Second year French

Paczini

Does anyone know what's the choice of modules in Second year French?

How so Joe

When I was in second year (which was, oh my, three years ago), we had several compulsory modules:
FR201 and 221, Langue Écrite et Parlée 3&4, are much the same as they were in first year - you'll have one hour of grammaire and one hour of expression écrite, plus one hour language lab, which you need to remember to register for at the start of the year. (5 credits each)

FR204 and 224 are Discussion Littéraire/Analyse de Textes. In these, you'll spend one hour a week analysing texts in French and you're expected to give a 5-10 minute exposé on one of the texts - you're given a few weeks to prepare it, though. In the second semester, your introduction and plan for your dissertation will count as part of your grade for FR224. (2.5 credits each)

Then your content modules - these are the fun ones.
You get to pick three content modules each semester, if you're double honours, or European studies.
There are actually only three modules in the first semester, so you don't get a choice.
They're
FR 202: Théâtre de l’Absurde
(You'll study Becket's En Attendant Godot)
FR 205: Conteurs et Contes sous l’Ancien Régime
(I loved this. We studied Perrault's fairy tales and Candide by Voltaire. Candide is also studied in a different subject (History? English? I can't remember), so you can kill two birds with one stone there.)
FR 206: Poésie du XIXe siècle

Second semester are
FR 222: La Femme au XVIIe siècle
FR 223: Culture politique 1: Le XXe siècle
FR 226: L’autobiographie
ID 229: European Cinema*

European Cinema is delivered through English - it's an interdepartmental module, offered to French, Spanish and German students.
La Femme au XVIIe siècle was really interesting, I thought - we studied La Princesse de Clèves and Phèdre.

That said, modules offered depend on the lecturers who are there that year - those modules, I took from the handbook this year. It's available here, so have a look at that.
Hope that helps!

Paczini

Thanks for the reply. I can understand it more clearly now but it seems weird that Double Honours students have to choose 3 modules out of 3 options in first semester.
Do you think that French is hard in second and third year?

plumpote

You can get some info here too

http://www.nuim.ie/courses/?TARGET=QS&MODE=VIEW&QUALIFICATION_CODE=ARTS&YEAR=2013&TARGET_SOURCE=CS


Go into Year 2, and then French

Paczini

plumpote wrote: »

You can get some info here too

http://www.nuim.ie/courses/?TARGET=QS&MODE=VIEW&QUALIFICATION_CODE=ARTS&YEAR=2013&TARGET_SOURCE=CS


Go into Year 2, and then French

I've seen it before but I couldn't understand how many modules are required as there is a total of (i think) 32.5 credits out of 30 required

plumpote

Paczini wrote: »

I've seen it before but I couldn't understand how many modules are required as there is a total of (i think) 32.5 credits out of 30 required

The ones with green tick marks are compulsory, and then you make up the rest of the 30 credits with the yellow x ones.

In First semester you don't get a choice with the so-called 'optional' modules, but in 2nd Semester you pick 3 out of the 4 that are there.

Does that make any sense?

Paczini

Yeah I get it now

How so Joe

There used to be more choice in semester 1 - I didn't do poésie du XIXe siècle, I did La France et L'Afrique, which was taught by a lecturer who's since left. As well as that, they used to offer La Littérature et la que^te (can't be arsed to put in the circumflex) spirituelle, which was taught by a lecturer who's since retired.
So there used to be more choice, and you didn't have to do all the modules.
As is, though, if you're doing the double honours, you have to make up the full quota of credits. That said, they might appoint a new lecturer who'll offer different courses, you're likely to get more modules offered then.

What's your second subject next year? You're law, aren't you? Don't let law overtake French - it's exactly half of your degree, so don't leave French slide in favour of law, because you'll suffer for it (I did).

As for second and third year French - it's not that hard, provided you put in the work. I had a lot of issues in second year and failed two content (optional) modules, which I had to repeat. But if I had been paying attention I would have done much better, and doubt I would have struggled as much.


One other thing I'd recommend is spend as much time in France as you can. Due to the same issues, I didn't go to France, and got an exemption from the requirement, but that means that a) I couldn't teach French without living in France or a French-speaking country for three months and b) at the start of third year I was miles behind the rest of my class.

The jump from second to third year French is bigger than that from first to second year, because the fluency of the class as a whole will improve - the majority of them will have spent a year abroad, and you're best off doing that as well, I'd say.

Paczini

Yes, I am doing law and I'm not planning to put French aside (Knowing me I will probably do nothing for law during semester except for good notes and I will cram the material right before the exam).
About a year abroad, I'm not planning to teach in the future so I don't think I will go due to some financial difficulties. I went to Paris for 3-4 days this year and I spent all of my savings which would be enough for over a week in Spain/Portugal.

How so Joe

Well, Paris is hugely expensive. Even outside of teaching, though, the department requires you to spend three months in France.

It's worth spending time abroad, though. I spent three months in Lyon this year and they were very enjoyable.
If finances are an issue, you could look into doing an assistantship, that's a paid teaching job in a French secondary school. A friend of mine did that this year in Gondecourt, outside Lille and said it was great - and her French has improved immeasurably.

As well as that, she was finished and back in Ireland in April, so has been working for the summer and saving for final year. You're gonna have to do three months in France anyways. You should try contact Jellybeans92, she's been working in Disneyland all summer - that would be a fun way to pass your three months!

Paczini

Will they check if you actually spent 3 months in France?
Teaching (at least English) isn't an option for me as my English isn't perfect. At times my grammar and spelling are horrible.

How so Joe

I don't know if they check - I had an exemption.
I think they do - they expect you to provide evidence of flights to France/French speaking country.

Paczini

Can I ask how did you get an exemption?