Folsom Lake College
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French

Overview

Folsom Lake College offers elementary and intermediate courses in French designed to provide students with the ability to understand basic conversations, to speak with reasonable fluency, and to write at their speaking level. It offers students the necessary skills to pursue advanced transfer level courses.

French, along with English, is the official working language of: the United Nations, UNESCO, NATO, OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), the International Labor Bureau, the International Olympic Committee, the 31-member Council of Europe, the European Community, the Universal Postal Union, the International Red Cross, and the UIA (Union of International Associations). French is the dominant working language at: the European Court of Justice, the European Tribunal of First Instance, the Press Room at the European Commission, and CERN (European Centre for Nuclear Research). French is also the foreign language spoken by our largest trading partner, Canada.

Note: Native speakers who have high school-equivalent reading and writing skills in French should enroll in the FREN 411 level course (or above).

French (FREN) Courses

FREN 401 Elementary French

  • Units:4
  • Hours:54 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Transferable:CSU; UC
  • General Education:Local GE L3
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is the first semester introduction to the French language. It is designed for beginning students with little or no previous exposure to the language. It is characterized by the ability to understand and produce appropriate responses in high-frequency situations utilizing learned material. Speaking and writing will be comprehensible to a sympathetic listener used to communicating with non-native speakers. This course is equivalent to two years of high school French

FREN 402 Elementary French

  • Units:4
  • Hours:54 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:FREN 401 (with a grade of 'C' or better) or two years of high school French (with a grade of 'C' or better).
  • Transferable:CSU; UC
  • General Education:Local GE L3
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is the second semester of elementary French. It provides refinement of skills introduced in FREN 401. It is characterized by increased grammatical accuracy and ability to understand and produce appropriate responses in high-frequency situations utilizing learned material. Speaking and writing will be comprehensible to a sympathetic listener used to communicating with non-native speakers.

FREN 411 Intermediate French

  • Units:4
  • Hours:54 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:FREN 402 with a grade of "C" or better or three years of high school French with a "C" or better.
  • Transferable:CSU; UC
  • General Education:Local GE L3; Cal-GETC Area 3B
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is the first semester Intermediate French. It is designed for students who have completed French 402 or three years of high school French. It provides refinement of skills attained in French 402. Students will work toward the ability to create with the language without relying on learned responses, to understand main ideas in routine speech and to understand main ideas in written texts. Listening and reading comprehension will continue to develop; speaking and writing will be comprehensible to a somewhat sympathetic native speaker. Students will develop the ability to respond in an unrehearsed manner on concrete topics in known situations. Written expression will meet limited personal needs and culturally appropriate language at a higher level of accuracy than found in French 402. Students will analyze the complexity of the French speaking world through some of its social and political institutions, its different communication systems and media, and its artistic contribution to the world.

FREN 412 Intermediate French

  • Units:4
  • Hours:54 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:FREN 411 with a grade of "C" or better; or four years of high school French with a grade of C or better.
  • Transferable:CSU; UC
  • General Education:Local GE L3; Cal-GETC Area 3B
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is the second semester of Intermediate French. It is designed for students who have completed French 411 or four years of high school French. It provides continued development of skills attained in French 411. Students will develop the ability to handle complex situations using past, present and future time frames. It will help develop the student's emerging ability to handle complicated situations, to discuss topics beyond immediate personal needs (e.g. current events, social, political, economical and environmental issues; history, traditions, and customs). This course will focus on development of written narratives and expository prose along with increased awareness of cultural concerns, norms, values, and cultural-specific customs and events, with emphasis placed on culturally-authentic readings and writing through the introduction and application of basic literary analysis. Students will expand their knowledge and appreciation of geography, culture and values of the French-speaking world and its contribution to the world.

FREN 495 Independent Studies in French

  • Units:1 - 3
  • Hours:54 - 162 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

FREN 499 Experimental Offering in French

  • Units:0.5 - 4
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is the experimental courses description.

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