FR 43093: Vivre Pêcheur d'Islande
Summer I (13 June-1 July, 2005)
This 3-hour workshop can be used as a 40000 elective toward the French major or minor or as a general elective. It will involve spending three weeks in Paimpol, a Breton town of 8,500 on the English Channel. (See maps). To complete the requirements for the course, students must participate in various guided visits of sites of interest, attend certain talks on local history offered by historians to be brought in from area universities, develop a list of survey questions that will serve as an excuse for "interviewing" people on the street so as to have occasion to carry on every-day conversations in French with local residents, deal with a certain amount of grammar review found to be necessary for conducting these interviews, etc. The total contact hours with the instructor will be at least 45.
The first thing to remember is that this is not a field trip, it is a university class that happens to take place in France. Just as with any other university class, the instructor is not responsible for arranging for your life outside of class: housing, meals, entertainment, transportation, etc. He can provide suggestions regarding getting to Paimpol from Cleveland (see below), and will facilite your finding a penpal in Paimpol with whom you might live, but other than that, he is not a travel agent and will not act as one. You must arrange your outside-of-class affairs on your own.
By university policy, as noted, you will spend at least 45 hours with the instructor. This is "class time." It will involve all the various activities listed on the syllabus below. In addition, you are responsible for 90 hours of outside-of-class "homework," which for this class, as noted above, will consist of interviewing "the man or woman on the street," your penpals, their friends, etc., regarding your survey questions, i.e., carrying on every-day conversations in French with local residents. That averages out to 9 hours a day, Monday through Friday, for the three weeks. (Since this class is compressed from 15 weeks into 3 weeks, you should figure that it will require the same amount of time per weekday and per week that you would spend on five courses during a regular 15-week semester.) The rest of your time is your own.
Regarding travel elsewhere: Your weekdays you will be in class or doing homework, as noted above. If you wish to travel over the weekends, however, that is, of course, up to you. You should realize that rail travel and lodging is expensive, however, and if you leave Friday night and have to be back by Monday morning, that leaves you little time to see much wherever you might want to go. If you want to travel elsewhere in France or Europe while you are over there, it makes much more sense either to go over before the class starts or remain in Europe after the class finishes.
Can you go along without being enrolled in the class? No. The instructor is reimbursed for expenses as a function of the enrollment. He therefore cannot afford to include students who are not registered for the course. I do not own Paimpol, much less France, of course. If you want to go there, please feel free to so so. It is a great place. But I cannot help you arrange housing, take you to any of the events, etc. You can, however, if you don't care about getting credit, take the workshop as a non-credit course, which is cheaper. See below.
When will you know if the workshop is going to take place? Probably not until sometime in late April. Like any other summer school class, this one's existence depends on getting sufficient enrollment. I will not know if it is going to happen until there are a sufficient number of students enrolled in it. (That would probably be around 6 or 7.)
Pre-requisites, neither of which can be waved (Please do not ask the instructor to make an exception. He will not.):
1) Successful completion of FR 33212: Composition, in which, among other things, you read the novel that made Paimpol famous, Pierre Loti's Pêcheur d'Islande, which will give you one sense of Paimpol before we go. As Edmond Rébillé notes in his Itinéraire littéraire en Côtes d'Amor (Coop Breizh, 1998), Loti is "l'auteur grâce à qui la renommée de la ville est universelle" (99).
2) Developing a regular correspondance with one of the students in Paimpol who are looking for an American pen pal. This will allow you to have someone to introduce you into the world of Paimpol once you get there, so that you can spend your time speaking French with native speakers rather than hanging out and speaking English with the other American students in the class. If you do not already have a Paimpol penpal, contact me at rberrong@kent.edu
Costs:
I realize this is an important point. Here is how I see them.
1) Getting there and back.
The biggest single cost will be getting there and back. Students must arrange their transportation on their own. Use Travelocity, Expedia, a good travel agent, etc., to get a good price on your airfare. One of the students who went in the past found that very good rates are available from www.sidestep.com. Other students speak highly of www.studentuniverse.com.
