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Welcome to the French Basic Language courses!
French 101, 102, 103, 104, and 110
Eiffel Tower [Julie Hugonny]
Director of French BLP, Dr. Elizabeth Weber
1627 University Hall
Basic Language Secretary: Nancy Velez
1720 University Hall
312-996-5218
Interested in taking French after 104?
For information about French electives, major, minor, and French Club, contact Professor Ellen McClure (ellenmc@uic.edu) or Luz Acosta (lacost4@uic.edu)
SCROLL DOWN FOR INFORMATION ABOUT PLACEMENT AND OTHER FAQs.
Cotonou, Benin [Adé Faladé]
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Placement in a French course:
If you have ever taken French at any level (grade school, middle school, high school, another college/university) AND/OR if you have learned French in another way (by living in a French-speaking country or family), you MUST take the UIC French Placement Test.
French placement tests are offered ONLY at the Office of Testing Services. Check out their website for information (under PEP Placement testing), or call (312) 996-0919 (24 hours a day).
Click here to go directly to the OTS site:
- If you have NEVER taken French before nor lived in a French-speaking country/family, you should sign up for French 101.
Le Louvre [Julie Hugonny]
Already studied French?
If you have already taken the UIC French placement test and received your score, here are the possibilities:
1) Register for the course indicated on the test results. Attend the class. If after a few days you feel that you are in the wrong level, please email the French Coordinator, Dr. Elizabeth Weber. Include an explanation of your history with French (where did you take it, for how long) and why you are not comfortable in the class you are currently registered in. *Remember that any changes must be completed before the end of the second week of any semester.
2) If your results say: CONSULT DEPARTMENT, email the French Coordinator, Dr. Elizabeth Weber to set up a 10-minute oral interview to determine your placement. Do this as soon as possible after you receive your Consult Department Score: the longer you wait, the more French you will forget. In this interview you will be asked to talk in French about your past, current, and future life (your past experiences, current activities, classes, likes, dislikes, future plans). Your goal is to talk as much as possible to show how much you know.
3) Not comfortable in the class your placement results put you in? Please email Dr. Weber immediately and explain your situation clearly in the email. All changes must be made by the end of the second week of any semester. |
More Important Questions and Answers…
Why study French?
To get a better job after graduation, to become a volunteer during school or after you graduate (for example, the Peace Corps), to enhance your understanding of American and French/Francophone culture—art, music, literature, journalism, business, science… French is spoken in many countries and major areas around the world, from Canada to Senegal, from Vietnam to Switzerland. What’s your career goal? Business, banking, web design, literature, arts, music, fashion, culinary arts, interior design—French can help you get a better job!
What will I get out of my French class if French is not my major?
French classes will help you develop skills useful across the curriculum.
reading more effectively |
writing a well-crafted essay |
successful test-taking |
public speaking |
critical thinking |
cultural understanding |
problem-solving |
teamwork |
computer skills |
What can I expect from the first two years of French?
Learning French means working with language in communicative contexts, and gaining a better understanding about French culture. We will study grammar, practice speaking, read articles and short literary texts, watch movies, listen to music, write compositions, etc.
Where are the syllabi, course policies, and other course information for my class?
Syllabi and other course documents for all 100-level French courses are posted on your section’s Blackboard site. Click here to go directly to Blackboard:
Where can I get free help/tutoring?
Your first stop should be a talk with your own teacher. Instructor office hours (or make an appointment) and FREE French tutoring hours are posted on your section’s Blackboard page. Other free campus tutoring resources include: African American Academic Network (AAAN), Latin American Recruitment and Educational Services (LARES), Honors College, and evening tutoring in SRC. For more information, consult these sites off the UIC webpage, talk to your advisor, or write to edweber@uic.edu.
How do I prepare for class?
Read and prepare the assigned material (from the textbook, the workbook and the laboratory manual) before class. In class you will practice information based on your homework. Be prepared to do lots of speaking! If you don’t come prepared, you’ll be lost and frustrated in class, and you will receive a low participation grade. See syllabus for explanation of the participation grade.
How do I continue taking French after the 101-104 sequence?
After passing French 104, you may take French 200 and/or 231. Please contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Professor Ellen McClure (ellenmc@uic.edu) or the advisor, Luz Acosta, (lacost4@uic.edu) for more information about taking French as an elective or about starting a French major or minor.
Where can I speak French outside my classroom?
See below for information about French Conversation Hour, French Club, and various French-speaking activities in Chicago.
How do I get accents on my computer?
