FREN 3350LES FRANÇAIS: MYTHES ET RÉALITÉS Summer 2013

-> The instructor reserves the right to modify the syllabus. You will be notified of any changes made to the course organization and policies.

The instructor will communicate by using the email addresses given by Blackboard. If you don’t check your UNT email often, set it up your account to have this mail forwarded to the address you use (ask me if you don’t know how to do that).

Course description / This is not a French history class. It is a culture class where we will discuss the differences between American and French customs and/or behavior you notice during your stay in Caen, to get a better understanding of the French.
The language of instruction is French.
Instructor / Dr. Christophe Chaguinian

Class location and time / Class location to be announced.
Classes will be held fromMonday to Thursday2:00-4 pm. Due to some afternoon activities organized by Caen, we may move a class or two to a Friday afternoon.
Textbooks / Required:
a) Reader for purchase at Copy Pro
b) Platt, Polly. French or Foe. Culture Crossings Limited
c) A good French/English-English/French Dictionary
Grading Scale / 90-100A
80-89.9B
70-79.9C
60-69.9D
0-59.9 F
Grade calculation / Pre depature preparation 40
Preparation/participation (4 weeks) 160
Final Paper 100
Quiz 50
Tentative Total @350
->The final paper must be typed, font 12, double-space.
General policies / PRESENCE AND PARTICIPATION
Up to 40 points will be assigned each week for participation.
Simply showing up for class does not guarantee you will receive
these points. Presence without participation will result in a D. Preparation at home -reading the material and preparing for the discussions by writing down your comments - is thus essential for good performance in class. ->The instructor will check HW at random to ensure you prepared for class. No late work will be accepted.
ABSENCES
To avoid being penalized for an absence (1) provide me with an explanation (2) turn in the answers to the questionnaire for the missed session.
FOOD, PHONES ETC.
Food, chewing gum or cell phones are not allowed in class.
Students with learning disabilities / The University of North Texas is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation; reference Public Law 92-112, The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. With the passage of new federal legislation entitled Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), pursuant to section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, there is renewed focus on providing this population with the same opportunities enjoyed by all citizens.
Students must follow the Procedure for Requesting Special Accommodation, as indicated in the UNT Policy Manual, Volume 3, 18.1.14, part II. According to these guidelines, "within the first week of class, qualified students must notify the instructor or academic unit liaison for disability accommodation that options to standard methods of educational access will be needed" (part II, section B).
Student Behavior in the Classroom: / Student behavior that interferes with an instructor’s ability to conduct a class or other students' opportunity to learn is unacceptable and disruptive and will not be tolerated in any instructional forum at UNT. Students engaging in unacceptable behavior will be directed to leave the classroom and the instructor may refer the student to the Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities to consider whether the student's conduct violated the Code of Student Conduct. The university's expectations for student conduct apply to all instructional forums, including university and electronic classroom, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. The Code of Student Conduct can be found at

Week 1, 6/11-6/14

Tuesday June 11: Visite de Caen -> no class

Wednesday June 12: Introduction. Stereotype vs Generalization.

Thursday June 13: Cultural misunderstandings between the French and the American.

Friday June 14: French vision of Human Nature

Week 2, 6/17-6/20

Monday June 17: French High School system

Tuesday June 18: French Higher Education: universities and Grandes Ecoles

Wednesday June 19:Work and Strikes

Thursday June 20: Religion in France

Week 3, 6/24-6/27

Monday June 24: Immigration

Tuesday June 25: Family and Love

Wednesday June 26: Body and personal space

Thursday June 27: Food

Week 4, 7/1-7/4

Monday July1: catching up

Tuesday July 2: quiz

Wednesday July 3: presentations

Thursday July 4: presentations ; final paper due

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