Nicole
Buffard:
Dr. Buffard has been teaching French
Language and Literature in the US since 1988. She arrived at CSUS in 2002
after spending 14 years teaching at a midwestern university. She teaches a
wide range of courses, from beginning French to upper division Literature
courses. Her research focuses on Algerian women writers and how they use
Metaphors in their writings as a tool to confront the political establishment
in their country and in France. It is a topic she addresses in her literature
classes as well. Nicole was born in Normandy, France. She
immigrated to the US in 1982, and currently lives in Davis with her daughter
Léna.
Kevin Elstob:
Dr. Elstob has been teaching French for 15 years
in the United States. His specialty is Theatre and Francophone Civilization.
If you are interested in traveling, check with Prof. Elstob for he has led
numerous study-abroad programs (to France and Quebec). He loves film and
"contemporary urban sounds" (that's music to everyone else).
Béatrice Kelley:
Dr. Kelley joined our staff in Fall
2004. She is from Burundi. She did her undergraduate studies in French at the University of Burundi, her M.A. in French at the University of Arkansas, at Fayetteville, and her Ph.D. in French Linguistics at UC Davis. Her speciality is second language acquisition, and French and francophone literature. Béatrice loves dancing, tennis, traveling, and her dog.
Laurence Lambert
Prof Lambert is originally from Belgium. Her Masters degree is in French - Education. Currently she teaches lower division courses, and is the Student Teacher Supervisor for Single Subject Credential students (Language) for the CSUS Education Department. Laurence loves laughing, cooking, painting, music, cats, and CHOCOLATE!
Laurette Suter:
Prof Suter teaches Beginning and
Intermediate French (French 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B), Intermediate Reading
Proficiency (French 7, online section), and Beginning Conversation (French 5). Laurette's
speciality, besides French grammar, is the use of media, technology and
pedagogy. Beware ! You will have to do computer exercises and surf the
Internet for her courses. She is also the CSUS Foreign Language Lab Director.
She was schooled in France, Switzerland, Spain and the USA. She has also
traveled most of Europe and northern Africa. Her response to why she is a good
teacher: "I use different teaching techniques and I like humor in the
classroom."
Other
instructors:
Other faculty from the Foreign
Language Department also teach French occasionally. We are fortunate to have
them as resources; they are gifted and knowledgeable linguists.
French is a beautiful language ! It
is spoken throughout the world and has always been the language of both
diplomacy and love ! Check out the course catalog for careers which would benefit by knowing French ! (such as international business,
journalism, government service, teaching, not to mention just living abroad
!)
B.A. French Major & French Minor programs
A Bachelor of Arts in French takes
36 units (upper division units). A minor in French takes 12 units of upper
division, all of which must be taken in French. Start taking French courses
this semester and the minor or major will be finished in less time than you
think ! Check out the catalog (Acrobat
Reader will load) and the schedule of classes.
Check with the
French Program Advisors to make sure you are taking the appropriate sequence
of courses:
Kevin Elstob: Faculty page, or
e-mail kelstob@csus.edu
Placement Test
What course should you take ??? A
placement test is now administered online, and students should take it prior
to the first day of class for primarily French
1A, French 1B, French 2A and French 2B courses, AND for placement in French 7. The purpose of
this test is to assess the student knowledge of French grammar and vocabulary,
in order to place the student in the most appropriate level. In many cases,
the knowledge of high school French may place a student in the French 1B,
French 2A, and sometimes even French 2B level (4th semester) at CSUS. The
placement test assists in placing students in the correct class.
** The French 1A-2B online placement
test is a 60-question test which should take less than an hour.
** The
French 7 placement test should take about one-half hour.
Both use a
computer environment called WebCT, for which a link is provided below. When
you get to the menu on the CSUS WebCT online courses page, scroll down to
locate and click on the " French - Placement Test". Anyone
can take these placement tests. Log in with the user name wctguest and
use the password guest.
You can take the tests from any
campus lab or from home if you have access to a Web browser, such as Firefox or Internet Explorer. The scoring system will grade the written
portion of the tests and let you know right away what course to enroll in.
There may also be an oral placement test given in class on the first day for
the grammar classes. Give your intended instructor your written score. If in
doubt, speak to the instructor whose class you plan to take. Click here now
for the online French Placement Test (use the "WebCT 6" link, then the "French - Placement Test" link).
CSUS has a foreign language
graduation requirement. Changes were recently made in May 2004. You now need
to show competency at the beginning level in a language other than English. A
passing grade is C- or better:
- If you have had three (3) years
or more of a Foreign Language in high school with a passing grade, then you
have completed the CSUS Foreign Language Requirement.
- If you only had two (2) years or
less of a foreign language in high school, then you must complete the
requirement at CSUS. You have some options:
- If you have grown up with
French, you may take and must pass two tests in 2 language skills (one of
which must be either reading or writing). Check with the French area head,
Kevin Elstob (kelstob@csus.edu), for
an appointment.
- If French was your high school
language, you may elect to complete a second semester college level (the
1B level) of French, if you are eligible based on the Placement Test (see
above). If not, take both French 1A and French 1B and complete with a
passing grade.
- If you are taking a new
language (different from high school), you need to complete the beginning
courses (French 1A and French 1B) with a passing grade.
- If you have had 1-2 college
semesters of French, French 1A at CSUS, or 2 years of high school French
with a strong knowledge base and a good grade, you may elect to take the French 7 Reading Proficiency class. This is an intermediate level class which
focuses on reading skills only.
- If you have had 1-2 college
semesters of French, French 1A at CSUS, or 2 years of high school French
with strong knowledge, a good grade and are highly social and
conversational, you may elect to take the French 5 Conversation Proficiency class. This is an intermediate level
class which focuses on speaking skills only.
- Intermediate French (French 2A
and/or French 2B) will also complete the graduation requirement.
It is very important that you check
on your specific graduation requirement with an advisor, read up on the requirement , and check with a Professor of
French.
Study & Work Abroad
The French Program successfully
places students in variety of academic study and employment positions
overseas. We are updating this information for you, but check back here again
soon. Information, applications and interviews usually take place in the fall
semester (November) for the following summer, so keep this in mind as you plan
for the next year. Inquire at the International Programs office (Lassen Hall
2304) or at telephone (916) 278-6686.
Student Teacher Credentials
The French Program coordinator is
Kevin Elstob:
Faculty page, or
e-mail kelstob@csus.edu.
