CONTEMPORARY FRENCH LITERATURE
contemporary french literature ONLINE HIGH SCHOOL COURSE
COURSE LENGTH:
Full Year (30 Sessions)
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
In this foreign language course, students will explore contemporary Francophone culture through literature. The selection of works will vary depending on student interests but may include theater such as Incendies, graphic novels like Persepolis, or classic novels like Duras’ Amant. There is an emphasis on 21st-century productions. A typical class will consist of vocabulary review, close readings of select passages, a discussion of the cultural and historical context of the works, and a thematic analysis of a few overarching themes. During asynchronous sessions, students will read, take notes, and review key structures. Online classes are discussion based. Students can expect to engage in conversations about plot and salient themes. Assessments will consist of two papers per trimester exploring a topic selected with the assistance of the teacher.
ENDURING UNDERSTANDINGS:
Culture and language are inseparable: they influence and reflect each other, shaping how we see ourselves, others, and the world. Literary works mirror important aspects of the societies in which they originate.
The study of language enriches personal, social, and cultural experiences and prepares one to participate more fully as an engaged global citizen.
Course objectives:
To improve reading comprehension in various literary forms
To gain experience with structures that are specific to literature
To expand active and passive French vocabulary
To speak French with more fluidity and confidence
To deepen cultural understanding of salient issues in contemporary Francophone countries
To become a better, more insightful reader through close reading and notes
To become adept at following a thread through a text and using it to craft an analysis
To learn the written conventions of French academic discourse