French through Films

FRE4154.01
Course System Home Terms Spring 2026 French through Films

Course Description

Summary

In this course, French films are used as linguistic and cultural textbooks. While honing their language skills (listening, reading, speaking and writing), students will focus their critical skills on selected cultural topics (food, clothes, history, gestures, etc.). Students will create film trailers that reflect their understanding of the French linguistic and cultural realities. Films include Rue Cases-N猫gres (Palcy, 1983), Au revoir les enfants (Malle, 1987), On connait la chanson (Resnais, 1997), Nous (Diop, 2021). A common website and in-class presentations will allow students to share and discuss their findings. Conversation exchanges with native speakers will enrich the exploration of these representations of the French-speaking world. Intermediate Low. Conducted in French.

Learning Outcomes

  • 鉂 Become independent learners who are curious about the world
    鉂 Be able to effectively communicate ideas in the target language, both orally and in writing (intermediate low level)
    鉂 Be able to understand, situate, evaluate, and critique various types of discourse within multiple contexts
    鉂 Be able to analyze the ideas and the concepts from the perspectives of the culture studied
    鉂 Be able to raise valid and rational questions and analyze the questions from the perspective of the culture they study
    鉂 Be able to form ideas and opinions based on their research and logically state and express their thoughts coherently and cohesively in the target language
    鉂 Be able to conduct research independently

Prerequisites

Insider Perspectives on the Francophone World I and II or permission of instructor. Proficiency level to be assessed by the instructor. Please contact No毛lle at nrouxel-cubberly@bennington.edu by November 12.

Please contact the faculty member : nrouxel-cubberly@bennington.edu

Corequisites

Attendance at 2 CSL events
Participation at 2 French tables

Instructor

  • No毛lle Rouxel-Cubberly

Day and Time

MO,TH 10:00am-11:50am

Delivery Method

Fully in-person

Length of Course

Full Term

Academic Term

Spring 2026

Area of Study

Credits

4

Course Level

4000

Maximum Enrollment

20

Course Frequency

Every 2-3 years