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Program Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures is to promote academic excellence by providing ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ students with the opportunity to learn to communicate effectively in writing as well as orally in a language other than English. Additionally, the department fosters human understanding by exposing students to a multiplicity of textual constructs and by urging them to undertake cultural experiences that enhance their vision as global citizens. Such a commitment to excellence requires that faculty members pursue in earnest academic research and publication to stay abreast of new developments in literary criticism, cultural studies and language acquisition, that they integrate results of their inquiry effectively in the courses they teach, and that they publish or present their research in highly regarded professional forums. The Department's pedagogical focus is to underscore at all times the importance of language as a window to human understanding. The Languages, Literatures and Cultures faculty strives to instill in students the critical skills necessary to analyze a variety of texts (literary and otherwise) in their original language and social context, so that they may discern and appreciate cultural differences. Programmatic relevance is ensured by a shared teaching methodology that blends language instruction at its most practical level with academic approaches in the humanistic tradition, which assert the inherent value of multiculturalism. In order to ascertain success in its mission, the Department assesses its students yearly through instruments tailored to the program as well as to the desired learning outcomes. This commitment to rigorous assessment promotes self-reflection on the part of a committed faculty willing always to renovate and upgrade the language program for the benefit of ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ students as well as to address the needs of the community the university serves.

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates will be able to:

Content/Discipline-Specific Knowledge/Skills

• Possesses a broad vocabulary at the Intermediate-Low level that allows for ready understanding of the main ideas of a literary or cultural text. (Third-year students)
• Possess a broad vocabulary at the Intermediate-High level that allows for ready understanding of the main ideas of a literary or cultural text.
• Demonstrates command of grammar and syntax at the Intermediate-Low level. (Third-year students)
• Demonstrate a command of grammar and syntax at the Intermediate-High level.
• Understands similarities and differences between Francophone cultures. (Third-year students) •
• Understand and analyze similarities and differences between Francophone cultures.

Communication Skills

• Demonstrates oral fluency and understandable pronunciation at the Intermediate-Low level. (Third-year students)
• Demonstrate oral fluency and understandable pronunciation at the Intermediate-High level.
• Understands most oral communication and responds adequately to it. (Third-year students)
• Understand most oral communication and respond adequately to it.
• Writes well organized paragraphs using accurate and comprehensible discourse. (Third-year students) • Write well organized paragraphs using accurate and comprehensible discourse.

Critical Thinking Skills

• Analyzes, interprets and assesses in writing and speech literary and cultural texts at an Intermediate-Low level. (Third-year students)
• Analyze, interpret and assesses literary and cultural texts through writing at an Intermediate-High level.
• When writing in the target language, shows originality or independence of thought, presents a clear thesis and supports ideas coherently. (Third-year students)
• Show originality or independence of thought, and present a clear thesis and support ideas coherently when writing in French.

Assessment Approaches

The intended student learning outcomes in upper-level French language, literature and culture courses will mainly be assessed through direct measures. For example, in FRE 3502, French and Francophone Cultures, a writing assignment given near the end of the semester will be assessed for command of correct syntax and grammatical structures in French. The desired target proficiency in French for students completing the four-year program is Intermediate-High level, based upon ACTFL's criteria [American Council on Teaching Foreign Languages) In another advanced French course, such as FRE 4402 Advanced French Conversation, an oral exam given as part of the course requirement will be recorded for assessment of oral production and comprehension in French. Speaking abilities in French will be assessed to measure fluency and appropriate responses to oral communication. In upper-level courses that focus on French literature and culture, such as FRW 4930 Special Topics in French Literature, students will be assessed through direct measures. For example, students' critical thinking skills as demonstrated in written assignments and / or class presentations on assigned topics will be assessed by a team of French faculty members. Ideally, all students finishing the program in French Studies will have an informal exit interview to assess speaking skills and comprehension of spoken French, the expected level of oral proficiency is Intermediate-High.