TEACHING EXPERIENCE
updated January 15th, 2018
updated January 15th, 2018
University of Saskatchewan (2017-2018)
FREN 103 First-Semester French
This course represents and introduction to the basic grammatical concepts of French. Instruction is based on the communicative approach, using a variety of activities that target students' written, spoken and aural abilities in the French language. |
FREN 212 Advanced French
This French language course that builds on skills acquired at lower levels. Students refine their knowledge of the language through some oral work, but emphasis is placed on the practical application of grammar through reading and writing. A contemporary register of language, vocabulary and style is stressed through the study of magazines, journals and newspapers. Click here to access the syllabus for the course. |
FREN 224 French Film Classics (online delivery)
This course is designed to introduce students to the history of French cinema, from its beginnings to the present day. Through the screening and analysis of some of its landmark films, students will become familiar with the major aesthetic trends of French cinema (such as the avant-garde, poetic realism, the New Wave, or the cinéma du look) as well as some of its most prominent directors (such as François Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard, Agnès Varda, or Jacques Tati). Through the readings that will accompany the selected films, students will gain awareness of the artistic and cultural significance of these films, as the readings are intended to highlight (a) the significance of cinema as a social artifact that reflects issues and concerns specific to a society at a given moment in its history and (b) the significance of cinema as an art form that should be addressed as such, using the proper vocabulary to comment on its aesthetic qualities. |
FREN 338 Youth in French and Francophone Cinema
This course focuses on the representation of youth in a broad way (childhood, adolescence, young adults) in French and Francophone cinema, from the 1930s to the present time. Discussing youth in cinema allows us to observe the changes (social, cultural, economic, political) that shaped French and Francophone societies throughout the past 80 years. From the desire to break free from an archaic social order (The 400 Blows) to being the reflection of major societal issues (La Haine) youth offers a complex and often brutally realistic depiction of modern societies. The goal of this course is to discuss film as both the product of a culture at a given time in history as well as a work of art that should be analyzed and discussed as such, using the appropriate lexicon. Click here to access the syllabus for the course. |
FREN 252 Culture and Society in France
This course offers a study of the cultural evolution in France (history, politics, religion, education, language, song, cinema, culinary arts, etc.) with emphasis on contemporary society (from the Second World War onward). Students' awareness of the specificities of French society is raised through a variety of written and audiovisual documents (articles, press articles, films, news reports). Click here to access the syllabus for the course. |
Athabasca University (2016-2017)
FREN 200 First-Year University French
The course enables students to use French in social situations and to talk about themselves, their opinions, and their experiences. In addition, FREN 200 leads the student through a major review of grammar and develops the student's ability to understand and compose short passages. Click here to access the syllabus for the course. |
FREN 363 Le Roman français du XXe siècle
Etude de cinq romans du XXe siècle illustrant l'évolution du roman moderne et de la vie intellectuelle en France. Grands thèmes: le roman traditionnel, la crise du roman et du récit, l'existentialisme, et le nouveau roman. Click here to access the syllabus for the course. |
FREN 420 Poésie et théâtre du XIXe siècle
FRENCH 420 is designed for students who intend to major in French or to graduate in Education with French as a teaching subject. This course is also vital to those who intend to pursue translation as a profession and those aspiring towards a higher degree (MA) in French Studies. It serves as an introduction to 19th-Century French poetry and theatre, through the study of (1) a substantial selection of the work of some traditionally well-known male poets, (2) the work of the hitherto little-known women poets, (3) a play chosen from the Romantic period On ne badine pas avec l’amour, which remains popular in contemporary France to this day, and (d) Baudelaire’s Les Fleurs du mal. Baudelairewill be given prominence as a central figure in the evolution of 19th-Century French literary aesthetics, and as a precursor of French symbolist literature. What is particularly innovative about this course is the inclusion of women poets (most of whom have so far been excluded from courses in 19th- Century French literature). These women poets were not only contemporaries to, but indeed