Our Beginner French curriculum come alive in real life cultural contexts through a film trailer chosen for each course!

French I(A): Designed for the complete beginner! Students will learn greetings and introductions, pluralization rules, subject pronouns, the informal and formal registers (the tu/vous distinction), numbers, telling and asking for the date and time, etc., while covering basic present tense –er verbs. Using structures such as adjectives, regular and irregular verbs such as être, avoir, and faire, students will gain skills in describing la famille, les passe-temps, le temps, and la géographie. Students will practice these vocabulary and grammar topics through exercises paired with the trailer for the film Le Hérisson (Mona Achache, 2009).

French I(B): For those who have taken French I(A), or who have had some (but very little) exposure to their target language. Equivalent to having had roughly 1 semester of class (typically 20-30 hours). The course will begin with a review of French I (A), and furthers students’ familiarity with the present tense indicative of -ir and -re verb conjugations. Students proceed to vocabulary themes such as la nourriture (food), la ville (the city), and les fêtes (holidays and special occasions). Students will reinforce grammar points such as the present, past (le passé composé), and imperfect (l’imparfait) tenses; direct and indirect object pronouns, relative pronouns, and demonstrative adjectives will also be covered. Students will practice these vocabulary and grammar topics through exercises paired with with the trailer for the film Comme un Chef (Daniel Cohen, 2012).

French II(A): For those who have had roughly 2 semesters of class experience! This course begins with a review of the main points of what is taught in the French I (A) and (B) sequence. Students enrolling in French II (A) can expect to build upon their knowledge and to move on to more complex tenses and grammatical structures. Throughout twelve weeks, students will learn vocabulary regarding the la maison (house and home) and les médias et la communication (mass media and communication). While implementing their growing knowledge of vocabulary, students will begin to master French grammatical structures such as les verbes pronominaux et réciproques (reflexive and reciprocal verbs), the pronouns y and en, giving commands with l’impératif, and how to tell a story using le passé composé and l’imparfait correctly. The class will also cover common irregular verbs such as dire, pouvoir, vouloir, and devoir. Throughout the course, students will enrich their knowledge of vocabulary themes and grammar topics through exercises with the trailer for the film Les Femmes du 6ième Étage (Philippe Le Guay, 2010).

French II(B): For those who have had roughly ~3 semesters of class experience! This course begins with a review of the main grammar points covered in the previous course. Students of French II(B) will learn how to navigate le subjonctif, comparing two or more objects using the comparative and superlative form of adjectives, ask questions using interrogative pronouns, and impersonal expressions such as Il faut. The course will cover the savoir vs. connaître distinction, the irregular –re verbs suivre and vivre, as well as talking about future actions using the future tense (le futur). Students will supplement their grammatical structures with vocabulary modules such as la mode, la forme, et la santé (fashion, the body, and health), les études (school and studies), as well as la vie professionnelle (work and professions). Throughout the course, students will gain ample communicative practice through various exercises centered upon the trailer for the film Hors de Prix (Pierre Salvadori, 2006).

French Recap I: For those with roughly ~2 years of class experience! Get the best review of our beginner sequence courses ­­ French I(A), I(B), II(A), and II(B), or the equivalent of 1+ years of college-­level instruction ­­in an entirely new, culturally relevant context and format! Throughout the course, students will ground their studies and review in a fun mini­series (un feuilleton), Les Revenants! Using our signature 21st­-century multimedia approach, will prepare students for our intermediate-­level courses, which use feature­-length films, while also improve their listening comprehension and cultural competency through Les Revenants and other authentic materials! Grammar topics will range from a review of tenses (present, past [le passé composé], future, and imperfect). Like all of our courses, French Recap will focus on improving students’ speaking proficiency while still practicing all four communicative language skills ­­ speaking, listening, reading, and writing ­­and the all­-important 5th skill, culture! Allez!

The intermediate sequence, comprised of IIIs and IVs, brings language to life predominately through the use of modern film across a variety of genres. FLC’s successful language acquisition approach includes the choice of films based on linguistic / language learning potential and cultural richness / relevancy.  And while we realize the appreciation (liking) of individual film is subjective (not everybody will ‘like’ the same film)  each film provides invaluable cultural language-learning potential .

Films provide meaningful real-life context through an entertaining medium, while offering a solid foundation in all 4 language skills:

• Dialogue (text for Reading Skills)
• Role-play (Speaking skills)
• Film (Listening & comprehension skills)
• Engaging activities (Writing skills)

Films are not only an entertaining medium for building fluency, but they provide the “5th skill”, cultural competency. This intermediate sequence will begin with a review of narration in the past (preterite vs. imperfect) and future, and is designed to move the student toward more advanced nuances of the language such as the conditional and subjunctive modes.

