Placement in French Courses and the French Language Curriculum
A wonderful resource: www.liensutiles.org/languefranc.htm
Placement in French Courses
Either the high school Advanced Placement Exam (in either language or literature) or the Wesleyan Language Placement Exam may be used to help determine the appropriate level of instruction at Wesleyan for students with some background in French. It is important to keep in mind that these exams provide only an approximate idea of students' aptitudes and needs. Students are advised to discuss the results of their placement or AP exam with the coordinator for the course in which they are interested.
Advanced Placement (AP) Exams
The high school AP exam will be used to place entering first-year students into the appropriate language or literature course at Wesleyan. Students with an AP score, that is, DO NOT need not take the Language Placement Exam during Freshman orientation. However, if they wait beyond the first semester of their first year to enroll in the appropriate course, they will need to take the Language Placement Exam before enrolling in a French course since the results of the high school AP exam will no longer be valid for the purposes of placement.
We suggest that students with the following scores take the following courses:
| Score on AP Language exam |
|
Appropriate level at Wesleyan |
| 3 |
|
French 111 |
| 4 |
|
French 112 |
| 5 |
|
French 215 |
| Score on AP Literature exam |
|
Appropriate level at Wesleyan |
| 3 |
|
French 112 |
| 4 |
|
French 215 |
| 5 |
|
French 220-299 |
Language Placement Exam
A language placement exam is offered at the beginning of each academic year during Freshman orientation. Incoming students are strongly encouraged to take the exam at that time. During the course of the semester, students may schedule to take the language placement exam on an ad hoc basis by contacting the Language Resource Center. Once the exam is scored, the results are reported to the appropriate language coordinator in the Department of Romance Languages & Literatures.
We suggest that students with the following scores take the following courses:
| Score |
|
Course |
|
|
|
| 0 - 22 |
|
French 101 |
| 23 - 37 |
|
French 111 |
| 38 - 57 |
|
French 112 |
| 58 - 70 |
|
French 215 |
| 71 -100 |
|
French 220 - 299 |
The French Language Curriculum
Elementary French: FREN 101 & FREN 102 (ampersand courses)
Intermediate French: FREN 111 & FREN 112 (ampersand courses)
Composition and Conversation: FREN 215
Ampersand courses: Students who take FREN 101 or FREN 111 will get credit for those courses only if they successfully complete FREN 102 or FREN 112, respectively, or the equivalent or are moved to a higher-level course. Students who take FREN 102 or FREN 112 without having taken FREN 101 or FREN 111, respectively, will receive credit for only 102 or 112.
FREN 101 & FREN 102
FREN 101 is the first semester of the four-semester introductory and intermediate French language sequence and is intended for students with little or no experience in French. FREN 102 is the second course in the Introductory sequence and is intended for students who have completed FREN 101 or have been placed in FREN 102.
These courses will involve you actively in your own learning and emphasize communicative proficiency -- not the study of rules and regulations, but the development of skills, self-expression, and cultural insight. They put you in the presence of authentic, unsimplified French and train you to use it in the dynamic context of actual communication.
Video and audio material for this course are available in the Language Resource Center but can also be accessed on line from anywhere on campus.
FREN 111 & FREN 112
FREN 111 is the third semester of the four-semester introductory and intermediate French language sequence. This course is intended for students who have completed FREN 102 with a grade of B or better or have placed into FREN 111.
These courses will involve you actively in your own learning and emphasize communicative proficiency--not the study of rules and regulations, but the development of skills, self-expression, and cultural insight. It puts you in the presence of authentic, unsimplified French and trains you to use it in the dynamic context of actual communication.
Video and audio material for this course are available in the Language Resource Center but can also be accessed on line from anywhere on campus.
FREN 112 is the fourth semester of our language program. This course is intended for students who have completed FREN 111 or have placed into FREN 112.
This course features an intensive review of basic grammar points that frequently cause problems. A variety of readings will introduce contemporary literature and serve as a springboard to conversation. Videos and/or movies will be used to develop students' listening skills.
Students are required to attend one session a week with one of our native speaking Foreign Language Teaching Assistants.
FREN 215 (Composition and Conversation)
This course is intended for students who have completed FREN 112 with a grade of B or better or have placed into FREN 215.
It introduces you to various aspects of modern French life through a wide range of materials and methods: videos and readings on various cultural topics, oral reports, weekly discussions with Foreign Language Teaching Assistants, laboratory practice, and compositions. It helps you to continue to develop your language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing), preparing you for upper-level French courses or for study abroad.
FREN 215 or the equivalent is the prerequisite for all FREN courses numbered 220 or higher.
FREN 215 is required to go abroad with the Vassar Wesleyan Program in Paris.
FREN 215 is the required level (if French is the chosen language) for the Certificate in International Relations (Dept. of Government).
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