MICROSOFT WORD ACCENTS HELP: Type International characters |
|
To Produce: |
Press: |
à,è,ì,ò,ù À, È, Ì, Ò, Ù |
CTRL + ` (ACCENT GRAVE), the letter |
á, é, í, ó, ú, ý Á, É, Í, Ó, Ú, Ý |
CTRL + ‘ (APOSTROPHE), the letter |
â, ê, î, ô, û Â, Ê, Î, Ô, Û |
CTRL + SHIFT + ^(CARET), the letter |
ä, ë, ï, ö, ü, ÿ Ä, Ë, Ï, Ö, Ü, Ÿ |
CTRL+ SHIFT +: (COLON), the letter |
œ, Œ |
CTRL + SHIFT +&, o or O |
ç, Ç |
CTRL +, (COMMA), c or C |
French Activities at UIC and abroad
French Conversation Hour: Come speak French and meet other French students or UIC Francophiles every Thursday from 12:30 to 1:30 in the
Language Oasis in the Sandi Port Language and Culture Learning Center (Grant Hall, third floor). You don’t have to be a current French student to come, so bring your French-speaking friends!
Interested in the French Club? To get involved and receive emails about French Club activities (movies, dinners, other events), please contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Professor Ellen McClure or José Soto, French Club President.
French TV and films: Sandi Port Errant Language and Culture Learning Center in Grant Hall. Stop by the Student Oasis in GH 308 to watch French and Francophone TV or use the computer lab in GH 306 to look up French and Francophone websites and blogs. For more information on the many services this center has to offer, go to the LCLC website: http://tigger.uic.edu/depts/lclc/index.shtml or email lclc@uic.edu to find out what times French TV is broadcast.
Want to study French in France, Switzerland, West Africa? Go to the Study Abroad Office for information on financial aid and all current programs: www.uic.edu/depts/spec_prog/studyabroad/
Or stop by or call the SAO Office: 502 University Hall, Telephone (312) 413 7662
La Porte de Non Retour, Ouidah, Benin [Adé Faladé]
Links to French and Francophone fun:
Newspapers/Radio/TV:
France : www.lemonde.fr
France : www.lefigaro.fr
France : www.liberation.fr
France radio : www.radiofrance.fr
France radio : www.radiofrance.fr/franceinter/accueil/
www.radiofrance.fr/chaines/france-culture2/sommaire/
France television: www.tf1.fr
Belgium: www.lesoir.be
Belgian radio & tv: www.lesoir.be
Belgian radio: www.nrj.be
Quebec: www.ledevoir.com
Quebec radio: www.radio-canada.ca/index.shtml
Algeria : www.lejourdalgerie.com
Algerian radio : www.algerian-radio.dz/accueil.htm
In Chicago:
French Consulate of Chicago: www.consulfrance-chicago.org/
Alliance française de Chicago : www.afchicago.com
France Chicago Center : www.fcc.uchicago.edu
French films in Chicago:
Facets Multimedia: www.facets.org
Gene Siskel Film Center: www.siskelfilmcenter.org
Music Box Theatre: www.musicboxtheatre.com
Restaurants:
La Sardine: frenchrestaurantschicago.com , 111 N Carpenter St, (312) 421-2800
Chez Joël: 1119 W Taylor St, (312) 226-6479
Le Bouchon: www.lebouchonofchicago.com , 1958 N Damen Ave, (773) 862-6600
Café Matou: cafematou.com ,1848 N Milwaukee Ave, (773) 384-8911
Brasserie Jo: www.brasseriejo.com , 59 West Hubbard, (312) 595-0800
Café Bernard: www.cafebernard.com , 2100 N Halsted St, (773) 871-2100
and many others!
Fun sites:
Tennessee Bob’s French Links: www.utm.edu/departments/french/french.html
Cultural Services of the French Embassy: www.frenchculture.org
www.frenchresources.info
www.cestsoparis.com
Blogs: Note: Just like blogs in English, some may contain material potentially offensive to some readers, so be cautious.
www.radioblogclub.com: FREE French music
www.blogcatalog.com/language/french
Podcasts in French: Note: Just like podcasts in English, some may contain material potentially offensive to some listeners, so be cautious.
Directory of French language podcasts: podcastdirectory.com: plug in the name of the country or subject you are interested in.
www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory/Languages/French
www.podcastfr.info
www.espacefrancophone.org/en/audiovisuel/podcasting.htm
Canadian: http://www.podfeed.net/tags/quebec
Travel:
Good student fares: www.statravel.com
paris-touristoffice.com
www.francetourism.com
www.louvre.fr
www.chateaudeversailles.fr/en