'French for Travelers' Program at Baylor Offers Basic Foreign Language Skills

by Paige Patton, coordinator of news and information, (254) 710-3321

Bonjour, comment allez-vous? Où est l'hotel? Je voudrais un dessert. Combien a-t-il couté?

If you can understand these phrases, you are probably not in need of the French For Travelers program at Baylor. But for those who wish to learn to speak French or renew their skills, the six-week program offers a practical, hands-on approach to "survival French" for traveling abroad.

Sponsored by the Baylor Alumni Association, the course will run from 7 to 9 p.m. each Tuesday from March 20-April 24 in room 310 of the Old Main building on the Baylor campus.

Dr. David Uber, head of the French department, will teach the course. Uber has served as director of the Baylor in Paris program for 22 years.

Participants will learn the fundamentals of the language -- greetings and introductions, directions, ordering meals, asking for a room, shopping, using public transportation and banking. Dialogues and drills will be mixed with lessons on French culture, slides and videos.

The course will utilize two texts: Berlitz French for Travelers Phrase Book (without cassette) and Speedy French. Both are available at the Baylor Bookstore.

The cost of the class is $70 plus the cost of books. To register, contact Leslie Coltrain at the Baylor Alumni Association at (254) 710-1124 or Leslie_Coltrain@baylor.edu. Information is also available at www.bayloralumni.com.