(no subject)

[fadeaccompli]

Let me state up front that I realize even considering this is consumate madness, given I'm taking Ancient Greek and Latin right now, and only some of the graduate programs I mean to apply to even care about this sort of thing. But.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I could go about teaching myself to read (and maybe write) French? I'm interested in reading academic writing, poetry, and general literature, in about that order. I'm not particularly interested in speaking it, or understanding it when it's spoken, but will accept that most courses think I should, so long as they're not primarily focused on "How to introduce yourself, ask for directions, and order food in a restaurant" types of teaching.

Help?

(I would also accept suggestions for German and Italian resources of the same sort, but for various reasons French seems like the best place to start.)

Comments

[anne]

Oh oh oh I HAVE TAUGHT THIS VERY CLASS. AT UT EVEN. You want 610 for the one-semester reading intensive, 310K/L (IIRC) for the 3hr version full of lazy-ass undergrads. Or just go poach the text. Stack (in the real cover) is EXECRABLE. French For Reading is really pretty good; it's what I used for the grad reading-skills class I taught at The Bad Place.

[fadeaccompli]

That sounds awesome! ...that also sounds like it would totally melt my brain if I took it as a class. I mean, I would learn much more, but once it's a class, I don't have the option of going "Actually, perhaps I am not up for this right now, and should try again later."

(Nor do I really have the option of just taking it at a moderate pace because academics and I have passionate affairs of intense love and hate; I do not really do academics in a leisurely manner.)

...I wonder if they offer it this summer.

[anne]

oh thumbtyping. Stack has a teal cover.

I don't think 610 is a summer course...but they might have a grad version by now. Can't hurt to ask?

[fadeaccompli]

"teal cover" does make more sense. And it's always worth asking!