French culture and society

Elective Course

This course is designed to review key aspects of France’s society and culture as well as to offer a concise introduction to the main stages of the country’s historical and territorial development. Topics will include institutions and society (government, education, politics, economy, labour, media, etc.) and essential cultural features (festivals, customs, traditions, etiquette, colloquialisms, way of life, leisure, etc.). Major events that have contributed to the shaping of the country will also be presented and their significance discussed. The role and place of the regions within this historical process will be examined, so as to understand the correlation of distinct regional characteristics with related historical developments. The teaching material and resources used for this course will be in French, and the main medium of instruction will be French.