French at Drake

Studying French at Drake University is rewarding and productive from the very first day of class. Regardless of the level of study, students work with a native speaker of French and no more than three classmates and use French exclusively to communicate things that are truly meaningful, i.e., not the mindless filler materials found in many current textbooks.

Through the standard sequence of courses (001, 002, 051, 052, 140, 150, 160), students expand their competencies beyond the initial emphasis on speaking in order to develop skills in listening, writing, and reading. French 150, Studies in Language and Culture, is a course that can be repeated for credit as the topic of the course changes from semester to semester. French 160, Studies in Language and Literature, can also be repeated for credit because the topics change each semester.

In each French course, as in every language course in the program, students produce an individual electronic portfolio that normally consists of recordings students make of their own voices following a provided model, samples of videos students make of themselves, writing samples, clips from examinations, etc. This record allows coordinators and the students themselves to track progress both within a given semester and over several semesters. Students can also use the ePortfolios after graduation to demonstrate to potential employers or graduate schools their ability to function in French.

Culture is not, of course, neglected in these courses. The faculty of the Drake University Language Acquisition Program is well aware that culture is embedded in every language. The study of culture is additionally enhanced through the use of weblogs that focus students' attention on many important topical, historical, and useful themes. The blogs are utilized in both English and French, depending on the students' level of proficiency with the language.

Students beyond the beginning levels are often able to  tailor courses to suit their own professional and/or personal goals. The language coordinator, who designs the courses, gets to know all the students in the program and is able to take into consideration who will be in upcoming courses. The small size and flexibility of individual sections allow the coordinator to consider the needs and wishes of those students.


Coordinator Contact Information

Dr. Jan Marston
515-271-3814
jan.marston@drake.edu

First Semester Offered
Fall 2002

French 001

French 002

French 051

French 052