close literary associates of, some of the literary giants of 19th-Century France. The one play included in the course suffices to demonstrate the close relationship between poetry and drama in the Romantic period. Click here access the syllabus for the course. FREN 305 La Littérature jeunesse French 305 will provide an historical overview of the development of children’s literature in French and allow students to explore the various genres. The units of the course will focus on specific problems such as the role of the narrator, the relationship between narrator and reader, the relationship between the text and the illustrations, the evolution of the “hero” and how childhood has been perceived over the years. The course aims to develop skills in literary analysis, written and oral expression in French and also to increase awareness of the complexity and diversity of children’s literature. Click here to access the syllabus for the course. |
FREN 421 Le Roman français du XIXe siècle
FREN 421 is designed for students who intend to major in French or to graduate in Education with French as a teaching subject. This course is also vital to those who intend to pursue translation as a profession and those aspiring towards a higher degree (MA) in French Studies. It introduces students to the 19th-Century French novel through the study of Eugénie Grandet (Honoré de Balzac), François le champi (George Sand) and Madame Bovary (Gustave Flaubert). What is innovative and of contemporary appeal is the inclusion of George Sand (the only woman novelist) in this course on the French novel as students need to know of the existence of feminine (perhaps 'feminist') literature in France nearly a century before the word 'feminism' found a place in the French dictionary. The more enthusiastic student will nonetheless be able to explore references made to other contemporary novelists and writers such as Chateaubriand, Stendhal, Hugo, Maupassant and Zola. Click here to access the syllabus for the course. FREN 374 La Littérature québécoise FREN 374 is a survey course that offers students an overview of Quebec literature from its beginnings in the sixteenth century to the first decade of the twenty-first century. Selected works from different genres (novel, theatre, poetry) will be studied in their social and historical context. The main objective of the course is to allow students to make their own personal discovery of Quebec literature and develop an appreciation of it. Click here to access the syllabus for the course. |
Washington State University (Aug.2014-present)
FREN 102 Second Semester French
This course develops the 4 fundamentals of speaking, listening, reading and writing. |
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FREN 203 Third Semester French
Grammar review and further development of speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. |
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FREN 204 Fourth Semester French
Continued practice in spoken and written language; selected texts in a cultural context. |
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FREN 308 Intermediate Grammar and Writing - Fall 2015
By clicking here, you will be able to access to website I designed as a companion to the textbook (Tâches d’encre) we will be using in the grammar and composition class I will be teaching in the Fall of 2015. Following the different types of writings discussed in the textbook, I designed the entire class around one main “writing project” where students are asked to create their own crime story, or “polar”. To do so, they are asked to establish fictional characters (le portrait), the location of the story (la description) and the series of events that will create the plot (la narration). I am also using various software programs to help them organize their ideas in an informal way, while still practicing with the French language. I thought of this website as a pedagogical tool that would enable students to easily access information about French grammar while allowing for a greater quality of interaction within the classroom. |
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FREN 307 Intermediate Speaking and Listening
Systematic development of speaking and listening proficiency; emphasis on pronunciation and phonetics. |
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FREN 310 French and Francophone Cinema
View and discuss French and Francophone films from the 1930's to present. |
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FREN 120 French Culture
Cultural history of France from beginnings to present; comparison of French and American cultures. Taught in English. |
Click here to access the website I created for this class.
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FREN 410 French Film in Translation
In depth study of French cinema integrating its history, techniques, methods, and global impact. Taught in English. The class focus on the representation of youth in French cinema. |
Click here to access the website I created for this class.
