Learning Outcomes and Assessments: French BA Program

The mission of the French program in the Department of World Languages and Literatures is to provide an intellectual environment and a specialized body of knowledge that are conducive to students’ acquisition of proficiency in the language and in the culture, literature, cinema, and history of the French-speaking world.

Outcome Number 1. Reading proficiency in French

Graduating seniors will demonstrate advanced level reading proficiency in French. Students will understand the ideas and details of substantial authentic literary and non-fiction texts in French.

Outcome 1 – Method 1
Graduating seniors will demonstrate advanced-level reading proficiency in French by annotating a literary or cultural text and providing a summary of the text, pertinent explanatory and/or historical notes, as well as definitions of unfamiliar words and expressions; reading comprehension evaluation; quiz; translation of a literary text from French into English. A faculty member will make this assignment in an upper division French course during the semester and submit copies of the assignment completed by graduating seniors to a tenured faculty member for evaluation. The faculty reviewer will evaluate students' performance on the basis of (1) does not meet expectations, (2) meets expectations, (3) exceeds expectations. We expect at least 70% of graduating seniors will meet or exceed expectations on this outcome.

Outcome 1 – Method 2
Graduating seniors will demonstrate advanced-level reading proficiency in French by taking a reading comprehension test based on a nonliterary/non-cultural text; exam or in-class assignment with essay questions; pop-quiz; research essay with a non-literary/non-cultural focus; translating a non-literary text from French to English. A faculty reviewer will give this test/assignment to graduating seniors during the semester either in an upper division French course or other area in the department and will submit copies to a tenured faculty reviewer for evaluation. The faculty reviewer will evaluate students' performance on the basis of (1) does not meet expectations, (2) meets expectations, (3) exceeds expectations. We expect at least 70% of graduating seniors will meet or exceed expectations on this outcome.

Outcome Number 2. Writing proficiency in French

Graduating seniors will demonstrate advanced level reading proficiency in French. Students will produce clear and well-structured text in French in culturally appropriate ways, as in letters, essays, and reports.

Outcome 2 – Method 1
Graduating seniors will demonstrate advanced-level writing proficiency in French in essays included in portfolios collected from upper division French courses. Faculty who teach upper division French courses will make copies of the essays completed by graduating seniors during the semester and submit them to a tenured faculty reviewer for evaluation. The faculty reviewer will evaluate students' performance on the basis of (1) does not meet expectations, (2) meets expectations, (3) exceeds expectations. We expect at least 70% of graduating seniors will meet or exceed expectations on this outcome.

Outcome 2 – Method 2
Graduating seniors will demonstrate advanced-level writing proficiency in French by completing a test or assignment embedded in an upper division French course. Faculty who teach upper division French courses will make copies of the test/assignment completed by graduating seniors during the semester and submit it to a tenured faculty reviewer for evaluation. The faculty reviewer will evaluate students' performance on the basis of (1) does not meet expectations, (2) meets expectations, (3) exceeds expectations. We expect at least 70% of graduating seniors will meet or exceed expectations on this outcome.

Outcome Number 3. Listening proficiency in French

Graduating seniors will demonstrate advanced-level listening proficiency in French. Students will understand authentic speech in French related to contextualized situations or subject-matter knowledge.

Outcome 3 – Method 1
Graduating seniors will demonstrate advanced-level listening proficiency in French in the context of a single speaker situation by participating in a debate or in an in-class interrogatoire; by taking an oral exam; or by taking a listening comprehension test on an aurally presented passage (single presenter). A faculty member will give this test to graduating seniors during the semester either in an upper division French course or other area in the department and will submit copies of the test to a tenured faculty member for evaluation. The faculty reviewer will evaluate students' performance on the basis of (1) does not meet expectations, (2) meets expectations, (3) exceeds expectations. We expect at least 70% of graduating seniors will meet or exceed expectations on this outcome.

Outcome 3 – Method 2
Graduating seniors will demonstrate advanced-level listening proficiency in French in the context of a multiple speaker situation by using an in-class questioning or debate; by taking a listening comprehension test on an aurally presented passage; by an exit interview. A faculty member will give this test to graduating seniors during the semester either in an upper division French course or other area in the department and will submit copies of the test or evaluation to a tenured faculty member for evaluation. The faculty reviewer will evaluate students' performance on the basis of (1) does not meet expectations, (2) meets expectations, (3) exceeds expectations. We expect at least 70% of graduating seniors will meet or exceed expectations on this outcome.

Outcome Number 4. Speaking proficiency in French

Graduating seniors will demonstrate advanced-level speaking proficiency in French. Students will express themselves in French for academic and professional purposes.

Outcome 4 – Method 1
Graduating seniors will demonstrate advanced-level speaking proficiency in French by making an oral presentation embedded in an upper-division French course or a phonetics recording during the semester. A tenured faculty member will evaluate students' performance on the basis of (1) does not meet expectations, (2) meets expectations, (3) exceeds expectations. We expect at least 70% of graduating seniors will meet or exceed expectations on this outcome.

Outcome 4 – Method 2
Graduating seniors will demonstrate advanced-level speaking proficiency in French by completing an Acting French performance; in-class questioning or debate; oral exam; French for the Professions Certificate exam; or exit interview conducted in French with a faculty member. The faculty member will evaluate students' performance on the basis of (1) does not meet expectations, (2) meets expectations, (3) exceeds expectations. We expect at least 70% of graduating seniors will meet or exceed expectations on this outcome.

Outcome Number 5. Knowledge of French or Francophone literature/culture/history

Graduating seniors will demonstrate advanced-level knowledge of French literature/culture. Students will demonstrate a general knowledge of French or Francophone culture through literature, cinema, and history.

Outcome 5 – Method 1
Graduating seniors will demonstrate advanced-level knowledge of French literature/culture by completing a test or assignment; content test; reading comprehension test based on a non-literary/non-cultural text; identification of people/movements/historical events in a non-literary work; class presentation embedded in an upper division French literature/culture course. Faculty who teach upper division French literature/culture courses will make copies of the test/assignment completed by graduating seniors during the semester and submit it to a tenured faculty member for evaluation. The faculty reviewer will evaluate students' performance on the basis of (1) does not meet expectations, (2) meets expectations, (3) exceeds expectations. We expect at least 70% of graduating seniors will meet or exceed expectations on this outcome.

Outcome 5 – Method 2
Graduating seniors will demonstrate advanced-level knowledge of French literature/culture in essays included in portfolios collected from upper division French literature/culture/history courses. Faculty who teach upper division French literature/culture/history courses will make copies of the essays completed by graduating seniors during the semester and submit them to a tenured faculty member for evaluation. The faculty reviewer will evaluate students' performance on the basis of (1) does not meet expectations, (2) meets expectations, (3) exceeds expectations. We expect at least 70% of graduating seniors will meet or exceed expectations on this outcome.