Introduction to Theological French

Theological French is engaged here on its own soil, using authentic materials and building reading comprehension skills from the opening chapters. Each chapter is structured around a primary reading, and subsequent texts increase gradually in length and difficulty. Grammar constructions are likewise introduced in a graduated manner, while at the same time focusing attention on vocabulary acquisition. Other practice and translation exercises embedded within each chapter, following the presentation of vocabulary and grammar, serve to broaden semantic understanding and verify mastery of forms. This manual is primarily designed for seminarians wishing to acquire a reading knowledge of French in order to pursue more advanced studies, either at their current institution or later in a doctoral program. The manual, however, can also benefit those individuals and independent scholars who have a keen interest in the language of Calvin, Pascal, and Bossuet, and for whom an intelligent curiosity is its own reward. Whether they approach the manual in a formal classroom setting or work through it privately at their own pace, they will learn to read with general accuracy and moderate ease a wide variety of French theological texts.

Damon Di Mauro teaches French language and literature at Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts, where he has also taught Italian and theology. He previously taught at Lawrence University and Minnesota State University, Mankato. He holds a PhD in French from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MA in theology from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. His primary research interest is Renaissance and Reformation studies, although he has also published on Francophone studies, the American Revolution, local history, and early American horology.