French

The participation of French industries in the Indian market is growing. Students are also interested to pursue studies in France. The French course at the Institute will be helpful to those who wish to make a career in multinational ventures which need French knowing personnel or to meet the demands in the academic field.

The course in French is designed to take a beginner to a level where he/she will be able to express himself freely and read a book without consulting the dictionary. It is said that for any language about 1000 words are needed for a basic knowledge, about 2600 words for reading a newspaper, and around 4500 words for reading a novel. The main targets of the course are gradually building up the necessary vocabulary, inculcating grammatical knowledge and usage, and giving conversational skills in French language. By the time the students reach the Diploma level of the course, they are able to read and speak in French as well as do basic translation work.

SYLLABUS FOR FRENCH COURSE - First Junior

French phonology: alphabet, vowels, consonants, diphthongs, triphthons, accents, punctuations. Parts of speech: variables, invariables, gender, number, variations, proverbs and quotations. Verbs: conjugation of auxiliaries in indicative present, indefinite past and simple future. Imperative mood. Affirmative, negative. Regular and irregular verbs in indicative present, indefinite past, simple future. Imperative mood. Change in forms: affirmative, negative, interrogative, interrogative negative, interrogative, interrogative native. Adjectives: different types and rules concerning their use, especially of demonstrative and possessive adjectives. Numerals. Pronouns: forms according to cases, gender and number for personal pronouns only. Use of invariables: preposition, conjunction and adverbs. Rules regarding formation of adverbs. Practice in conversation and elementary translations from French into English and vice-versa for practical purposes. Notions of cultural history of France, geography of Francophone countries, old songs. Recitation, dictation. Hearing audio-visual aids and rewriting. Recorded speeches.

A detailed session plan will be given at the start of the course.

Prescribed textbooks

1. LE NOUVEAU SANS FRONTIÈRES 1 - TEXTBOOK 
2. LE NOUVEAU SANS FRONTIÈRES 1 - WORKBOOK

SYLLABUS FOR FRENCH COURSE - SECOND JUNIOR

Lexicography: formation of verbs from nouns and adjectives and vice-versa. Vocabulary building. Verbs: conjugation of remaining tenses in the indicative mood and other moods. Voices and their use. Syntax and structure of sentence with notions of stylistics, eloquence and elegance. Use of proper prepositions and post-positions, conjunctions and interjections. Parsing and analysis, with particular emphasis on structure. Practice in composition and recitation. Dictation. Other pronouns and their use: demonstrative pronouns, possessive pronouns and relative pronouns. Proverbs and quotations. Hearing recorded cassettes and rewriting them. Conversational practice. Translation practice. More details about French culture, history and literature.

Prescribed textbooks

1. LE NOUVEAU SANS FRONTIÈRES 1 - TEXTBOOK & WORKBOOK

SYLLABUS FOR FRENCH COURSE - FIRST SENIOR

Reading of more difficult texts with explanation in French. Higher grammar: more irregular verbs and agreements with different auxiliaries, all in direct method. Recitation and delivery of small speeches in French. Hearing recorded cassettes and other audio-visual aids. Writing: compositions and rewriting stories with emphasis on vocabulary building with stylistics in mind. History and geography of France. Habits and customs.

Prescribed textbooks

1. Anecdotes 1-12 and General passages (at Teacher's discretion)
2. Modern French Grammar by Prof. A. Maria Gabriel
3. Supplementary passages on French civilization.

SYLLABUS FOR FRENCH COURSE - SECOND SENIOR

Reading: anecdotes 13-25, general passages (at Teacher's discretion) Grammar: change of voices; exceptions in gender and number, variations in meaning. Retelling stories and rewriting heard passages. Picture description. Letter writing, translation of easy passages and composition.

Prescribed textbooks

1. Anecdotes 1-12 and General passages (at Teacher's discretion)
2. Modern French Grammar by Prof. A. Maria Gabriel
3. Supplementary passages on French civilization. Map reading: France and Francophone zones.

SYLLABUS FOR FRENCH COURSE - FIRST DIPLOMA

I) Prose selection (Modifications in the choice at teacher's discretion)

Le petit chaperon rouge Charles Perrault Le suicide de Vatel Mme de Sevigné Histoire de la reine Gisèle François Fénelon La mechanceté des Troglodytes Charles Montesquieu Le chien et le cheval Voltaire Une peur d'enfant J.J.Rousseau Jean et sa lettre Paul Feval II) Poetry selection (Modifications in the choice at teacher's discretion

A Cassandre Pierre de Ronsard La mort d'une jeune fille Pierre de Ronsard La cigale et la fourmi G de La Fontaine Le corbeau et le renard G de La Fontaine Demain dès l'aube Victor Hugo Tristesse Alfred de Musset III) History of French Literature:

Brief outlines of different centuries and authors. The different movements in literary life and their influence in general.

IV) Advanced grammar: Use of conditional and subjunctive moods; Impersonal pronouns. Idioms and phrases. Importance of placement of adjectives before or after the noun.

V) Translation of non-technical texts from French into English and vice-versa.

VI) Letter writing and composition.

SYLLABUS FOR FRENCH COURSE - SECOND DIPLOMA

I Prose selection (Modifications in the choice at teacher's discretion)

Jeannot et Colin Voltaire Le remords J.J.Rousseau Un combat entre les Franes et les Romains - Chateaubriand La mort d'un avare Honoré de Balzac La légende rhénane Victor Hugo Le pape est mort Alphonse Daudet Le grand Michu Emile Zola Le petit fût Guy de Maupassant II Poetry selection: (Modifications in the choice at teacher's discretion)

Ballade des Pendus François Villon A Hélène (Quand vous…) Pierre de Ronsard Regrets (Heureux qui…) Joachim Du Bellay Consolation à M. du Perrier Malherbe La mort et le bûcheron J. de La Fontaine Le vieillard et les tro is jeunes homes - J. de La Fontaine Le lac A. de Lamartine L'albatros Baudelaire III History of French Literature: more detailed study of authors and their works of different periods.

IV Rudiments of History and Geography of France. Map reading.

V Translation of technical texts from French into English and vice-versa.

VI Practice in interpretation from French into English and vice-versa.

VII Official and business correspondence, Composition.

Prescribed textbooks

1. Contes et récits ed. by Prof. A. Maria Gabriel
2. A book of French Verse ed. by Prof. A.Maria Gabriel
3. Les Grandes Étapes de La Litérature Française by Charles Cadoux, Poona University