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Faculty
Lars O. Erickson (Ph.D.,
University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill, 1998)
is Associate Professor of French and Director of the French
International Engineering Program (IEP) at the University of Rhode
Island. He is also the
President of the Rhode Island
American Association of Teachers of French (RIAATF). Dr. Erickson’s research
interests include the
relationship between science and literature, eighteenth-century
literature and
culture, and Breton cultural studies. In
his book, Metafact: Essayistic Science in
Eighteenth-Century France,
he examines how the literary essay influenced methodological change in
the
sciences. Journals such as Symposium, Romance Notes, Confluencia, and Celtic Cultural Studies
have
published his research.
Dr.
Erickson teaches to make a difference in the lives of
his students. He says, “Making a
difference sometimes means breaking the mold, and my courses change the
common
way of teaching. My teaching philosophy
encourages students to be active learners. I
also believe that students are always developing their language skills
in addition to their critical thinking skills. And
I expand teaching opportunities beyond the
classroom.” He is currently writing an article
describing
the pedagogical innovations related to his FRN 309: French Literature
from the Middle
Ages to 1789 course.
As
Director of the French IEP, Dr. Erickson has developed
many unique learning opportunities. “The
six-month paid internship is the cornerstone of the IEP experience. Our
students have interned with companies
such as Rhodia, Bruker
Biospin, Renault, Hutchinson,
and Saint-Gobain. We prepare our French IEPers so
well that
they have had incredible learning experiences,” says Dr.
Erickson.
He has also been instrumental in the creation
of exchange programs with the Université
de Technologie de Compiègne
(one of France’s
most innovative engineering schools) and with the Université
Laval in Quebec
City,
Canada.
Dr. Erickson
lives in Wakefield, Rhode Island with his wife and
three children. When not engaged in his
passion for teaching and research he can be found surfing at some of
southern Rhode Island’s surf
spots.
Office: 131 Swan Hall
Hours
(Fall 2008): M 1-2pm and R 10-11am
Phone:
401-874-4702
Email: lars@uri.edu
Courses
typically taught by Dr. Erickson:
FRN 204
French Composition 1
The
emphasis is on writing, but we will also
work on speaking, listening, and reading skills. I organize the course
around
discussions of the concept of liberty. We use the last three chapters
of the
textbook Quant à moi to develop the
skills necessary to discuss and write about the concept of liberty as
it
manifests itself in the film Bleu, in
genetic engineering research, and in the film Rouge. Each of the three
units includes a chapter exam as well as a graded discussion, and a
2-and-a-half page paper.
Here’s what
some students have said about the
course in the past:
“I
like the topics we discuss. They are all very
current and relevant. Also, it improved my French a great deal.”
“It’s an active course. I like the fact that
this is an early morning class and I have never dozed off. Not once.
That’s great!”
“I like that we have group discussions that help
brainstorm our writing.”
“It’s a good blend of speaking, listening,
writing, and grammar. This approach, that enables students to do all,
is effective in
helping my language skills advance quickly.”
FRN 307 Oral
Expression 2
Notre
investigation des cultures francophones (surtout la France et le
Québec) se concentrent sur des réalisateurs, des auteurs, et des
institutions représentatifs du monde francophone. Le cours se présente
sous la forme de discussions, de conférences, et de travaux en équipe
qui demanderont une préparation intense et une pratique intensive.
Nos objectifs incluent :
1. la pratique intensive et perfectionnement de toutes les formes du
français parlé: discussion/conversation spontanée (formelle et
informelle), discours, commentaires et analyse de documents,
prononciation, vocabulaire de tous les jours.
2.
l’acquisition des terminologies, des données, et des concepts pour
l’interprétation orale de la société contemporaine.
3. l’analyse du
thème de l’identité dans le monde francophone (surtout la France et le
Québec)
4.
l’utilisation et amélioration de la grammaire française
Le corpus comprend les oeuvres
suivantes:
Arcand, Denys,
réal. Les Invasions barbares.
