Lower Division Courses
Beginning and Intermediate French
French 1001 (first semester): This course is the first in a series of French language and culture(s) courses. It is for students with no previous study of French or students who have not studied French in recent years. If you complete Fren 1001 with a grade of C- or better, you can move on to Fren 1002.
In this course you will:
- be introduced to French culture
- be introduced to the four language skills: speaking, writing, listening, and reading
- work individually, in pairs, and in groups
- learn to communicate in different real-life situations
- become comfortable with the present and past tenses.
If you have completed more than two years of high school French within the last year, you should register for Fren 1022, which provides an accelerated review of Fren 1001 material followed by material covered in Fren 1002.
French 1002 (second semester): This course continues beginning-level French language and culture instruction. The course presumes competence with topics, vocabulary, and structures taught in Fren 1001. If you complete Fren 1002 with a grade of C- or better, you can move on to Fren 1003.
In this course you will:
- continue to develop competence in French
- expand your vocabulary
- add several new verb tenses to your repertoire
- continue to explore the cultures of France and the Francophone world
- work often in pairs and small groups.
French 1022 (accelerated first year): This course is for students who have previously studied French in high school or at a community college, or who are transfer students but are not ready to start in Fren 1003. The course covers all Fren 1002 materials and also provides an intensive review of vocabulary and structures taught in Fren 1001. If you complete Fren 1022 with a grade of C- or better you can move on to Fren 1003.
In this course you will:
- continue to develop competence in French
- expand your vocabulary
- add several new verb tenses to your repertoire
- continue to explore the cultures of France and the Francophone world
- work often in pairs and small groups.
French 1003 (third semester): This course builds on the skills you developed in your first-year of French language/culture study To register for Fren 1003, you must pass either French 1002 or 1022 with a grade of C- or better, or pass the Entrance Proficiency Test. If you complete Fren 1003 with a grade of C- or better you can move on to Fren 1004.
In this course you will:
- continue to develop your listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills
- be expected to acquire more sustained accuracy and more extended oral and written discourse compared to first-year French
- develop intermediate level reading and writing skills through studying authentic cultural and literary texts.
French 1004 (fourth semester): This course completes the intermediate-level language and culture instruction started in Fren 1003. Students must pass either Fren 1003 or the Entrance Proficiency Test at the 1004 level to register for Fren 1004.
In this course you will:
- continue to develop your listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills
- be expected to acquire more sustained accuracy and more extended oral and written discourse compared to previous courses
- develop intermediate level reading and writing skills through studying authentic cultural and literary texts
- study good writing techniques (grammar, syntax, vocabulary) for meaningful, purposeful writing tasks
- have the opportunity to take the Language Proficiency Exam to have your French proficiency certified.
Beginning and Intermediate Italian
Grades for Ital 1001, 1002, 1003, and 1004 are based on:
- daily participation and homework performance
- quizzes
- oral exams
- compositions
- cultural presentation (Ital 1003 and 1004)
- final exam.
Italian 1001 (first semester): This course is the first in a series of Italian language and culture courses. If you complete Ital 1001 with a grade of "C-" or higher, you can move on to Ital 1002.
In this course you will
- work individually, in pairs, and in groups.
- learn to read, write, speak, and understand Italian
- view Italian films
- learn to communicate in different real-life situations
- be introduced to the present and past tenses
- be expected to complete daily homework.
Homework is designed to give you further practice; audio materials (CDs) play an integral part in the program
Italian 1002 (second semester): If you complete Ital 1002 with a grade of "C-" or better, you can move on to Ital 1003.
In this course you will:
- continue to expand your capabilities of communicating in Italian
- add vocabulary and new verb tenses to your repertoire
- continue to explore Italy’s culture
- participate frequently in class, practicing the material in pairs and in small groups
- be expected to complete daily homework.
Italian 1003 (third semester): You must have completed the equivalent of a year of university-level Italian instruction before taking this course. If you pass with a grade of "C-" or higher, you are ready for Ital 1004 or for study in Italy.
In this course you will:
- concentrate on mastering previously learned grammar concepts
- increase your vocabulary
- continue to read, write, speak, and listen to current Italian
- choose a topic for a written and spoken cultural presentation
- view Italian films.
Italian 1004 (fourth semester): You must have completed the equivalent of one and a half years of university-level Italian instruction before taking this course. If you pass with a grade of “C-” or higher, you are ready to move on to Ital 3015 or to study in Italy.
In this course you will:
- concentrate on mastering previously learned grammar concepts
- increase your vocabulary
- continue to read, write, speak, and listen to Italian
- choose a topic for a written and spoken cultural presentation
- view Italian films
- have the opportunity to take the Language Proficiency Exam to have your Italian proficiency certified.