Department of French Literature

Journey to Europe and experience the past and present of France

French is the official language of approximately 30 countries, and it was selected as one of the official languages of the United Nations. As they study the French language, students also learn about the cultural and art history and underlying distinctive sensibility of France, a country different from both Japan and America. Students can also expand the scope of their studies to include Europe and the French-speaking regions of Africa and the Caribbean.

Curriculum overview

After acquiring a foundation in the French language in the first and second year, students begin specialized studies in their third year. In the first year there are French classes five times a week, including conversation classes with a native French speaker as instructor. In the second year, the student’s foundation in French is further strengthened with classes four times a week, and there are also classes in which students can delve deeply into individual topics. During years three and four, all students participate in seminars, and in the process of engaging in debate and writing their graduation thesis, they polish a skill crucial for their future careers: the ability to express their own ideas and persuade others. There are also programs for studying abroad in France. For example, there is short-term study in Paris during summer vacation and long-term one-year study in Limoges and Aix-en-Provence.

To make it easier to understand what knowledge is to be acquired from which course, the Department of French Literature’s specialized groups of courses are divided into two streams. The “Textualité” (Textuality) stream encompasses courses aimed at honing student sensibilities with respect to words. The “Modernité” (Modernism) stream encompasses courses in which students learn about a wide range of cultural phenomena in France and the French-speaking world. In addition, four course groups—Linguistic Culture, Literature, Thought, and Art—have been established so that students can study a comprehensive range of areas extending from language itself to culture, history, philosophy, and art. The result is a diverse selection of courses enabling both unrestrained and specialized study and research.