22nd Annual Student Research Conference
Ancient Tongues in Modern Schools: Learning Old French through Independent Study
Thomas W. Lecaque♦
Prof. Gregg Siewert, Faculty Mentor
Many medieval languages are only studied in American universities at the graduate level. For an undergraduate student with an interest in one of these tongues, options are limited to select classes at a small range of universities or independent study. Among these languages, Old French is an interesting example of the incredibly disparate influences that shape the progression of a language and make it difficult for students to read and comprehend it through modern texts. Through research done as part of a 2008 Summer Research Grant, an outline for independent study in Old French was developed, detailing relevant texts, important skills to acquire before beginning the study, and tips and tools for improving the learning experience. A quick overview of the project, its methodology and results will be shared, and then the proposed formula for prospective students will be presented in depth.
Keywords: Old French, Medieval, Language, Independent Study
Topic(s):French
Medieval Studies
Education
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 6-1
Location: OP 2121
Time: 8:15