MIT Global Languages

French and Francophone Studies

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Overview

With over 220 million speakers in 29 countries and 5 continents, French speaking countries play a significant role in the world economy. Students emerge from our classes linguistically and culturally prepared for today's increasingly fluid world.

Our curriculum is designed to offer rich opportunities to all students, from the elementary level to the most advanced courses. The expertise of the French group includes language pedagogy, literature, intercultural studies, critical theory, French politics and society, gender and queer studies, Modern French history, film studies, visual culture, Francophone African Studies, and cultural anthropology.

The diversity of our course offerings and the personal attention in small group classes create engaging and rewarding experiences for each student. Our classes are an excellent preparation for participation in programs such as MISTI France, Belgium and Switzerland, and January Scholars in France (a unique award for our most deserving students).

Fall 2020
All 21G subjects in Fall 2020 will be offered remotely, with synchronous class meetings in Zoom; 21G.056/356 will also include asynchronous class delivery.
Tier I
21G.301 French I
21G.302   French II
21G.303   French III
21G.304   French IV
Tier II
21G.308 Writing (Like the) French
21G.312   Basic Themes in French Literature and Culture: “Vive la France?” - The challenges of cultural identity and integration in Modern France
What does it mean to be a French citizen? What are the core values of French national identity? For over a century, France has struggled with how to best bring citizens and immigrants into a common culture through civic and moral education. The French model of cultivating citizenship by erasing differences has been particularly tested in recent years. This course is designed to help students develop their vocabulary, further their mastery of grammar, and improve their ability to speak and write through the discussion of art, texts, and films. Through in-class discussion and a variety of written assignments, students will learn what are the most important symbols of the French Republic and identify key events, figures and ideas that have historically aimed to convey a cohesive national cultural identity.

Tier III
21G.346 Topics in Modern French Literature and Cultures: Masterpieces of French Cinema
In this course, we will visit the « masterpieces » of French cinema - world-renowned works by legendary French directors to better understand the central position Cinema occupies within French culture. From the earliest short films of the Lumière Brothers to contemporary feature length works, we will examine both the qualities of individual films and the cultural and historical factors that have shaped the development of the medium. Emphasis throughout the semester will be on close readings of the films.

21G.056/356 The "Making" of Modern Europe
Provides an overview of European history from 1789 to the present. Explores how the ideas of "European" and "modern" have been defined over time. Explores major events and the evolution of major tensions and issues that consumed Europe and Europeans through the period, including questions of identity, inclusion/exclusion, religion, and equality. Places major emphasis on the fiction, visual culture, and films of the century as the products and evidence of political, social and cultural change. Taught in English. French majors and minors are encouraged to register under 21G.356 for 13 units whi requires research project in French.

Looking ahead:

Spring 2021
Tier I
21G.301 French I
21G.302   French II
21G.303   French III
21G.304   French IV
Tier II
21G.310    French Conversation: Intensive Practice
21G.312 Basic Themes in French Literature and Culture:
21G.315 Cross-cultural Perspectives on Contemporary French Society
Tier III
21G.054    France: Enlightenment and Revolution
21G.321   Childhood and Youth in French and Francophone Cultures
21G.342    French Pop Music

A note regarding the enrollment policy of the Global Languages section: Enrollment limited to 18 for pedagogical reasons for Tier I and Tier II subjects. Preference will be given to pre-registered students, including pre-registered undergraduates who were cut from the same class the previous semester due to the enrollment cap. Please note that you have to attend the first day of class to maintain your preference level. In case of over-enrollment, preference will be given in the following order: declared majors, declared minors, declared concentrators, first-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students.

Requirements

MIT students have interests and prospects that span the globe. The academic programs offered by Global Studies and Languages—concentrations, minors, and majors— offer undergraduates the opportunity to combine a degree in any STEM-related field with in-depth language and cultural studies. MIT Global Studies and Languages offers a Major, Minor, and Concentration in French.

Major
The program consists of 11 subjects (138 units) beginning at French III. 6 of the 11 subjects may count towards the 8-subject HASS GIR. The 5 remaining subjects provide 66 units beyond GIR.

