The goal of all French language courses is to develop your listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in French in a low-stress, dynamic classroom.

One of the primary objectives of the course is to increase your awareness of the multicultural nature of the French-speaking world. For example, we typically watch a film in French, learn songs, and enjoy food from Francophone countries. Lessons are conducted in French in order to immerse you in the language.

The goal of each lesson is to provide maximum contact with the French language and numerous opportunities to express yourself in French. Our textbook provides interactive peer activities, readings, and grammatical explanations (in English), as well as authentic cultural materials (photos, brochures, pictures, menus, etc.). A typical lesson will consist of comprehensible teacher presentations, question and answer interactions, and communicative activities, often done in pairs or in groups.

Every effort is made to help create a close-knit classroom environment, where you will feel comfortable trying out new things in order to experience the language in a tangible, personal way.

Course Descriptions

Courses are subject to change. View the official UMA Catalog here. 

This course gets you hearing and speaking French from the first day! An introductory course with emphasis on development of listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing skills.

For students who have had no French or one year of high school French.

4 Credits

Continuation of FRE 101. Emphasis on development of listening comprehension, speaking, reading and writing skills.

Prerequisite: FRE 101 OR a minimum score of 70% on the French Placement Test OR permission of instructor.

4 Credits

This course is a favorite for a wide range of speakers, because it is a small time commitment and a lot of fun! We meet once a week for an hour.

This informal, multilevel course is tailored to the interests, needs, and abilities of the class members: it doesn’t matter if you are just putting two words together or if you are well on your way to learning French (or re-awakening your French)! Your language skills are reinforced while you learn more about Francophone culture.

There are no tests or quizzes; it simply is a class for the joy of learning French. Authentic cultural materials, such as art, film, food, advertising, websites, travel guides and music are incorporated into the curriculum to highlight aspects of Francophone cultures. The content for this course changes each semester, and it can be taken more than once for credit.

1 credit

Embark upon a cultural travel experience to Québec that will immerse you in French and acquaint you with Québecois culture! You will improve your French in a conversational context during workshops and by completing activities throughout the city. Activities may include: shopping excursions, ordering meals, local history and culture, a visit to an art museum, and attending a theatre production. The course fee includes lodging and most meals. This course may be taken more than once for credit.

Prerequisite: FRE 102 or permission of instructor (may be taken concurrently with FRE 102).

1 Credit

Embark upon a travel experience that will immerse you in French and acquaint you with French-speaking cultures! This in-person event occurs on a weekend. You will attend workshops and use your French in a conversational context. Workshops may include: music, pronunciation, Franco-American and/or Quebecois culture, art, theatre, and crepe making. There is a registration fee as well. Scholarships may be available to cover this additional cost. This course may be repeated for credit.

Prerequisite: FRE 102 or permission of instructor (may be taken concurrently with FRE 102).

1 Credit

An intermediate course for further development of speaking fluency, listening comprehension, and reading and writing skills. Includes a review of grammatical structures, literary and cultural readings, and discussions in French.

Prerequisite: FRE 102 OR 2 years of high school French.

4 Credits

Continuation of FRE 203. An intermediate course for further development of speaking fluency, listening comprehension, and reading and writing skills. Includes a review of grammatical structures, literary and cultural readings, and discussions in French, with a focus on cinema.

Prerequisite: FRE 203

4 Credits

Continuation of FRE 204. An intermediate course for further development of speaking fluency, listening comprehension, and reading and writing skills. Includes a review of grammatical structures, literary and cultural readings, and discussions in French.

Prerequisite: FRE204 or POA.

4 Credits

Continuation of FRE 305. An intermediate course for further development of speaking fluency, listening comprehension, and reading and writing skills. Includes a review of grammatical structures, literary and cultural readings, films, and discussions in French.

Prerequisite: FRE305 or POA.

4 Credits

Independent studies can be arranged for students who wish to undertake service-learning projects or for students who are preparing to teach French.