The French and Spanish Summer Institutes have a dual purpose. Their first goal is to enable interested individuals to improve their proficiency in French or Spanish and to increase their knowledge of French and Hispanic studies; it is possible to enroll in the program for one summer term only. Their secondary goal is to enable individuals who may not be able to enroll in a regular graduate program for professional reasons to earn an M.A. in French or Spanish over 3-5 summers, depending on transfer credit and/or the choice of a minor field. The French and Spanish Summer Institutes follow the immersion principle, as participants speak the target language for 2-4 weeks. Students may combine summer courses and courses taken during the fall and spring semesters in order to complete their degree faster.
More information
about our new German Summer Institute will be added as soon as it is available.
Admission Requirements
1. 12 credit hours of French or Spanish at the advanced level (beyond FREN or SPAN 2050).
2. Admission to UNT Graduate School for M.A. program (or non-degree status for up to 12 graduate credit hours).
Course Requirements
Two options are available:
1. Thesis option: 30 semester hours in French or Spanish (or including a minor) plus 6 hours of thesis: 4 summers plus thesis.
2. Non-thesis option: 36 semester hours in French or Spanish (without thesis): 4 summers at UNT, plus a combination of the following options: 6 hours in France or Spain, 6 hours in absentia, 6 hours by transfer credit, 6 hours in a secondary field (minor).
Note: Students may combine summer courses and courses taken during the fall and spring semesters in order to complete their degree faster.
Summer Sessions at UNT
-Immersion principle
-4 hours of coursework in the morning
-Lunch with a teaching assistant (native speaker), Monday-Friday
-Cultural activities with a teaching assistant, workshops of a pedagogical nature, or seminars in the afternoon.
Summer Study in France or Spain (optional)
One summer session may be spent at the University of Strasbourg, France (4-week seminar for teachers in July) or at the AIP Institute in Valencia, Spain (end of May-June) as part of the program. They usually receive an International Scholarship from the UNT Study Abroad Center. Upon successful completion of the course work in France or Spain, they receive 6 graduate credits at UNT. However, the first summer of study must take place at UNT, so that participants may become fully familiar with the program and establish their degree plan. For participation in this program, please contact Dr. Marie-Christine Koop for French at marie-christine.koop@unt.edu or Ms. Kellye Church for Spanish at kellye.church@unt.edu.
Teaching Positions in France
Students enrolled in the M.A. in French who have completed a year in residence at UNT as Graduate Assistants, or who have teaching experience at the secondary level may apply for a teaching position in France as a Teaching Assistant at the Ecole Superieure de Commerce International du Pas-de-Calais (http://www.escip.fr) or as a Lecturer at the University of Tours. The salary covers all living expenses in France for the academic year and full benefits in some cases. For participation in this program, please contact Dr. Marie-Christine Koop at marie-christine.koop@unt.edu.
Curriculum
4 summers of coursework are required in order to earn 24 credits: each summer, two graduate courses are offered Monday through Friday, for a total of 6 credits. Courses are offered in four areas of study: advanced language and linguistics, culture/civilization, literature, and teaching methodology. Course offerings are different every year, following a four-year sequence. They are designed to provide a well-rounded background in French or Spanish. Although they will answer the direct needs of teachers, they also address the needs of individuals who wish to work towards a doctoral degree in the language. In this respect, UNT offers doctoral degrees in education which can be coupled with a concentration in French or Spanish. Students may supplement the 24 basic graduate hours with a combination of a minor, summer study in Strasbourg or Valencia, courses taken during the fall and/or spring semesters, and/or regular courses taken by correspondence during the fall and/or spring semesters (for students who do not live within driving distance of UNT only).
2008 French Summer Institute
3-9 credits
Immersion Experience and Study Abroad
Session 1 (June 9-20), 3 credits: Advanced French Conversation (FREN 5200-001)
Dr. Lawrence Williams [lawrence.williams@unt.edu]
The main objective of this course is to enable students to improve their fluency in spoken French through intensive oral practice in a variety of activities such as sketches, debates, oral presentations, discussions on films and readings, etc. Students will also have the opportunity to enrich their vocabulary and review the French phonetic system. As a final class project, each student will choose one of the following options: 1) prepare and present a segment for a French television morning show, which will be filmed and then viewed in class; or 2) prepare and present an audio segment for a French radio show, which will be recorded as a podcast and listened to in class.
Classes and afternoon activities in French will be held at UNT, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Session 2 (June 27-July 13), 6 credits: French-Speaking Switzerland and Belgium (FREN 5200-002)
Dr. Marie-Christine Koop [marie-christine.koop@unt.edu]
After a brief introduction to Francophonie conducted on line before departure, the course will focus on Europe with two examples: French-speaking Switzerland and Belgium. An overview of these countries will be presented (language and identity, institutions, political system, the economy, social issues, education, culture, literature). Their role in Europe, including the European Union, and in the world (United Nations, NATO, Red Cross, World Health Organization) will also be addressed. While in Geneva and Liège, students will have the opportunity to hear guest lectures by specialists and visit locations related to the course content: museums, and seats of institutions . In addition, they will be immersed in a French language environment and the culture pertaining to the two countries under study. One-day excursions to the village of Gruyères (which lent its name to Swiss cheese), and Brussels with the seat of the European Union.
[This course will be conducted first at the University of Geneva and then at the University of Liège.]
