehicle of French culture; it is also as an object represented in and by that culture. This subject rounds out the study of French by examining traditions that have shaped the understanding of what “French” is for French speakers around the world. The subject is a formal prerequisite for entry into Honours in French.

What does it mean to be French in the 21st century? Why should this question be asked? The program will explore the controversies concerning French unity that are currently taking place in France, not only in political terms but primarily as a conception of language and culture. The background to these controversies will also be explored by looking into contemporary debates and what feeds into them from the recent past. To this end, the subject will draw on a range of material from popular culture such as songs, advertisements, news articles, comics, TV shows, sport as well as French cinema and literature to explore and analyse the way in which this identity has been negotiated by individuals or groups of individuals at different points in time. Parallels and contrasts will be made with the various policies and initiatives taken by successive governments to promote national unity and patriotic sentiment (from street names to museums, the army and the republican school). The way this myth of unity was initially construed will also be discussed in the light of key national and international events.

This subject offers high-level French students a course in advanced conversation structure and analysis. It will build on the linguistic and cultural competences acquired in previous levels to develop greater awareness of how the historical, intercultural, political and social aspects of language impact on oral communication in French.

The program will focus on two main areas of conversation: the refinement of conversation as an expression of elegance, intelligence and “esprit” during the Ancien Régime and the political dimensions of contemporary conversation and debate. It will include material on significant cultural taboos and the historical underpinnings of sensitive topics, as well as politeness and registers. Current affairs and contemporary debates will be analysed with an emphasis on situational contexts to consider factors such as goals, intentions, situational constraints and contextual expectancies.

The aims of this subject are to understand the historical significance of the value placed on conversational skills in French society. It will build on the introduction to argumentation in French 5 in oral communication, while strengthening aural comprehension competences. Reading and writing will be maintained, and students will refine their understanding of the differences between the written and the spoken language and of how to move from one to the other.

Following the focus on advanced oral skills at French 6, students will now develop advanced writing skills. Building on their mastery of résumé and synthèse acquired in previous subjects students will learn how to structure and present more developed essays. This will be done working with the theme, “The culture of the language” in which French is viewed not only as the principal vehicle of French culture; it is also as an object represented in and by that culture. This subject rounds out the study of French by examining traditions that have shaped the understanding of what “French” is for French speakers around the world. The subject is a formal prerequisite for entry into Honours in French.

This course will explore the comparative stylistics of French and English from a theoretical as well as a practical perspective. It will consist of lectures on the methodology of translation from French to English followed by tutorials where it will be put into practice. Students will explore aspects of literary, technical and official translation and their application in today’s world.

This intensive three week online subject will focus on one of the most creative times of French history, albeit one of the most turbulent, the Renaissance. With a series of lectures and detailed virtual site visits, this subject will examine some of the most striking examples of French Renaissance architecture, including the famed “Chateaux de la Loire” built during the late 16th century, and learn about arts and history. This course will use an interdisciplinary approach (linguistic, history, art history, botany, gastronomy etc.).

This course will explore the comparative stylistics of French and English from a theoretical as well as a practical perspective. It will consist of lectures on the methodology of translation from French to English followed by tutorials where it will be put into practice. Students will explore aspects of literary, technical and official translation and their application in today’s world.

The aims of this subject are to give an in-depth understanding of the French and francophone theatre literature and to value and critically evaluate this literature. The subject will cover textual analysis of French theatre plays from the 17 th century to 21 st century, such as Molière’s comedies, Racine’s tragedies (17 th c.), Ionesco’s absurdist dramas (20 th c.) or Yasmina Reza’s or Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt’s contemporary dramas (21 st c.). Students will have the opportunity to read or perform passages from selected plays. They will also be involved in the creative writing of theatre scenes, role-plays or a short play in French.

This subject covers topics such as exile and immigration in France, immigration policies and their direct impact on the migrant population. colonisation and decolonisation, racism and multiculturalism, French identity, nationality and citizenship. On completion of this subject, students should be able to analyse critically and synthesise coherently the arguments in the debate on immigration in France. discriminate among statements of evidence, interpretation, opinion and facts, regarding the definition and redefinition of the notions of culture, identity, and Frenchness in the context of globalisation, and compare and reflect on similar issues of immigration in other countries, in particular Australia. This subject will be taught and assessed in French.

This subject examines how travel writing translates the world into words, and as such is a key to understanding international relations and intercultural communication. Focusing mainly on contemporary texts but also referring to classical French travel literature, it introduces students to a wide range of fictional and non-fictional travel narratives in French set in various geographical locations. Texts range from explorer’s accounts to contemporary travel tales, together with examples from comics (Tintin), cinema, fiction and journalism. Students are encouraged to pursue reading and assessment tasks that coincide with their own interests for past, present and future travel destinations. Students will study theoretical, anthropological, philosophical and literary texts in this field to develop a sound understanding of the intercultural, (post)colonial and geopolitical issues that may be presented through travel writing and the encounter with the Other. This subject is taught in French.

In this subject students will read a selection of novels in French (from the Middle Ages to 18th century) in order to understand the evolution of the French novel. They will have to analyse the narrative structures and demonstrate critical awareness of the social, political and ideological context of each novel. The subject will be taught in French.

In this course students learn about a selection of European cuisines and how they have been plated up for consumption in Melbourne. Food and wine are often used to support national and regional identity. In the first part of this course, students will consider the relationship between gastronomy and identity. Students will be introduced to a range of key culinary concepts and practices and the way we talk about them. Through analysis of some of the key features of French, Italian and Spanish cuisines, students will consider how these countries’ culinary profiles speak to wider socio-political issues such as authenticity, food and space, cultural practices and the history of food and wine.