2003.
Cantet, Laurent, réal. Ressources
humaines. 1999.
Crocker, Mary E. Coffman. Schaum’s
Outlines: French Grammar. 4th ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 1999.
Edmiston,
William F. et Annie Duménil. La
France contemporaine. 3rd ed. New York: Harcourt, 2005.
Klapisch,
Cédric, réal. L’Auberge espagnole.
2002.
Marineau, Michèle. La Route de Chlifa.
Montréal: Québec Amérique, 1992.
FRN 309 French
Literature and Culture to 1789
We
begin by examining how changes in
architecture illustrate broad cultural shifts. Next we use historical
films (Le Retour de Martin Guerre, La
Reine Margot, and Ridicule) along with excerpts of
authentic texts to
examine intellectual and artistic movements. In the third unit, we
analyze representative
literary works (excerpts of Rabelais’s Gargantua,
Molière’s Les Femmes savantes, and
Claire de Duras’s Ourika) to see to what
extent they reinforce or contradict what we have learned about French
society. In
the final unit we’ll look at heroes and discuss how they define a
society. The class familiarizes students with France’s
historical periods. It also demonstrates the continuing influence of
history on French
culture. It’s not a literature class. It’s not a culture class. It’s not a writing class.It’s not a speaking
class. It’s not a history class. It is all
of the above.
In the past,
this is what some students have
said about the class:
“Relationship between prof and student is
relaxed and respectful, this led to deeper class discussions and a
feeling of comfort
unparalleled in any class I’ve ever had at URI.”
“This class is a good combination of history and
language.” “My French has improved so much in this class because I am
given so many opoortunities to
speak...”
FRN 412
Clockworks and Networks
“La Mécanique et le réseau” (Clockworks and Networks)
Description: Des réseaux dominent notre monde actuel. Comment est-ce que nous sommes devenus une société en réseaux
et quelles sont les conséquences?
Pour répondre à cette question, nous examinerons l’expression culturelle (littéraire et scientifique) du 17e et 18e siècles.
Pour commencer, nous remonterons au 17e siècle pour examiner cette société en mécanique. Ensuite, on analysera dans
quelle mesure le 18e siècle représente la fin de la mécanique et le début des réseaux.
Bibliographie:
Le Tartuffe. Molière.
L’Homme et Le Monde. Descartes. (Sélections)
Fables. La Fontaine. (Sélections)
Candide. Voltaire.
Le fils naturel. Diderot.
Filmographie:
Beaumarchais l’insolent. Edouard Molino, réalisateur. 1996.
Vatel. Roland Joffé, réalisateur. 2001.
La Religieuse. Jacques Rivette d’après le roman de Diderot. 1966.
FRN 412
Breton
Literature and Culture
FRN 480-001 Business
and Professional French
Real French for the real world. Learn what you
need to succeed in the French business world. Know key business terms.
Learn
skills for
effective communication. Use strategies for getting ahead.
Goals:
This course aims
to teach you how
to engage in effective communication in the French business world. It
will prepare you to complete successfully the Certificat de Français
Professionnel administered by the Chambre de
Commerce et d'Industrie de Paris.
Description:
Business French
encompasses both
advanced language skills and specialized skills. It involves
specialized knowledge, general language ability, and also communication
strategies. Consequently, in class we will work on developing specific
abilities relating to the business world, such as understanding
invoices, writing a resume, engaging in a job interview, and taking
down a phone message. Also, we will develop more general abilities such
as understanding newspaper articles, writing emails, talking about the
workplace, and making travel plans. Cutting across the specific and the
general, we will also work on applying communication strategies such as
asking follow-up
questions,
taking notes, listening actively, and appreciating cultural differences.
THE
BA IN FRENCH,
DON'T LEAVE URI WITHOUT IT!
To become a French major,
no paperwork, no
office visits, no hassle, just write to adurand@uri.edu and that's it!
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