COURSES
These courses reflect my progression towards gaining proficiency in the French language and in learning about the French culture.
University of Portland
A compilation of books from my UP French Language courses
FRN 201-202 Intermediate French
I took French 201 fall of my freshman year, and was at first intimidated by the fact that my French professor Madame Booth only spoke French in class. Looking back now I realize how beneficial it was to have full immersion in the class, because it pushed me to take language learning more seriously and to improve faster.
FRN 403 Survey of French Literature
FRN 301-302 Advanced French Conversation & Composition
By continuing to take French courses, I was able to discover what works best for me in learning a language by experiencing learning curves, regressions, and improvements over time. As I took higher level courses and saw how I was improving, along with Madame Booth’s affirmations, I felt encouraged to major in French.
FRN 497I French Internship
Though this was for a course, the opportunity that it gave to help teach a course in a French language immersion school felt like an intercultural experience because I got to know kids that grew up here, yet were native or nearly native French speakers.
HST 347 Modern France
I took this course the semester before studying abroad in Nantes. It helped me gain a more in-depth understanding of the history that proved foundational to the society, politics, and religion present in France today. It provided me with what felt like an intro to French culture, and gave me a bit of background knowledge before I fully immersed myself in that culture.
IES French Language Immersion Program
AH 314 Le XIXème siècle Français- peinture /architecture / sculpture
I was introduced to French art in an assignment for my French 301 course (see presentation here). This first garnered my interest in French painting and sculptures. The French art course in Nantes deepened my appreciation for the arts and helped me see French art history from the French perspective.
CU 356 Gastronomie Française
This course was focused purely on French cuisine: its history, its variety, and the art of gastronomy. We had many field trips trying new foods, and it made me grow an appreciation for French cooking
Trip to Bordeaux/Cognac
Université de Nantes
Les Institutions Internationales
Since this course is in a public university, all the other students were French or international students from different parts of Europe. It was challenging at first to keep up with the course and professor, who moved faster than the IES teachers, but it was a rewarding experience. I proved to myself that I was proficient enough to take and do well in a public French university course, and it further cemented confidence in my language learning journey.