Credit Hours - 3

Course content

The course will compare French and Francophone literatures with literatures from other linguistic areas such as anglophone literatures or literatures originally written in African languages. The course will also look beyond canonical genres and forms. The aim is to analyze the differences and similarities between these literatures. It will also focus on comparative literature as a literary criticism approach.

Credit Hours - 3

Course Content

This course will essentially introduce some major linguistic theories. The focus will be on the application of these theories to the analysis of French. Two main types of theories shall be presented: ‘generative’ theories and non-generative theories. Generative theories shall involve discussions around Chomskyan generative grammar. Discussions on non-generative theories shall focus on presenting theories that do not postulate innateness of grammar. Theories such as cognitive grammar, construction grammar, functional grammar shall be looked at. 

Credit Hours - 3

Course content

The course defines and discusses technical translation and specialised texts/ discourse and explores the difference with general translation and general texts. The focus is on technical texts such as banking, economics, law, science and technology and environmental affairs. In this course, texts should progress in complexity and focus shall be on the students’ ability to go beyond the words they perceive to understand the relevant source text and communicate it efficiently through a target text which conforms to the functional (orthographical, lexical, grammatical, syntactic, textual) requirements or preferences of discourse in the target language.

Credit Hours - 3

Course content

This course is a continuation of FREN 603 (Comparative Literature I). It will enhance the methods of comparative literature with the aim of deepening the relevance of backgrounds, genres, and forms. The course will also focus on comparative exercises such as Le commentaire comparé littéraire and La dissertation en littérature comparée. The course aims at developing the students’ skills in comparing different literary works and documenting their results.

Credit Hours - 3

Course Content

This course focuses on several discourse and pragmatic approaches to grasping meanings as they are expressed in French. Students will be invited to examine aspects of meaning and language use that are dependent on the speaker, the addressee and other features such as the context of utterance, General principles of Communication and the goals and intention of the speaker. The course will examine how French speakers may approach conversation, interpretation of language and strategies of communication under various topics that include Presupposition (given versus new information), Deixis, Speech acts theory, Implicature. 

Credit Hours - 3

Course Content

This course will focus on the main functions of language as a tool for communication, and the main components of Linguistics as a science.  Students will be introduced to the domain of linguistic studies, and the sub-domains that are there within. The distinctions between notions such as language, ‘langue’ and ‘parole ‘, will feature prominently in the discussions. Further basic distinctions such as those between syntagmatic and pragmatic axes of linguistic analysis, synchronic and diachronic analysis etc. shall also be highlighted. Finally, students will be introduced to basic notions in phonetics/phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics, using French as illustrating material. 

Credit Hours - 3

Course content

The course will involve the comparative study of the evolution of Francophone African and Caribbean literature from the early 20th century to the 21st century with emphasis on major authors, trends, techniques and themes.  Issues to be treated include slavery, exile, migration, gender, negritude/creolity, insularity, same/other dialectics, commitment and post/colonial malaise. Students will be required to study representative works of fiction, drama, poetry, essay and cinema placed within their historical, political, socio-economic, cultural and literary contexts. 

Credit Hours - 3

Course Content

This course presents a survey of different scenarios where there is a contact between different languages. Particular attention will be paid to language contact in the case of foreign language teaching. The different phenomena engendered by the contact of languages shall be the main focus of this course. As such, phenomena such as bilingualism/multilingualism, codeswitching, language attrition, language variation will be studied. 

Credit Hours - 3

Course content

This is a practical course in copy editing and proofreading to help develop editorial skills for use in trace, reference, or professional book and journal publishing as either an in-house or freelance editor. Topics include learning about the tasks needed to produce various kinds of publications, and where each task fits in the production cycle; relationships of proof reader to copyeditor, editor, production editor, and author; proof reader’s and editor’s marks; style guides, style sheets, and consistency; word usage and grammar problems; and quality control of manuscripts at all stages.

Credit Hours - 3

Course content

This course aims at introducing students to the study of Francophone films and series. Along with literature, films and series constitute important cultural productions in today’s world. The course will present the history, theory of Francophone films and series. It will also provide students with the tools to analyse visual contents and understand the specific narratives of films and televised series. The course will also study the links between films and TV series.

Credit Hours - 3

Course content

The student will be required to write a research thesis of some forty thousand words on an approved topic. Students will be assigned to approved supervisors who will guide them through the process. The research will be an original work carried out with scientific techniques that are specific to the domain in which the student chooses to work on. It is therefore expected that primary data serves as the principal object on which students construct their hypotheses and results. 