French III(A): Best for those with 3+ years of college and/or study abroad experience! Le Dîner de Cons, 1998. Every week, a wealthy Parisian businessman invites his friends to a dinner party, where all guests must bring an “idiot” for other guests to ridicule before selecting a “champion idiot”. Le Dîner de Cons is a touching laugh-riot of a film. A curated list of vocabulary modules will enrich grammatical lessons and guide students’ exploration of the film’s topics: les amours et les relations amicales (love and friendships), les habitations (types of homes), and le finances et les métiers (finance and professions). In our discussions of the film we will incorporate the following grammatical structures: a review of the imperfect and passé composé; the future tense, the conditional and subjunctive moods, proper pronoun order, as well as asking and answering questions.

French III(B): Best for those with 4+ years of college and/or study abroad experience! L’arnacœur, 2005. In L’arnacœur, charming and attractive Alex operates a business which helps men break-up with their girlfriends. Students will discuss the films’ topics through French III (B)’s vocabulary modules: les vêtements (clothing), les métiers (work and professions), and expressions courantes (slang and popular expressions – the kind of French your high school teachers and college professors never taught you!). In French III (B) students can expect to cover the following grammatical structures: a review of the conditional and subjunctive moods; the past conditional mood; the subjunctive vs the infinitive; the plus-que-parfait (the pluperfect past tense); hypothetical statements using si (if); more practice with interrogative adjectives and pronouns.

French IV(A): Molière, 2007. The film is set in the mid 17th-century when the French playwright Molière returns to Paris following time spent in debtor’s prison to perform in the theatre Monsieur, the King’s brother, has given him and incorporates scenes from Molière’s most famous pièces, or plays. Students will discuss the historical material on which the film is based through our custom curated vocabulary modules such as l’époque: le cour du roi (the royal court), la politique (politics), la poésie poetry), as well as l’humour et la tragédie (humor and tragedy). The following grammar presentations will aid students in discussing the film’s topics: review of the passé du conditionnel, si clauses, and the plus-que-parfait; the concordance des temps; the futur antérieur (the future past); the subjonctif vs. l’infinitif, and more practice with l’interrogatifconjunctions that require the use of the subjunctive; review of the imperfect tense; the pluperfect indicative, review interrogative pronouns.

French IV(B): Learn French as it’s truly spoken! While the courses in the III / IV series build solid linguistic advancements in all 4-skills: reading, writing and listening with an emphasis on speaking (bien sûr!), each uniquely builds the “5th skill”: cultural competency. Students in this upper-intermediate French course will continue the route to proficiency (oui, entirely in French, but never intimidating!) through this award-winning French film as context. Intouchables mixes drama and comedy to tell the story of two unlikely friends who profoundly affect each other’s life. Students will discuss the film’s rich cultural variations through our custom curated vocabulary modules such as: le verlan, le langage de la banlieue vs. le langage parisien, les handicapés, le système social en France, l’immigration et les immigrés, etc. The following grammars will continue to build foundational structures necessary in discussing the film’s topics as well as everyday life in France: a review of all tenses learned thus far; the passé anterieur, le discours indirect, la voix active vs. la voix passive, comparisons, and relative pronouns to name a few! Allez! Now you’re speaking our language!

These classes are perfect for those students who already feel comfortable with the major grammar topics presented in the Beginner and Intermediate sequences, but want to reinforce their acquisition of their target language through interesting class discussions and real language exposure. Through a multi-media approach using film, literature, art, and music, we will discuss great (and sometimes infamous) figures as well as important moments in French history. The course will emphasize discussion and communicative skills while building the fifth skill: cultural competency. Students will engage in guided discussion and vocabulary building. They will also improve reading and writing skills through text analysis and translation, as well as their listening comprehension through song, video, and film while developing an in-depth cultural understanding.

French V(A): “Unit 1” explores elements of French humor and what makes it unique. Covering time from Molière to Marcel, students will learn to speak about la farce, le satire, le slapstick, and le stand-up. In “Unit 2 – Le conteurs français” students will discuss the French art of storytelling through iconic stories like Le Petit Prince and the 17th century Les Contes de ma mère l’Oye. “Unit 3” covers Les Bad Boys (et girls!) français. Students will discuss the naughtiest king of France, infidelity in the couple moderne, and the films Les Infidèles (2012) and La Haine (1995). The course’s final unit will cover the symbols of French culture through informative texts and discussion.

French V(B): Through the course’s four units, students will become familiar with the great (and sometimes scandalous!) figures in French history. In “Unit 1: Les Artistes et leurs visions de Paris”, see Paris through the eyes of its great literary and artistic visionaries, such as Baudelaire, Édith Piaf, and others! “Unit 2” will cover “Les Provocateurs” and the French art of provocation and revolution through figures like Marie Antoinette, les grands philosophes, Serge Gainsbourg, and more! Explore themes of love and infidelity in “Unit 3 – Sacré Scandale! Les liaisons dangereuses et maîtresses françaises”. “Unit 4” cover the great impact that people like Marie Curie and les Frères Lumières have had on the world. Où serions-nous sans eux?!