Scholarships (up to $2,200) are available for this program with an application deadline of February 1, 2008.
Please consult the brochure for the program in Geneva and Liège (PDF format).
2008 Spanish Summer Institute
(3-6 graduate credits)
Immersion Experience & Spanish Summer Institute
Session 1 (June 9-20), 3 credits: 20th-21st Century Spanish Marginal Novel and Cinema: The Case of Spanish Science Fiction (SPAN 5200-001) Dr. Cristina Sánchez-Conejero [cristina.sanchez-conejero@unt.edu]
This is an interdisciplinary course that will present a general overview of the marginal novel and cinema in 20th-21st century Spain, with special attention to the science fiction genre. Selected novels and films will be covered. Through them students will be able to better contextualize the 20th-21st Century Peninsular novel and film panorama. The study will be carried out under an analytical and critical perspective.
Session 2 (June 23-July 3), 3 credits: Contemporary Latin American Poetry (SPAN 5200-002)
Dr. Ignacio López-Calvo (lopezcalvo@msn.com)
This course will study the poetic discourse of Latin American canonical authors such as César Vallejo, Vicente Huidobro, Pablo Neruda, Nicolás Guillén, Octavio Paz, Jorge Luis Borges, and Alejandra Pizarnik. We will examine the radical linguistic experiments of the avant-garde and its relation with nihilism, de-realization, aesthetic disrespect, formal ruptures, and linguistic irrationalism. In addition, will read critical essays on the different avant-garde poetic moments as well as poetical manifestos. Finally, we will consider the different literary and philosophical influences that affected these poets’ oeuvres.
Classes and afternoon activities (which are mandatory) will be held at UNT, Monday through Friday, 8:30am-3:00pm.
Information and the application form are available on this web site or by contacting the Director of the Spanish Summer Institute, Dr. Ignacio López-Calvo (lopezcalvo@msn.com).
The list of graduate courses for 2008 (spring and summer) is also available in PDF format: French Spanish
Note: Participants may register for only one session of each Institute; however, they must pay the Institute fee ($90.00 for one session, $180.00 for both sessions).
Workshops
Afternoon workshops of a cultural and/or pedagogical nature will be offered during the Institute (topics to be announced).
Setting
The city of Denton is located 40 miles North of the Dallas-Fort Worth airport, with direct access to most locations in the U.S. and Canada. Both Dallas and Fort Worth are within a 45-minute drive and offer a large selection of entertainment and cultural events of all kinds. With over 32,000 students, UNT is the fourth largest university in Texas. The French program has a long tradition of excellence and a history of teacher training, including several Summer Institutes supported by substantial grants. The French and Spanish collections at the Willis Library are quite impressive. In addition, UNT offers a charming traditional campus setting with all the facilities necessary for a summer program.
Housing and Meals
Although participants are not required to live in Denton during the Institute, several housing options are available:
1. Campus housing (only applies to students attending four weeks)
In order to reserve a room on campus, you must complete a housing contract, available from the Department of Housing and Residence Life, and mail it along with a deposit check for damage is refundable upon request. For fees, visit the web page of the Housing Office at www.unt.edu/housing. There are two housing contracts:
a. The regular housing formula offered to all students; it is a little cheaper and includes a meal plan.
b. An upgraded formula that allows you to rent a double room (Santa Fe or Mozart Square) or semi-private room (Mozart Square only) for a monthly fee, in a new or renovated hall. Meals are not included in the rent, and you pay at the cafeteria door each time. With an ID+ card, you receive a 10% discount on meals; ID+ may be initiated at the Bursar's Office (1st floor of Eagle Services Bldg.).
2. Campus Short-Stay Program (applies to participants attending two weeks only)
Students staying only two weeks may rent a room a double room or single room, linen and pillow included in either case. For this type of accommodation, please make your reservations by calling Ms. Diana Forson at (940) 565-2894, mentioning the "Short-stay program."
Tuition and Fees
1. Graduate tuition:
Visit http://www.unt.edu for updated information on tuition and course fees
Note: Out-of-state and international students who receive a scholarship for $1,000 are eligible for in-state tuition.
2. Institute fee: $90 for one session (2 weeks), $180 for two sessions (4 weeks); this fee includes afternoon cultural activities, cultural/pedagogical workshops..
Financial Aid
1. Graduate Scholarships are available from the UNT Graduate School.
2. Financial aid is available through the UNT Office of Financial Aid.
3. International Scholarships for summer study in France (variable amount) are available from the Study Abroad Center at (940) 565-2207.
Note: Out-of-state students who receive a scholarship for $1,000 are eligible for in-state tuition.
Application Procedure
Please print the application form (see link below), complete it, and send it with your check to the appropriate Director for each language by May 5, 2006. If you have questions on the program, or if you would like to receive detailed information on the French and Spanish Summer Institutes (including tuition and fees and housing) , please direct all inquiries to the appropriate Director at the address below. Please include your name and exact address, and materials will be sent to you.
Graduate Summer Institute 2008 Applications (PDF format):
For more information on the Department or the French and Spanish programs, contact:
Dr. Marie-Christine Koop, Director of the French Summer Institute
OR
Dr. Ignacio López-Calvo, Director of the Spanish Institute
Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures
P.O. Box 311127
Denton, TX 76203-1127
Tel: (940) 565-2404
Fax: (940) 565-2581
E-mail: marie-christine.koop@unt.edu or lopezcalvo@msn.com