Credit Hours - 3

Course content

The aim of this course is to apply reading strategies to understand a variety of texts for translation purposes and apply writing strategies to accurate translation of a variety of texts Reformulate texts with accurate linguistic requirements in the target language. In this course, the focus is on strategies and techniques of reading and writing for translation purposes, reminders of general writing conventions across languages (including spelling, punctuation, paragraphing), vertical vs horizontal reading techniques. It also includes text comprehension beyond word level, sensitivity to text-type conventions and preferences, organising and presenting one’s thoughts in writing, using connecting devices in writing, as well as paraphrasing and intralingual and interlingual précis writing. Part of the course also deals with aspects related to grammar, style and syntax of all working languages of the trainees.

Credit Hours - 3

Course content

This course will present the long history of French literature with a focus on the major schools, trends and authors across the centuries. Students will study how French literature emerged during the Middle Ages and evolved during the 16th Century. Students will revisit 17th Century French Classicism and the different literary schools from the 18th to the 21st Centuries such as romanticism, symbolism, surrealism, nouveau roman and postmodernism. Excerpts from representative authors such as Molière, Hugo, Proust will be studied.

Credit Hours - 3

Course Content

The course will review and evaluate general learning theories and consider the implications of learning theories for second language learning and teaching. The course will also review different theories of first and second language learning, highlighting their relationship.  Internal and external factors in second language learning and their practical implications for the learning process will be examined. Topics include: general learning theories, theories of first and second language learning, input and interaction, language transfer as well as social factors involved in second language learning. 

Credit Hours - 3

Course content

The course involves community translation. It focuses on the definition of key concepts, a historical overview and developments of the practice and study of the discipline around the world and in Africa, similarities with and differences from traditional activities, good practices as well as specificities of practice, study and research in Africa. It includes case studies of practice for judicial, health, religious, political and other purposes are included. The course addresses the requirements for effective and efficient community practice such as linguistic, cultural, intercultural, communication, management skills. Students are given hands-on exposure to actual practice at grassroots level.

Credit Hours - 3

Course content

This course will introduce students to the domain and notion of world literature as theorised by scholars such as David Damrosch and Franco Moretti. Students will learn to identify the criteria and canons what qualifies a text as a World Literature. The course will focus on texts from French and Francophone literature. The aim is to draw attention to texts which are not usually considered as World literature while they actually qualify as World literature.

Credit Hours - 3

Course Content

This course will tackle issues related to first, second and subsequent language acquisition. The course will seek to establish the difference between language acquisition and language learning and the different processes that characterize each of this. The course will also review issues concerning critical age, order of morpheme acquisition and the different cognitive processes involved in the acquisition of first language and other subsequent languages. The idea is to give students a strong grounding in this domain so as to prepare them for research in applied linguistics. 

Credit Hours - 3

Course content

The course discusses the definition of culture as applicable to the translation process and examines specific perspectives of perception and expression in different communities, with particular attention to the students’ own language communities, to cultural relativity and how cultural differences impact on translation. In order to develop their intercultural awareness, trainees are exposed to relevant authentic materials such as foreign newspapers, advertisements, journals, short stories, novels, plays and other types of literature works as well as videos, movies and audio-visual documentaries, in as much as these reflect relevant cultural realities, help trainees gain deeper insights into both source target societies and enable them to have a better understanding the habits and preferences of the source and target audiences. The course exposes students to the importance of topical issues in the development of a translator’s culture and general knowledge. The course aims at fostering a culture of curiosity and continuous learning among trainees. The course develops general knowledge and the language of the news in students. The course shall be an opportunity to develop trainees’ vocabulary and language skills using up-to-date materials from a variety of sources.

Credit Hours - 3

Course content

This course will provide an overview of the history and forms of African oral literature. It will introduce students to the main genres of oral literature such as folktales, poetry, riddles, myths, urban legends, proverbs… Students will also learn to analyse oral texts. The course will study the links between oral and written literature and assess how they influence one another. 

Credit Hours - 3

Course Content

The course reviews the major approaches to the design of language curricula and provides students with the tools and techniques for analysing and critically assessing syllabuses.  It is also intended to provide them with concepts and procedures for developing their own syllabuses. Topics include approaches to the design of language curriculum, product-oriented syllabuses, process-oriented syllabuses, analysis of teaching materials in the light of syllabus requirements, system and philosophy. 

