In some summaries of assessment activity, goals are referred to by number (e.g., K-2 is knowledge goal 2).

French

All majors must pursue a senior research project, the senior essay. The project is the culmination of work in all the knowledge and skill areas. Students present their research reports in written form and orally, in the presence of their classmates and two faculty readers. During the oral presentation, time is given for specific discussion in French of broader issues of French civilization, to determine the student's understanding of the meaning and value of cultural and linguistic diversity. Further, the strongest students in the program are encouraged to present a senior honors thesis in lieu of the senior essay. The thesis consists of a 40- to 45-page research paper read by and discussed with three members of the faculty, one of whom comes from another department or program.

The senior essay and oral presentation are evaluated by a committee of French faculty including the student's essay advisor. There are two members on each committee. The senior honors thesis and oral presentation are evaluated by a committee of three members of the Boulder faculty, including the student's thesis director, a member of another department, and a member of the Honors Council. The committees evaluate the content and methodology of the student's work and the student's language skills.

Almost all of the 20-25 essays or theses each year are rated satisfactory by their committees, although some first undergo recommended revisions. In addition, several students each year have been recommended for cum laude , summa cum laude, or magna cum laude graduation on the strength of their essay/thesis performance (1 cum laude and 1 summa cum laude in 1996-97).

New courses put in place since 1993 are designed to improve majors' conversational abilities and their skills in communicating course-related insights in oral and written French and to make the expertise of the department faculty available to the broader student population. The Honors program has been revised with the addition of a further 6 hours of required study including 3 credits of faculty-guided independent study and a new critical thinking course, FREN 3200 (Introduction to Literary Theory), first offered in fall 1996. The 10 students enrolled gave the course and its instructor A+ ratings on the end-of-term Faculty Course Questionnaire.

In the past few years the department has increased the role of broadcasts and film in its courses and has been working since 1993-94 to incorporate hands-on real-time computer contact with France, particularly via the French national computer system, Minitel. In addition, the department has been actively engaged in the Libra project in ALTEC, aimed at widening the use of computers and multi-media materials and the production of multi-media materials. The faculty plan to develop and standardize tests which measure comprehension of broadcast and film and exercises which assess students' ability to work with Minitel.

Italian

Given the small numbers of Italian majors in recent years (as few as three, no more than ten), all the faculty as a group closely supervise the course work and cumulative achievements of each major, in all knowledge- and skill-areas. Weaknesses are remedied by advising students to take a particular course or independent study with one of the faculty.

A senior essay parallel to the one in French will be required beginning in fall 1998, and an Honors program will be added. This will enable us to assess outcomes in Italian in the same way and with the same rigor as we do in French. We have recently reactivated senior-level courses providing advanced training in Italian language and composition, which will play an indispensable role in preparing students for the senior essay.

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Last updated March 15, 1999