Purpose

The French and Spanish Summer Institutes have a dual purpose. Their first goal is to enable interested individuals to improve their proficiency in French/Spanish and to increase their knowledge of French/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/Spanish over 3-5 summers, depending on transfer credit 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.

The application form can be downloaded HERE.

Program Information & Requirements

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 for the M.A. in French or Spanish
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/Québec or Spain, 6 hours in absentia, 6 hours by transfer credit or 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)

In July, one summer session may be spent in France (location varies from year to year), Spain, or Mexico (Toluca) as part of the M.A. program. Upon successful completion of the coursework in France, Spain, or Mexico, students 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 the program abroad, please contact Dr. Christophe Chaguinan for France (for at cchaguin@unt.edu, Dr. Will Derusha for Spanish at will.derusha@unt.edu, or or Dr. Samuel Manickam at samuel.manickam@unt.edu for Mexico.

Teaching Positions in France

Students enrolled in the M.A. program in French may apply for a teaching position in France as a Teaching Assistant at a secondary school through the French government (https://www.tapif.org) or as a Lecturer at the University of Tours. The salary covers some living expenses in France for the academic year and full benefits in some cases. For participation in this program, please contact Dr. Christophe Chaguinian at cchaguin@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 France or Madrid, courses taken during the fall and/or spring semesters, and/or regular courses taken in absentia (by correspondence) during the fall and/or spring semesters (for students who do not live within driving distance of UNT only).

Courses and Additional Information

2013 French Summer Institute

(3-6 graduate credits)
Immersion Experience

Session 1 (June 10-21), 3 credits: FREN 5200.001
Task-Based Language Teaching
Instructor: Dr. Lawrence Williams [lawrence.williams@unt.edu]

Although different models of Task-Based Language Teaching have been developed over the past few decades, they all focus on the analysis of authentic discourse and cultural practices/products as the foundation of each learning unit. In this course, students will have opportunities to design, develop, and modify a wide range of tasks that promote the goals of the Standards for Foreign Language Learning within the pedagogical framework of multiliteracies proposed by the New London Group.

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 24-July 5), 3 credits: FREN 5200.002
Advanced French Conversation                
Instructor: Dr. Sandra Simmons

[sandra.simmons@unt.edu]

In this course, learners will view and read about, then discuss current events in order to improve both fluency in French and cultural understanding of issues in contemporary society. Learners will have the opportunity to learn about French and Francophone perspectives through a variety of means (television, videos, on-line news, blogs, newspapers, songs, excerpts from noted authors, and films). The course will also entail learning and practicing oral strategies for interviewing someone, discussing opinions, debating, and exploring issues, as well as activities to build grammar and vocabulary.

Classes and afternoon activities in French will be held at UNT, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

2013 Spanish Summer Institute

(3-6 graduate credits)

Immersion Experience

Session 1 (June 10-21), 3 credits: SPAN 5200.001
Contemporary Spanish Cinema: A Literary Theory Perspective
Instructor: Dr. Cristina Sánchez-Conejero [Cristina.Sanchez-Conejero@unt.edu]

This is an interdisciplinary course that will present a general overview of Spanish cinema in the 20^th-21^st century in the light of Modern Literary Theory. Selected films and theories will be covered. At the end of this course students will be able to 1) better appreciate the relationships between literature and film; 2) note how theories such as Post-structuralism, Postmodernism, Feminist studies, Queer Studies, Ethnic and Race Studies, Postcolonialism, Psychoanalytic studies, Culture Studies, etc. can be applied not just to literary texts but to non-literary ones also; and 3) to critically analyze films under a theoretical perspective.

Classes and afternoon activities in Spanish will be held at UNT, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Session 2 (June 24-July 5), 3 credits: SPAN 5254.001
The Mexican Short Story
Instructor: Dr. Samuel Manickam [samuel.manickam@unt.edu]

The main objective of this class is for students to become familiar with the trajectory of the Mexican short story in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and to come to appreciate the rich varieties of this literary genre in Mexico in its Romantic, Modernist, modern and post-modern forms. Through close readings students will learn to distinguish various literary styles. Through extensive class discussions as well as oral presentations students will become more comfortable with expressing well-founded
observations about literary texts. And through regular writing assignments students will continue to perfect their scholarly written expression in Spanish.

Note: Participants may register for only one session of each Institute; however, they must pay the Institute fee ($95.00 for one session, $180.00 for both sessions).

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 36,000 students, UNT is one of the largest universities in Texas. The foreign language 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, which is refundable upon request. For fees, visit the web page of the Housing Office at http://reslife.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 double room or single room, linen and pillow included in either case. For this type of accommodation, please make your reservations by calling (940) 565-2894, and be sure to mention 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: $95 for one session (2 weeks), $190 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, Spain, and Mexico  (variable amount) are available from the UNT Study Abroad Office 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 at top of page), complete it, and send it with your check to the address included in the form by May 15, 2013. If you have questions on the program, or if you would like to receive detailed information on the French or Spanish Summer Institutes (including tuition and fees and housing), please direct all inquiries to the appropriate Director preferably by e-mail:

Dr. Marie-Christine Koop, Director
French Summer Institute
Marie-christine.koop@unt.edu

OR

Dr. Cristina Sánchez-Conejero, Director
Spanish Summer Institute
Cristina.sanchez-conejero@unt.edu