Credit Hours - 3

Course content

This course introduces students to discourse analysis, mainly oriented toward the acquisition of a methodological competence in translation of specialised and general texts. It provides students with relevant theoretical tools for discourse analysis, within the process of translating a variety of texts, helping them identify appropriate indicators in written discourse analysis, lexical relations, coherence and cohesion, thematic progression in text.

Credit Hours - 3

Course content

In the first year, students are expected to make a presentation of their research proposal. In addition to the research methodology course, this seminar will train them in preparing their PowerPoints and being ready for the oral presentation. The oral presentation will be assessed by a panel of Faculty members. Students will receive feedback to enable them to improve upon their proposals.

Credit Hours - 3

Course Content

The course examines the use of innovative approaches (task-oriented approach) in developing oral and written skills. Oral language skills are highly correlated with achievement in written language and vice versa for mastery of a language. The course focuses on distinct approaches to teaching oral and writing skills in a French as a foreign language. The course focuses on the practical application of various approaches to the teaching and learning of these competencies in a foreign language. This is to encourage interactive and participative activities such as debates, discussions, role-plays and brainstorming.

Credit Hours - 3

Course content

Literature is not only about inspiration, muses and beauty. It is also about institutions, power relations, economy, etc. This course will introduce students to the roles of literary institutions such as publishing houses, prices, literary actors such as literary agents or literary markets. Students will learn how writers develop strategies to become influential, sell more and build their reputation. They will discover that the literary world has its own rules that writers need to follow or resist and academics need to understand by the means of sociology

Credit Hours - 3

Course Content

The course critically analyses multilingual teaching environment of French as a foreign language which brings about certain desirable changes in students. It examines several characteristics which appear to be related to multilingual teaching environment of French as a foreign language.  This course focuses on the factors that distinguish a multilingual environment of teaching and learning. It analyses the types of relations that exist among the various languages (Twi, Ga, Ewe  and the like) that coexist and their implications on the creation of the representations of French in a multilingual environment. It raises the question of how to teach French in a multilingual environment already dominated by a diversity of local languages. The course also examines the role of the social actors in the field of teaching French as a foreign language

Credit Hours - 3

Course content

In the second year, students shall make a presentation on the progress of their thesis research. At the time of the presentation, they are expected to have written, at least, the general introduction and the first chapter of the thesis. Students will choose and present thoroughly.  The oral presentation will be assessed by a panel of Faculty members. Students shall receive feedback to enable them to improve upon their thesis. 

Credit Hours - 3

Course Content

The course covers specific domains of French language such as French for the Sciences, Business French, French for Law, International relations and Medical French to mention just a few. In this course, students are taught to research into this domain of French teaching. The teaching methodology consists of the identification of specific needs of the learner, data collection, the analysis of the learner’s needs, the preparation and use of the appropriate documents which culminate into specific syllabus design.

Credit Hours - 3

Course Content

This course will involve the properties of the “word” in French. The different derivational strategies that operate within the French language shall be discussed. Also, the relationship between the morphology and syntax of the French language will be presented. In addition, the different multi-word units that function as morphological units in French will be studied. Furthermore, the morphological properties of the French language will be juxtaposed with properties of other languages, especially languages spoken in Ghana.

Credit Hours - 3

Course Content

This course will involve a practical hands-on approach as students get to analyze existing syllabi, teaching methods, and textbooks used in various French as a Foreign Language classroom. This will involve observing classroom practices (either in person or via videos) and discuss how these practices contribute to the overall learning experience of students. Various textbooks and syllabi will also be analysed to see how the contents contribute to meeting course objectives and learning outcomes.

Credit Hours - 3

Course Content

This course involves a presentation of the representation of the meanings generated by different linguistic units of French. The meanings associated with both lexical and grammatical lexemes will be discussed. Also, the meanings that are generated by clausal units will be taught. Particular attention be put on the meanings of nouns and verbs. This course shall mainly be delivered by presentations. However, a regular feature will involve reading and understanding various academic articles.

Credit Hours - 3

Course Content

This course will give special attention to the new methods and use of new technologies, such as CALL (Computer-Assisted Language Learning) in the teaching of French as a Foreign Language. The students will be taken through the fundamentals of integrated instruction and be introduced to various ICT tools that can be adopted in the language classroom.

