TSM French Course Meeting

asdfghjz

I happened to miss the meeting at 12 on Thursday and was wondering if anyone could give me a run-down of what was said? I understand that asking for the minutes of an hour long meeting is a bit much but as much detail as you can give would be great, I'm kind of worried that I missed something important. I'll buy you like a croissant or something as thanks.

djcervi

I wouldn't worry about missing the course meeting. I started TSM French in November last year, after transferring from another course. It never had an impact on me. Basically you get to know the staff, and some of the rules of the Department. It's nothing that you won't find in the JF handbook on the French departmental website http://www.tcd.ie/French and then go on to local access, and under Junior Freshman, there should be a course handbook.

Welcome to the fun filled world of the French Department!!

asdfghjz

That's a pretty unnerving smiley...

djcervi

Oh I didn't really mean anything in particular with that 'unnerving smiley'. Although on the subject of the French Department, some of the staff are a bit unfriendly (at the worst of times), but that's only a small number. You'll work it out for yourself. For the most part the staff are really nice and the course is enjoyable. Bonne chance!

asdfghjz

Oh ok. Thanks for the info (the thanks button isn't working for some reason). If someone who was there has anything at all to add that'd be cool too, but I guess I can stop worrying about it now.

asdfghjz

Anyone at all? Nothing about reading lists or WebCT or timetable changes?

electronichaze

i hope you got through your first week okay without it..
if you still haven't got hold of the info let me know!

asdfghjz

Yeah I just asked some people at the first lecture and it was fine. Kind of want to drop French though...

electronichaze

oh no.. pourquoi?

asdfghjz

I'm bad at it... I was kind of hoping I would pick it up quickly but most of the classes are through English. Everyone else seems to like it though.

djcervi

I'm just gonna give my two cents with regard to TSM French again. OP, what you have to bear in mind is that the standard of French from Leaving Cert to 1st year TSM is MASSIVE!!(no exageration intended). A big difference you will realise between studying languages in secondary and university is that a lot of stuff you learn in secondary is simplified down in terms of 'playing' the exam, and also to make the language easier for people who aren't strong at languages. In university your sense of ability to comprehend and communicate in French/another language is torn apart. You learn exceptions to grammar you may have learnt, and it is shocking. I'm in second year of TSM French, and the amount of stuff that teachers in school taught me were great for the exam, but not really to my benefit in 1st year college French.

I would totally agree with you with the amount of English used within class hours. The only exposure to French lies in Contemporary France with Madame Ferré, and the oral tutorial. With regard to other tutorials it depends on who is teaching. If you have a lecturer they might speak a bit more in French than a PhD student. It's a pity because the oral tutorial can be a bit overwhelming, and can make you feel crap since you don't really speak the language. Also the oral dossier is absolute nonsense, and doesn't really aid communication or listening comprehension for the final exam. In my experience there was too much talk about Immigration, Racism and French History, instead of working on strategies to increase fluency in French and to be able to speak the language in everyday situations. The only thing the oral component really satisfies in first year is being able to speak French in a very academic situation. I've only been to one oral class in second year, and we've been given the opportunity to work on what we want to achieve from it.

In summary all I can really say is if you really like French and want to study the language in TSM, it's not as bad as the first impression might give. Try not to compare yourself to other people in your course, as people might speak better French, because of having lived in France/French connection, etc. Some people might have even spent time in France. The Department (as I indicated previously) might seem a bit 'unique' in its own way, with regard to the high standard expected that LC probably doesn't really cater for (looking at all language areas)..The deadline to transfer is normally Halloween/November if you want to transfer to another course in Trinity, if you still find that French isn't your cup of tea.

Best of luck with whatever path you choose! Feel free to PM me if you have queries about TSM.:)

asdfghjz

Thanks for taking the time to write that, it's really quite helpful (and a bit reassuring too I guess). I suppose the only other thing I'm curious about is whether or not Texts is really as absurdly difficult as it seems? From what I can tell we'll be getting two seminars on En attendant Godot, both on quite specific aspects of the play ('comic deferral', 'the textual and the visual'). Is it up to us to tackle the more straightforward aspects like theme, and, you know, translating the whole thing...

djcervi

I must admit for the French texts tutorials, I never had one which had a certain focus on the book. Most were pretty much discussions on the books/poems we were studying.For 'En Attendant Godot' I read the English Translation, then I read it in French to understand it better.As long as you gives the quotes in French come essay/exams, you should be fine. I absolutely hated Waiting For Godot. I've been told there's a story to it (which I'm sure there is), but it didn't apeal to me whatever the story/ Beckett was trying to get across. Huis Clos by JP Sartre is better, particularly for the essay.
I hope that answers part of your question.