French
Why take courses in French?
French is the native tongue of 76 million people around the world (in France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada), and a second, daily-usage language of another 235 million people (in Algeria, Cameroon, Haiti, the Ivory Coast, Vietnam, and other countries). French is an official language of the UN and the World Health Organization. France and the Francophone world have one of the richest and most diverse cultural heritages in literature, art, cinema, philosophy, gastronomy, fashion and savoir-vivre.
French has been a gateway for Oberlin students for study overseas and for graduate study and careers in education, medicine, music, law, social work, international relations, environmental sciences, and politics.
What kinds of questions does this field explore?
-
How can I quickly progress in French and attain enough fluency to read, watch media, and speak freely on most topics?
- What are the different cultures in France and the Francophone world? Who are the important French thinkers, writers and artists?
- How have French thinkers and writers influenced the history of sexuality and gender?
- How was France implicated in both slavery and the abolition of slavery?
- How have food and wine shaped French identity?
- How can I become a professional-level translator of French?
- Should I live in Oberlin’s Maison Francophone?
- Where should I study abroad? Paris? Aix-en-Provence? Rennes? Dakar? Rabat?
What advice would you give students interested in taking courses in French?
French department faculty teach most of their courses in French, but also courses in English in fields such as comparative literature, translation, the history of the body and medicine, cinema studies and queer studies. Progressing in French and graduating from Oberlin with a high level in French allows you to leave college with a life-long skill.
Take the French placement test and enroll in the appropriate course. Take advantage of cultural programming at the Maison Francophone and the daily table francaise. Make friends with other French students on campus. Learn an Edith Piaf or Jacques Brel song by heart! Delve into Molière, Balzac, Proust, Colette, Camus, Simone de Beauvoir, or Marguerite Duras.
Taking Courses
Course placement
We require all students with prior knowledge of French, but no AP/IB credit to take the placement test if they wish to enroll in a class. Please see the Language Placement Tests page for additional information.
Courses for non-majors or general interest
-
FREN 101 (beginning) 205 (intermediate), or 301 (review of grammar, reading, and writing) are appropriate for new students, depending on your background in French.
Additonally, French faculty teach courses in English in the following departments: French, Comparative Literature, and Cinema Studies.
Getting started in the major
Students who receive FREN 300 credit are encouraged to consider taking FREN 301 or, with instructor permission, FREN 309, FREN 321 or a high-level course. The first course that counts towards the major or minor is FREN 206.
Advanced Placement Credit
Majors may transfer AP credit from AP French Language or Literature, score of 4 or 5, or IB HL FREN, score of 6 or 7, as FREN 300 (one full course) toward the major requirements. Refer to the AP/IB chart for complete information about AP test scores.
Majoring in French
Provided are two examples of how a student could distribute courses required for the major over three or four years. See the catalog for additional details about major requirements.
Sample Four-Year Plans
| Fall | Spring | |
|---|---|---|
| Y1 | FREN 301 | FREN 309/321 |
| Y2 | FREN 3XX | FREN 4XX |
| Y3 | Study Away | Study Away |
| Y4 | FREN 4XX or honors project |
FREN 4XX or honors project |
| Fall | Spring | |
|---|---|---|
| Y1 | FREN 205 | FREN 206 |
| Y2 | FREN 301 | FREN 3XX |
| Y3 | FREN 3XX FREN 4XX |
Study Away |
| Y4 | FREN 4XX | FREN 4XX |
Related Areas of Study
Many students who major or minor in French also major in another subject as well, such as Cinema Studies, Comparative Literature, Music, History, English, or Comparative Literature
Learn More
French Major Requirements
French Department