We cheerfully grant that undergraduates are often unable to make valuable criticisms about their courses. Yet, on the other hand, it is frequently worth while to look at matters from our point of view. Accordingly we should like to call the attention of the French department to the present needs of many of us.
Not a few come here wishing to learn to read French and German, and caring little about writing these languages. For such students courses I and II, with but slight attention to composition, are provided in German. The only corresponding French course is VIII, where large amounts are read. Yet there is a half course, and can be taken only as an extra. French I, as now carried on, has far more composition than the average student cares for. So the time spent in trying to get a working knowledge of French does not, as in other languages, count for a degree. We shall hope next year to see started a full course which shall simply aim to give practice in reading French.
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