The course emphasizes on the letters written by French soldiers who took part in the 1^st and 2^nd world war. Be the soldiers Recruits or volunteers, intellectuals, workers or farmers, they all felt the urge to write about their war experiences to their loved ones. In addition to their feelings and personal perceptions, the soldiers also shared their opinions about the media, military and governmental institutions. From this perspective, the course will also examine the cultural and historical context in which the letters were written and how it may have influenced them. Moreover, we will explore the Literature on the subject such as Ceux de 14 (Genevoix, 1950, Ed. Flammarion), Le Feu (Barbusse. 1916, Ed. Flammarion), Les Croix de bois (Dorgelès. 1919, Ed. Albin Michel), L'Étrange défaite (Bloch. 1946, Ed. Franc-Tireur), etc.

The course aims to provide the students with academic reading and writing skills in French by imparting grammar as well as analyzing various textual constructs and group discussions on the matter. Students will learn to identify main text elements, and to express an opinion.

Mandatory Requirements: attendance and participation 20%, exam in class 20%, final exam 60%