or The Things I'd Liked to have Known
When I signed up for university as my Year Abroad option, I wasn't going on much. I vaguely had the idea of doing a job for a year, but knew that I definitely didn't want to do British Council, for fears that I would be speaking English all day and wouldn't have much choice of where I ended up. My sister had been at uni in France and Spain on her Year Abroad and it seemed to allow more freedom, a chance to meet students, yet within a structure so you knew exactly what to do on each day.
But as for The Sorbonne (Paris IV) - I guess I'd heard of it as part of the best known university in France, and Paris was a grand, alluring, sparkling vision with its plentiful offering of churches, shops, museums, cafes and boulangeries. As for the inner workings of this 'glorious' institution, I had no idea. I felt like waving the white flag (in true French style, some might say), after hearing that seminars were typically 3 hours long. So for anyone thinking of doing their year abroad here, here are the things I wish I'd known:
The Sorbonne is split into different institutions which act as their own separate universities. So far, I've come across Paris I, Paris III (La Sorbonne-Nouvelle), Paris IV (Paris-Sorbonne), and Paris VI. I can't tell you what happened to Paris II and Paris V! I'm here to tell you about Paris IV, which is the faculty for Lettres et Civilisations, or Languages, History, Literature, Media etc. We don't seem to have any engagement with the other members of the Sorbonne family, unlike in universities back in the UK where science students and literature students coexist (almost) peacefully.
In English: Lectures
French slang: CMs
In my experience, there are 2 lectures for each module (of around 8-10 ECTs). Some run together, so you sit for two hours, and some are on separate days and separate times. These are pretty similar to what I'd find at home in Durham, except that in Durham the modules are generally year long rather than semester long as at Paris-IV. There is more focus on the author's biographies which is quite interesting, and the only qualm is that the teaching is quite prescriptive...I'll have to wait and see how much room there is for my own opinions!
In English: SEMINARS
French slang: TDs
Seminars at Paris-IV are generally 3 hours long. Yes, you heard me. For someone who came from an average of 1 or 2 hours a day contact time at Durham University which amounted to about 8 hours a week, my 15 hour week was a shock. Science students with 25 hours a week will laugh, but for a literature student like me it is a big shock. Your concentration span will be flexed, strained, trained, and eventually come out tops (or so I hope). It is more of a classroom setting, with anything from 8-30 students in a room, instead of the smaller discussion groups you might be used to at home. It is perfectly possible to sit at the back in silence (so tempting), but it won't help your French. Teachers are no-nonsense, however, and expect maximum courtesy from students. One told us frankly, "I have not given you my email address, because I don't want you to contact me". I would happily send all my questions over email to tutors back home, but unlike in the UK (and Brazil, so I am told) where I was bought a drink in the local pub in a freebie revision session, seminar leaders are in no way your friends. Students at Paris-IV are free to choose from the sessions made available to them.
The French just call them 'cours'
As an Erasmus student, I was given a choice of taking any class I wanted, from Year 1, 2 or 3. Classes run for a semester, so classes with an odd-numbered Module Code: e.g. L1, L3, L5 run in the first semester and classes in L2, L4 and L6 run in the second semester. Sound confusing? L1 and L2 classes are first year classes, L3 and L4 are second year classes, L5 and L6 are third year classes. There are grammar classes, literature classes and infocom (media classes), amongst other language classes such as Spanish, Russian and English. French students seem to follow a traditional programme of grammar, history of the French language, a foreign language and culture classes. I do a wild-card selection of 'Litterature des 19e et 20e siecles', 'Approche des Genres Litteraires' and 'Litterature Europeene' (War Poetry). They seem to be very traditional choices: you aren't gonna find 'Literatures of Terrorism' or 'Harry Potter and the Age of Illusion' like back in good ol' Durham University.
N.B. pronounced males - herbes, not male-sherbes
The site for Level 1 and Level 2 classes. Malesherbes is a nice university site, with an onsite cafeteria, library and outer courtyard.
(nearest Metro: Odeon, Sorbonne-Cluny, RER: St. Michael's-Notre Dame )
Level 3 and Masters classes. Tourists flock to this site with its impressive courtyard, beautiful lecture theatres and library. The May '68 Protests happened here - it's the one everyone thinks of when they hear the name. It hides a slightly scruffy interior though, and all the corridors look the same. You pay the price for a great lookin' edifice, I guess.
Can't say much about Clignancourt, not having been there, but I've heard horror stories. History students have classes there, and it seems to be in a rather seedy part of town. Not a reason to be put off uni, but you have been warned!
Be-IV: student group which organises events
CROUS: university cafeteria
controle continu: tests throughout the year which can count towards your final grade
ENT: online learning environment (access to emails)
la Fac: uni(versity)
Moodle: online learning environment (lectures uploaded here)
Les Sorbonnales: 'Fete de Rentree' or Freshers' Party
sur table: when an test is done at uni under exam conditions
Tutorat: extra-curricular classes to improve your language skills
La Rentree: the return to university come September
UFR: Unite de Formation et de Recherche: A Faculty
Questions welcome below - and good luck if you're thinking of coming. I'm really enjoying my time here so far!
À Bientôt !
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