You have two options:
a. You can fly to Paris and then to Rennes, where I will pick you up at the airport if you arrive on the Sunday afternoon flight on the Sunday before the class starts. The abbreviation for the Rennes St. Jacques airport is RNS, which you will need for your travel agent or on-line booking.
b. You can fly to Paris, take the train to Guingamp, just as Gaud does in the novel, and then, unlike Gaud, take another train (rather than a diligence) from Guingamp to Paimpol.
2) Meals.
Students will be responsable for their own meals while over there. There are a variety of restaurants, at different prices, as well as grocery stores, etc. You may also take some of your meals with the family who houses you.
A note about eating food to which you are
not accustomed: Young children, who are in the pre-rational stage of human
development, develop all sorts of strange attitudes toward food. "I don't
like ...." is one of their standard lines. Parents, because they like
to have some semblance of peace at the dinner table after a long day, tolerate
this behavior to have quiet. (When you have children of your own, you will
understand this.) They know that when a child grows up and becomes an adult,
he or she will come to accept what all adults know: you eat the food placed
in front of you unless you have a proven allergy to it, because it will do
you no harm and you never know what you will discover that you like.
For reasons that I do not understand but can guess, these days some children
have been allowed by their parents to become chronological adults (18 and
over) without making this important transition to adulthood. They still refuse
to eat broad categories of food with the childish line "I don't eat ...
fish/vegetables/etc."
I don't accept children in my classes. That is one of the reasons why I chose
to become a college professor, rather than a high school or grade school teacher,
which would have been much easier. (If I had become a public school teacher,
I would already have qualified for retirement by now, and would no longer
be teaching!) Part of the joy of living in another country is being able to
take advantage of the opportunity to eat things that you have not tried before.
If you are still in the "I don't eat ..." stage of human development
and are worried that you might be confronted with something that you have
decided in ignorance that you do not like, you are not ready for Paimpol or
any other overseas adult experience. Come back later when you have become
an adult, and I will be delighted to have you join us.
3) Housing.
You will need to arrange for housing with your penpal. For this, you need to speak to your penpal AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I can't do this for you.
4) Tuition and fees.
If you want to get 3 hours credit for the workshop, the tuition will be $942, the fee $100 = $1042
If you don't care about getting credit for the workshop, the tuition and fee for non-credit is $580.
5) Money
At least a week before you leave, you will need to go to your bank and order euros. You definitely have to have some on you when you arrive in France. Check with your bank about that.
You also have to have an ATM card, so that if you need money while you are in France, you can get it. (Traveler's checks are a thing of the past, and the exchange rate for them is not good.) Make sure you have an ATM card that is tied to one of the major networds (Cirrus, etc.) and that you know how to use it. If you take Traveler's checks or cash with the idea of exchanging them, you will get a much lower rate of exchange. In the same respect, you should, whenever possible, pay for things with a major credit card while there (Visa or Mastercard; Discover is not accepted), as you will get a better rate of exchange.
6) Clothing
You can pack what you want, of course, but remember that whatever you pack you have to carry. The one thing that you will definitely need is a good, already worn, pair of walking shoes. You are going to do a LOT of walking there. (Remember, you won't have a car.) You do NOT want to buy a pair of shoes just before you leave - you will end up with blisters. So make sure you have a comfortable, already worn pair of walking shoes.
Other than that: figure on dressing casually. I live in jeans when I'm there. And they do have stores in Paimpol, if you discover that you need something. Less is always better when it comes to packing, as YOU HAVE TO CARRY WHATEVER YOU PACK.
Experience has also taught me that different people react very differently to the same temperature and weather. If you get cold easily, you may need to pack heavier clothes than someone who does not. Dressing like Brittany Spears or Christina what's-her-name is not a good idea.
Syllabus
Instructor: Richard Berrong
Office: TBA
Office hours: TBA
Office phone: TBA
e-mail: rberrong@kent.edu (but probably not accessible during the class)
The purpose of this course is to provide students with three weeks in a small
French city where they will have to speak French, and where they will have
an opportunity to become part of the local culture and get to know (at least
some aspects of) contemporary French culture.