Credit Hours - 3

Course Content

This course focuses on the syntax of French. Grammatical categories of French and the different grammatical functions will be surveyed. The different phrases and clauses of the French language will be studied, and the different approaches to accounting for their properties are discussed. Students will be briefly introduced to some syntactic theories. 

Credit Hours - 3

Course Content

Course Content

This course is a study of the theory, concepts and practices of learning measurement and evaluation in instructional settings. Course topics include reliability theory, test and evaluation development, validation and assessment

Credit Hours - 3

Course Content

This course involved the details of the phonetics and phonology of French language. The different domains of phonetics, and the different articulatory organs (vocal cords, larynx, palate, etc.) and their role in the production of French sounds will be studied. Also, the place and manner of articulation of the various French sounds as well. The various phonemes of the French language and their allophonic realizations will be learnt. 

Credit Hours - 3

Course Content

The course exposes students to translation theories like the Interpretative Theory (Danica Seleskovitch & Marianne Lederer), Skopos (Hans J. Vermeer), Functionalist/text Analysis (Christine Nord), and history of translation. With extensive use of relevant literature, it critically examines the various approaches to and theories of translation around the world. It emphasizes leading approaches and theories in Africa and beyond as well as the relevance of such theories and approaches for translation practice and the development of the discipline on the continent.

Credit Hours - 3

Course Content

This course focuses on comparing the linguistic properties of other languages with the linguistic properties of French language. Students will first of all be introduced to the domain of comparative and typological linguistics. They will be presented with the conceptual tools that are necessary for comparative and typological linguistics. The linguistic properties of languages that are spoken in Ghana i.e. Kwa and Gur languages, and English, are juxtaposed with the linguistic properties of French. Students will then be encouraged to employ the conceptual tools to analyse the typological similarities and differences. 

Credit Hours - 3

Course content

The course comprises two separate components of equal weight. The first is text-processing skills that are specifically useful for the activity of translation, including keyboards, word processing packages, special characters, timesaving shortcuts, in-built and online resources of the computer, split window function in translation, dictionaries, thesauri, spell check and grammar check packages. Secondly, the course entails the major components of a CAT tool, such as translation memories and matching, TM file types, online and standalone TMs, machine translation systems, creation and maintenance of bitexts, segmentation and segmentation rules, connection between CAT tools and terminology databases, examples of CAT tool software packages, with emphasis on the most widely used ones.

Credit Hours - 3

Course Content

After a short introduction to General Sociolinguistics and its history, the course will cover different aspects of sociolinguistic situations in Francophone countries. The course offers a comprehensive study of linguistic practices, such as code-switching, code-mixing, bilingualism, multilingualism, borrowing and appropriation of French, and a description of different kinds of languages, such as Creole, pidgin, slang, vehicular language, lingua franca. The course will also focus on language attitudes, language variations, and language policies in Francophone countries. 

Credit Hours - 3

Course content

Read and understand general purpose texts as a first step in translation Use parallel and comparable features of texts for purposes of translation. Translate general purpose texts. Use techniques for transferring meaning appropriately Develop self-checking reflexes Render user-ready translations. In this course, students translate general texts (LGP) with at least two language combinations (such as A>B, B>A and C>A). Texts should progress in complexity. Students put into practice their knowledge of reading and writing as well as techniques and strategies of translation. They also learn how to compare texts. Students practice the oral translation of a written text. The course focuses on issues and problems of text construction in translation, formatting, writing conventions from one discourse type to another, potential cases of source language interference and contamination. Exercises for translation are based on well-chosen texts that are reflective of the specific problem under examination: expression, referential and procedural.

Credit Hours - 3

Course content

This course is a continuation of FREN 601 (Literary Theory and Criticism I). It will complete the introduction to major literary theories and approaches of literary criticism. It will also focus on practical works. Students will apply what they learned about theories and criticism to texts. The aim is for students to improve their skills in understanding literary works and analyzing them.

Credit Hours - 3

Course content

This course aims at providing students with the tools to analyse a literary text. The course will enable students to understand the main literary theories. It will, at the same time, introduce them to the main approaches of literary criticism. Students will develop skills in understanding what literature is and in comparing, analysing, interpreting and evaluating literary works. 

Credit Hours - 4

Course content

In this course, students will first engage with the importance, ethics, principles, types and techniques of research current in the field of French and francophone studies. The practical application of research techniques will then focus on time-bound thesis writing tasks such as seminar presentations, identification of research area, citation and reference styles, bibliographical assignments and questionnaire design, etc.