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University of Kansas (2011-2014)
FREN 350 Applied French Grammar and Composition
This course is designed to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of specific grammatical aspects, while strenghtening their written abilities, through the study of a variety of writing styles (the description, the portrait, the dissertation, etc.) |
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FREN 352 French for Business and Journalism
This course introduces students to the lexicon, syntax and style necessary to conduct journalism and business in French. They also improve their knowledge of grammar through activities on targeted grammatical aspects. Students also learn technical vocabulary, as well as the cultural differences between France and the US and practice skills, such as applying for a job interview, writing a cover letter or a CV in French. |
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FREN 375 Intermediate French Conversation
This course provides students with meaningful conversational skills through the study of social and cultural trends of contemporary France. The review of some essential grammatical aspects and the learning of specific vocabulary allows students to discuss topics such as (but not limited to) immigration, education, sexuality, and politics. I redesigned the syllabus for this course by integrating an audiovisual component, and using films as the structuring device for our conversations and debates. I created an online version for this course that you can access by clicking here. |
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FREN 326 Introduction to French literature
This course is designed to introduce students to French literature by giving them an appreciation of French prose, theater and poetry. Students are presented with the history of literature, theater and poetry, with a particular focus on the movements and people who helped shape each genre. I selected each of the works that we studied in this course. |
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FREN 430 La France d'aujourd'hui
This course introduces students to contemporary French civilization and culture through the study of social, economic and political trends from 1939 to the present. We discuss a broad range of topics, such as family, the EU, immigration, the media, sexuality, or education. The majority of class is devoted to discussions based on the assigned readings, as well as students' presentations on specific aspects of French or Francophone culture. I selected the films that we studied in this course. |
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FREN 440 Recent French Culture and Film (2000-2010)
The goal of this course is to introduce students to the question of French cultural identity as conveyed in contemporary cinema. This course explores the transformations of French culture and society by analyzing the evolution of cinema during the past decade and focusing on some of its most distinguished features (cinéma d'auteur, succès populaire, cinéma vérité, etc.) |
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FREN 440: (Re)Defining French Identity through Film
Through the study of recent films, students were asked to discuss the question of identity in contemporary French cinema from a variety of perspectives (family, sexuality, interpersonal relationships, immigration). While exploring some of the major aesthetic trends of contemporary French cinema, students were also given valuable information regarding the main social, political and cultural issues of contemporary France. I created an online version of this course that can be accessed by clicking here. FREN 499: Honors in French
This course corresponds to a six-hour directed reading, accompanied by the writing of a 40 page long research paper (20 pages per 3 credit hours). |
FREN 620 Expository French Writing
This course is designed for graduate students to strenghten their knowledge of specific aspects of French grammar. Through the reading of a book, students gain knowledge of different litterary techniques (la description, le portrait, etc.) while improving their writting skills and developing a good command of analytical essay form. |
University of Alberta (2005-2010)
FREN 211 Intermediate French 1
The aim of this course is to introduce students to the complex structures of French language and enable them to communicate in oral and written French. Students review and expand their grammatical, lexical and cultural knowledge of the Francophone world to attain proficiency in the intermediate range. Click here for a sample syllabus. |
FREN 212 Intermediate French 2
Students further develop and refine their grammatical, lexical and cultural knowledge of the Francophone world. At the end of the course, they are expected to have developed the ability to communicate in predictable and some unpredictable situations with few grammatical and vocabulary errors. Click here for a sample syllabus. |
FREN 297 Advanced French 1
The aim of this course is to enable students to discuss, write and read in French about a large range of topics. Students develop their oral and written communicative competence in French in formal and informal settings on topics related to personal and general topics. Click here for a sample syllabus. |
FREN 298 Advanced French 2
Students further develop and refine their writting and reading in French on topics related to societal issues. At th end of the course, students are expected not only to be able to narrate and describe complex situations, but also to present a well-developed and structured argumentation. Click here for a sample syllabus. |
Faculty of Extension (2007-2010)
French 1 Conversational French 1
The objectives of this course are to learn basic grammatical structures and vocabulary and to use them in some predictable situations. This is done through practice in listening, reading and speaking. |
French 2 Conversational French 2
Students further develop their grammatical knowledge and their range of vocabulary. At the end of the course, students should be able to sustain a basic conversation on specific topics. They should also be able to ask simple questions. |
French 3 Intermediate French level 1
The objectives of this course are to improve students' reading and speaking abilities. By focusing on specific topics, such as, but not limited to, arts, culture, lifestyle, students are expected to be able to carry on basic conversation. |
French 4 Intermediate French level 2
This course provides sutdents with an in-depth review of specific grammar aspects. We cover a broad range of topics, such as Francophone literature and culture, environement, and the media. At the end of this course, students are expected to communicate on a variety of topics with minimal grammatical mistakes. |