Students go on to study advanced French grammar, communication, and composition, and they can take language electives in phonetics, advanced oral communication, advanced writing (journalistic and literary prose), and the language and culture of business in France. They continue to hone their language skills in elective courses in linguistics, literature, and culture, most of which are taught entirely in French. Courses in linguistics cover sociolinguistics, the history of the French language, the structure and sounds of the language, and Old (medieval) French. Courses in literature do not confine themselves to the contemplation of aesthetics, but rather pose philosophical and historical questions (?What is human nature?? ?What new world did revolutionaries imagine?? ?How do immigrants represent their new lives??). They cover all periods, including the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Classical Period, Enlightenment, Modernity, and Postmodernity. A number of courses focus on Francophone material from Africa, the Caribbean, and Quebec. Courses in cinema, from its first moments to the present, are also offered.