Prerequisites
In order to enroll in this workshop, students must have completed
French 33212 Composition and have read Pêcheur d'Islande. They
must also have been carrying on a regular correspondance with a resident of
Paimpol for an extended period of time prior to the beginning of the workshop.
(For information on how to acquire a Paimpol penpal, contact Prof. Berrong
at rberrong@kent.edu)
Attendance
Attendance is mandatory. Students are allowed no unexcused
absences. Even one unexcused absence will result in the student failing
the class. If you do not want to do what we will do, do not enroll in this
class. Students are responsible for knowing in advance what qualifies as
an excused absence and must provide proof when they return that their absence
met university policy if they want it to be regarded as excused. The professor
will NOT ask for the proof; the student must provide it on his/her own initiative.
Any absence for which such proof is not supplied will be marked as unexcused
and the student will receive a grade of F. University policy on absences
can be found in the KSU Phone Directory, Digest of Rules and Regulations,
section 3342-3-06, "Class Attendance and Class Absence." Note especially
section B. 3. c.: "Students shall be responsible for all material covered
in class during their absence. Students are responsible for completing any
makeup work resulting from their absence. In no case is an excuse from class
to be interpreted as a release from class responsability." Students must
find out what they missed during their absence immediately upon their return
and complete any makeup work resulting from their absence promptly.
Students will be graded primarily on their use of the French language while in Paimpol and their acquisition of knowledge relating to life there. (75%)
Students will also write an extended paper in French summarizing
the results of the surveys that they have conducted on pre-approved topics
related to issues important in contemporary French culture. Students must
conduct these surveys by interviewing local residents (in French, of course)
on the given topics. Grading will be based on the depth of the survey, the
organization of the summary, and the quality of the written French. (25%)
Graduating Seniors
Graduating seniors who are department majors will need to
take the Outcomes Assessment Examination near the end of the preceding Spring
semester. They should see Prof. DeJulio for details.
In accordance with University policy, if you have a documented disability and require accommodations to obtain equal access in this workshop, you are responsible for notifying your instructor at the beginning of the workshop in which an accommodation is required. Please note that it is necessary for you to first verify your eligibility for requested accomodation through the Office of Student Disability Services (SDS) located in Room 181 of the Michael Schwartz Center at the Kent Campus (330 672-3391). To do this, you must schedule an appointment with an SDS staff member and provide the office with appropriate documentation of your disability. Upon verification, the SDS staff member will present you with "accommodation letters" to give to your instructors.
Credit
Students who are not officially enrolled are not eligible for
course credit. Studens may not enroll after official deadlines for the workship
unless there is proof of University error.
Respectful Student Conduct
The Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies follows
University regulations regarding student behavior in the classroom. It is
expected that each student will be respectful to the instructor as well
as to follow classmates.
Use of profanity, rudeness toward fellow students or the instructor, angry
outbursts, refusal to participate in classroom activities, repeated tardiness,
and leaving the classroom prior to class dismissal are just some examples
of disruptive behavior. The instructor will ask the disruptive student to
cease and desist and will inform the student of possible suspension and/or
dismissal from the class.
Guidelines pertaining to class disruptions are outlined in the Digest of
Rules and Regulations to be found in the Kent State University Telephone
Directory.
What we did in 2003. I will post the activities for 2005 when I have them, sometime in April.
17.5 Take off from Cleveland Hopkins airport for Rennes,
France
18.5 14h55 Arrive Rennes; trajet Rennes-Paimpol par Guingamp:
Visite à Guingamp, pour visiter la Basilique de Notre Dame de Bon Secours
et la Place devant, avec ses vieilles maisons, où Gaud s'arrête
en attendant le diligence pour Paimpol lors de son retour de Paris à
Paimpol (5.17).
