<p>So, I took French for 5 years in middle/high school and though i don’t know if I want to pursue any concentration in languages (except maybe comparative literature), I really feel like getting myself fluent in French would be beneficial. However, I never took AP or SAT IIs in French, but too IB French B SL. I think I’ll still take the placement test, but my real question is: how is the French department at Brown viewed? Is it a good program? How are the professors? Where should I expect to be placed? According to the website, people who score between a 600-690 on the French SAT II should go for FREN 500, which is where I think I would land. Would thinking between FREN 400 or FREN 500 be realistic?</p>
<p>I took French 600 in the fall (after French in middle and high school, and high AP and SAT II scores). I loved the class. My professor, Youenn Kervennic, was fantastic, not to mention that we had small discussion sections (4 students) once a week with an excellent TA, who was a grad student from France. Language classes tend to be small (we had 14 students in my section), so we got to know each other and Youenn very well. The assignments were comprehensive, and while they weren’t necessarily difficult, they were frequent. However, I felt that by the end of the semester, I knew how to write in French (the French analytical style is considerably different than that of English), which was something I’d been striving for.</p>
<p>I know people in 400 and 500 who were similarly impressed. Annie Wiart, who taught 500 last year, is supposed to be quite good as well.</p>
<p>The department overall is great, particularly because most of them are friendly and informal, not to mention very accessible. I’m taking 1310 in the fall, and when I had some concerns about my preparation, the professor was very happy to explain the material/expectations/etc. to me. In 600, my professor would meet with me whenever I had a question (I didn’t even have to go to his office hours) about an assignment or any similar concerns. I’m very happy with them, and I look forward to taking more classes in the department.</p>
<p>bonne chance! :)</p>
<p>^ I just e-mailed him to ask him about the French department. 
Thanks!</p>