In the second part of this course, students will consider issues of “authenticity” in the way cuisines are plated up for consumption in Melbourne. This will require students to interrogate their assumptions and expectations about European foods and wines and to reflect on their personal experience of the “taste” of Europe.

This subject explores portrayals and perceptions of perceived “Others” in Europe – such as Jews, Muslims, “gypsies” and refugees - and how they have contributed to European identities in the past and today. Looking at literature, film, philosophy, music, food and popular culture, the subject will seek to understand how Europe’s Others are essential to the formation and maintenance of national, ethnic and religious identities in many European countries. It will examine the role of Others “within” (such as the Jews) and Others “without” (such as colonial subjects) and consider kinds of European “Othering” that position the Other as either appealing and attractive or threatening and repulsive. From colonial-era exoticisation to present day xenophobia, European views of the Other have been central to definitions of the self and shaped the continent’s history, politics, culture and languages. Students will gain an appreciation of nation and national identity in Europe as a discursive and comparative process, and an understanding of the distinct national stories of a number of European countries.

A team-taught study of European cinema during a period of intense political and social change. Students who complete this subject should be familiar with some of the major developments in cinematic representation in Europe from the early 20th century to the present. They should be able to relate the films studied to their national and European cultural and historical context.

Note: This subject is taught in English.

This intensive three week online subject will focus on one of the most creative times of French history, albeit one of the most turbulent, the Renaissance. With a series of lectures and detailed virtual site visits, this subject will examine some of the most striking examples of French Renaissance architecture, including the famed “Chateaux de la Loire” built during the late 16th century, and learn about arts and history. This course will use an interdisciplinary approach (linguistic, history, art history, botany, gastronomy etc.).

This course will explore the comparative stylistics of French and English from a theoretical as well as a practical perspective. It will consist of lectures on the methodology of translation from French to English followed by tutorials where it will be put into practice. Students will explore aspects of literary, technical and official translation and their application in today’s world.

The aims of this subject are to give an in-depth understanding of the French and francophone theatre literature and to value and critically evaluate this literature. The subject will cover textual analysis of French theatre plays from the 17 th century to 21 st century, such as Molière’s comedies, Racine’s tragedies (17 th c.), Ionesco’s absurdist dramas (20 th c.) or Yasmina Reza’s or Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt’s contemporary dramas (21 st c.). Students will have the opportunity to read or perform passages from selected plays. They will also be involved in the creative writing of theatre scenes, role-plays or a short play in French.

This subject examines how travel writing translates the world into words, and as such is a key to understanding international relations and intercultural communication. Focusing mainly on contemporary texts but also referring to classical French travel literature, it introduces students to a wide range of fictional and non-fictional travel narratives in French set in various geographical locations. Texts range from explorer’s accounts to contemporary travel tales, together with examples from comics (Tintin), cinema, fiction and journalism. Students are encouraged to pursue reading and assessment tasks that coincide with their own interests for past, present and future travel destinations. Students will study theoretical, anthropological, philosophical and literary texts in this field to develop a sound understanding of the intercultural, (post)colonial and geopolitical issues that may be presented through travel writing and the encounter with the Other. This subject is taught in French.

This subject covers topics such as exile and immigration in France, immigration policies and their direct impact on the migrant population, colonisation and decolonisation, racism and multiculturalism, French identity, nationality and citizenship. On completion of this subject, students should be able to analyse critically and synthesise coherently the arguments in the debate on immigration in France, discriminate among statements of evidence, interpretation, opinion and facts, regarding the definition and redefinition of the notions of culture, identity, and Frenchness in the context of globalisation, and compare and reflect on similar issues of immigration in other countries, in particular Australia. This subject will be taught and assessed in French.

In this subject students will read a selection of novels in French (from the Middle Ages to 18th century) in order to understand the evolution of the French novel. They will have to analyse the narrative structures and demonstrate critical awareness of the social, political and ideological context of each novel. The subject will be taught in French.

In this course students learn about a selection of European cuisines and how they have been plated up for consumption in Melbourne. Food and wine are often used to support national and regional identity. In the first part of this course, students will consider the relationship between gastronomy and identity. Students will be introduced to a range of key culinary concepts and practices and the way we talk about them. Through analysis of some of the key features of French, Italian and Spanish cuisines, students will consider how these countries’ culinary profiles speak to wider socio-political issues such as authenticity, food and space, cultural practices and the history of food and wine.

In the second part of this course, students will consider issues of “authenticity” in the way cuisines are plated up for consumption in Melbourne. This will require students to interrogate their assumptions and expectations about European foods and wines and to reflect on their personal experience of the “taste” of Europe.

A team-taught study of European cinema during a period of intense political and social change. Students who complete this subject should be familiar with some of the major developments in cinematic representation in Europe from the early 20th century to the present. They should be able to relate the films studied to their national and European cultural and historical context.

Note: This subject is taught in English.

This subject examines the relationship between language and society in Europe. It focuses on issues of relevance in an increasingly integrated Europe in which European and other languages are in contact through migration, travel, business, and mass media, and in which English is taking on an important role as a lingua franca. The topics to be covered include: the relationship between majority and minority languages, dialects and the standard language; bilingualism and multilingualism; semi-communication; language planning at state and European levels; politeness and forms of address; and the status and influence of English.