19.5 Lycée Kerraoul: singing with the school music group during
their lunch hour
Walking tour of Paimpol with Prof. Berrong to get you oriented
Drive along the coast to Pors Even (where Yann lives) and Perros Hamon;
Late lunch at Le Cabestan (Perros-Hamon), first meeting with le Patron, Michel
Leff
Tour of la chapelle de Perros-Hamon (Pêcheur d'Islande, Lecture
13)
Drive to la Chapelle de la Trinité (Pêcheur d'Islande,
Lecture 33)
Le Mur des disparus (Ploubazlanec)
Le tour de Kerroc'h (Ploubazlanec)
Soirée offerte par le Lycée Maritime professionel Pierre Loti
(singer)
20.5: Le matin: le marché de Paimpol. Fascinating open-air market,
especially les poissons et fruits de mer, Rue de l'Oyse.
21.5: A 15h30 Rendez-vous avec Madame Annie-Claude BALLINI, Historienne;
d'après Edmond Rébillé, "l'une des meillieures spécialistes de Paimpol" (Itinéraire
littéraire en Côtes d'Armor, p. 103) -
Départ de la Mairie de Paimpol pour une visite commentée de
la ville et visite de la "maison de Gaud" Place du Martray
A 17h : A la mairie de Paimpol : interviews with the local press
Suivi d'un cocktail offert par la Ville de Paimpol et le maire, M Jacques
Saleun
22.5 Visite guidée du Musée de Ploubazlanec, avec Pierre
Floury; aussi: chapelle de Perros Hamon, la Croix des veuves, chapelle de
la Trinité.
Drive to Loguivy de la mer (the beauty of le port), l'Anse du Quern, la chapelle
de Lannevez, l'Arcouest
Lunch at le Relais St Yves (Ploubazlanec), my favorite eating place
A15h : Visite du Musée de la Mer - Rue Labenne - commentée par
Monsieur le Président de l'Association des Amis du Musée de
La Mer.
Dîner chez Irère Conan: galettes
23.5 A 10h00 Visite guidée du Musée du Costume Breton
(rue Raymond Pellier, Paimpol; réunion devant le Musée) avec
Yvette Lhostis and Jean-Claude Mignot. This museum of traditional Breton costumes
and domestic life is only open to the public in July and August.
Réception au Lycée maritime
Le soir: concert des étudiants du Lycée Kerraoul (star guest
vocalist: David Swain)
26.5 Hike along the coast from Paimpol to Pors-Even,
and La Croix des veuves: Photo session for Ouest-France
Breiz-Cola au Cabestan (Perros-Hamon)
L'Eglise de Ploubazlanec
27.5 Colloque avec des étudiants au Lycée maritime
Visite aux Viviers Dauphin (Pors-Even): a wholesaler for shellfish and crustacians
Stop for a drink "Chez Gaud" (Loguivy de la mer)
28.5 Visite guidée de la Chapelle de Kergrist, and walk to what
remains of the chaumière de Pierre Le Cor
Breton dance lesson at the Circle Angela Duval (Salle des fêtes, Ploubazlanec)
Dîner au Relais St Yves
Le Méllus, prehistoric site near Loguivy de la mer
La Roche aux oiseaux
29.5 Colloque avec François Chappée, professeur d'histoire
Cocktail chez M-L Rafflegeau, adjointe au maire de Paimpol
30.5
1.6 Moulin de Craca pour le départ des voiliers
La chapelle du Calvaire (Yvias)
La chapelle de Lancerf
L'Abbaye de Beauport
2.6 Bréhat
3.6 Interview with the editor of Ouest-France
Afternoon at the immersion school for Breton, Skol Diwan
4.6 Plage de Lédano
Allée couverte de Kerbors - another prehistoric ruin
Trédarzec, site of E. Renan excerpt
Tréguier: La cathédrale, le Musée Ernest Renan
Chateau de Noé-Vert
Dîner chez Véronique et Gervais Leclerc
5.6 apéritif chez Yvette Lhostis et Jean-Claude Mignot
La chapelle de Kermaria in Isquit
Pontrieux: le départ de la Vapeur du Trieux
6.6
25 hours to be spent outside class each week conducting your surveys and writing them up.
7.6 Depature from Paimpol for L'Aéroport St. Jacques à Rennes
Calendar for Summer 2005
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