Developing the Curriculum for Intensive French

This article describes the way in which the curriculum for intensive French was developed. Reference is made to its similarities to and differences from both the multidimensional curriculum proposed by the National Core French Study and the communicative approach. The importance of learning outcomes stated in terms of communicative outcomes (language functions) is discussed first. The content of the curriculum is then presented under five headings that are related to the five theoretical principles underlying the conception of intensive French: authentic communication, literacy development, cognitive development, interaction, and the development of accuracy and fluency. The role of compacting the regular curriculum in the development of the intensive French program is also explained.