FREN 112 at the University of Maryland Global Campus continues the introduction to French begun in FREN 111. UMGC's description lists FREN 111 or an appropriate placement test score as the prerequisite, and says the course is not open to native speakers.
The objective is to listen to, speak, read and write French in concrete, real-life situations related to oneself and others, with practice in speaking and listening and continued exploration of the French-speaking world. The jump from isolated phrases to connected speech is the main challenge.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) |
| Code and title | FREN 112 Elementary French II |
| Credits | 3 |
| Prerequisite | FREN 111 or an appropriate placement test score |
| Not open to | Native speakers of French |
| Credit rule | Credit for only one of FREN 102 or FREN 112 |
What FREN 112 Covers
| Area (from UMGC's description) | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Real-life situations about oneself and others | Describing family, daily routine, preferences and plans |
| Speaking and listening | Following and joining short conversations |
| Reading and writing | Longer texts and paragraph-length writing |
| Culture | The diverse French-speaking world |
UMGC's description does not list grammar topics, so specific structures depend on your textbook and syllabus. The examples below are common at this level but may not match your order of teaching.
Key Concepts Explained
Talking About the Past
Courses at this stage usually introduce a past tense built with an auxiliary verb and a past participle.
Example: J'ai mangé au restaurant (I ate at the restaurant) uses avoir plus the participle. Some verbs, such as aller, take être: Elle est allée au marché, with agreement on the participle.
Describing Plans
A near future is formed with aller plus an infinitive.
Example: Nous allons visiter Paris cet été (We are going to visit Paris this summer).
Connecting Sentences
Words like et, mais, parce que and puis turn short sentences into short paragraphs. Use them deliberately.
Reviewing FREN 111 Before You Begin
Most difficulty in FREN 112 comes from gaps in the first course. Use a short checklist before the first graded task.
| Skill | Self-check |
|---|---|
| Present tense | Conjugate a regular -er verb, être and avoir without notes |
| Agreement | Match gender and number in a phrase of three words |
| Questions | Form three simple questions about daily life |
| Numbers and time | Say the date and time aloud |
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
| Assignment type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking recordings | Fluency and pronunciation | Prepare key phrases, then speak without reading |
| Writing tasks | Connected sentences | Plan three ideas, then write one sentence for each |
| Listening exercises | Comprehension | Listen twice: gist first, details second |
| Quizzes | Grammar and vocabulary | Review errors by category |
Preparing for Speaking Tasks
Speaking tasks are about communication, not perfection. Prepare a skeleton of useful phrases and let the rest be spontaneous.
| Purpose | Phrase type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | Greeting and topic | Bonjour, je vais parler de ma famille. |
| Detail | Description with être/avoir | J'ai deux frères; ils sont grands. |
| Connection | Linking word | parce que, mais, puis |
| Closing | Short wrap-up | Voilà, c'est tout. Merci. |
Keeping an Error Log
The fastest way to improve written French is to track your own mistakes. After each graded task, write each error, the correction and the rule.
Example: Log entry. Error: "Elle est acheté une robe." Correction: "Elle a acheté une robe." Rule: acheter takes avoir in the past tense; only verbs such as aller take être, and then the participle agrees with the subject (Elle est allée). After a few entries, patterns appear and your corrections become faster.
Review the log before each new task. Repeated errors are the ones that cost the most marks.
A Ten-Minute Self-Test
- Describe your weekend in three past-tense sentences.
- Say what you are going to do tomorrow using aller plus an infinitive.
- Describe a family member with two adjectives, checking agreement.
- Ask and answer two questions about daily routine.
Use the results to decide what to revise before the next graded task.
Where Students Get Stuck
- Verb forms. Practice one tense at a time, then mix.
- Participle agreement. Check which auxiliary the verb takes.
- Relying on translation tools. They hide the grammar you are meant to learn.
- Listening speed. Replay short clips and shadow them aloud.
Study Tips for FREN 112
- Keep a notebook of errors your instructor marks, grouped by type.
- Speak aloud every day, even for five minutes.
- Rewrite corrected paragraphs from memory.
- Review FREN 111 vocabulary weekly.
How We Help with FREN 112
Send the prompt, your draft and any model texts from the course. A French tutor can explain the grammar, correct your writing and give practice examples. Use the help to learn and submit your own work.
GradeEssays is independent and not affiliated with the University of Maryland Global Campus. Our work is a study and reference aid; complete and submit your own work under UMGC's academic integrity policy. Orders are written from scratch, with free revisions within the scope of your original request and a full refund if late.
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Frequently Asked Questions
FREN 111 or an appropriate score on a placement test.
No. UMGC states it is not open to native speakers of French.
UMGC allows credit for only one of the two.
3 credits.
Yes. The description says the diverse language and culture of the French-speaking world is explored.
Yes. Send it with the prompt and we mark up and explain the corrections.