Students choose from the following list of subjects:

Core subjects:
21G.304 French IV
21G.306 French Communication Intensive I CI-M (for majors in French only)
21G.307 French Communication Intensive II CI-M (for majors in French only)

Electives:
Tier I
21G.303 French III

Tier II
21G.308 Writing (Like the) French
21G.310 French Conversation
21G.311 Introduction to French Culture
21G.312 Basic Themes in French Literature and Culture
21G.315 A Window onto Contemporary French Society

Tier III
Taught in English
21G.026/326 Global Africa: Creative Cultures
21G.028/328 African Migrations
21G.049 French Photography
21G.052 French Film Classics
21G.053 Understanding Contemporary French Politics
21G.054 France: Enlightenment and Revolution
21G.056/356 The "Making" of Moderin Europe: 1789 to the Present

Taught in French
21G.320 Introduction to French Literature
21G.321 Childhood and Youth in French and Francophone Cultures
21G.322 Frenchness in an Era of Globalization
21G.325 New Culture of Gender: Queer France
21G.341 Contemporary French Film and Social Issues
21G.342 French Pop Music
21G.344 French Feminist Literature: Yesterday and Today
21G.346 Topics in Modern French Literature and Culture
21G.347 Social and Literary Trends in Contemporary Short French Fiction
21G.348 Global Paris

The CI-M requirement is completed by pairing the 3-unit add-on subject numbers 21G.306 and 21G.307 with two of the Tier III subjects in French, as listed above. These pairings count as two single subjects worth 15 units each towards the eleven-subject requirement. Students who have registered for 21G.306 or 21G.307 will develop an additional project with the faculty member teaching the affiliated subject.

A major course plan may include a pre-thesis (21G.THT) and thesis (21G.THU) for up to 18 units of the 138 units in the major. The pre-thesis and thesis are reserved for students who have completed advanced-level coursework in a particular language group and demonstrate outstanding competence in their field of study.

Note: students starting the major at Tier II do not need to take 21G.304 French IV as part of the major program.

Advisor: Catherine Clark

French Major Degree Chart
Sample Roadmap French Major

Sample Roadmap Double Major French and Nuclear Science and Engineering

Double Major Worksheet

Double Major Application Instructions

Joint Majors: 21E Humanities and Engineering; 21S Humanities and Science
These programs entail nine subjects in French, starting at 21G.303 French III or higher, and six subjects from a chosen Engineering or Science course. Student must complete two CI-Ms, one taken from each area of study. Only one subject being used to meet the distribution component of the HASS Requirement may be counted toward the degree program.

Minor
A minor in French leads students who have already reached an intermediate level of proficiency (above French II) into a more advanced study of the language and culture.

The program consists of 6 subjects arranged in 3 tiers starting at French III. Five of these six subjects overlap with the 8-subject HASS GIR. A student can concentrate and minor in the same field.

All subjects listed above are eligible for the minor. Typically, only one subject taught in English is allowed in a minor course plan, and requires the approval of the minor advisor.

Advisor: Catherine Clark

MInor in French: MIT Bulletin
Sample Roadmap French Minor and Nuclear Science and Engineering Major
SHASS Minor Guidelines and Procedures

Concentration
There are several concentration options, depending on whether the focus is language or literature and culture.

If a student’s incoming level is French I:
• 4 subjects, French I through French IV, are required to complete the concentration

If a student’s incoming level is French II or above:
• 3 subjects at French II or above are required to complete the concentration

An upper-level concentration may include 3 subjects, such as French III or French IV and/or intermediate to advanced classes taught in French (Tiers II and III). See above under French Major for the list of subjects.

Subjects offered in English that pertain to French/Francophone studies may be applied towards certain concentration requirements; please see the concentration advisor for approval.

Advisor: Catherine Clark

For the online HASS Concentration Form, click through to studentformsandpetitions.mit.edu
Current Brochure

Transfer Credit
Transfer Credit Examiner: Catherine Clark

Study Abroad

Study Abroad

You may also consider spending a summer, a semester, or a year abroad. Credits received from most accredited programs will count towards your major, minor or concentration if you consult with the Study Abroad Advisor in French prior to your departure.

January Scholars in France
A two-week undergraduate IAP program that provides cultural immersion in Paris.

MIT-France
Part of MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI)

MIT-Belgium
Part of MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI)

MIT-Switzerland
Part of MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI)

MIT Study Abroad Programs: General information about study abroad. All forms related to study abroad and scholarship information available.

Activities

Global France Seminar

The MIT Global France Seminar aims to bring together MIT faculty, instructors, and graduate students
from across disciplines interested in the study of French and francophone cultures around the world. The
seminar series is free and open to the public.

http://mitgsl.mit.edu/mit-global-france-seminar

January Scholars in France

January Scholars in France gives MIT undergraduate students a tutored cultural immersion in Paris
during IAP, focusing on French arts, letters, theater, and history.

http://jsf.mit.edu/

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French and Francophone Studies

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Global France Seminar

January Scholars in France