School of Literature, Language and Media

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French

Why Study French?

Studying French opens doors to communicating with people across Africa and around the world, while deepening your appreciation of new cultures, histories, and values. In today’s global market, a French major is more relevant than ever, as employers increasingly seek liberal arts graduates whose strong communication and critical thinking skills offer a distinct advantage over narrowly trained specialists in business and professional fields.

Courses in French combine well with:

Courses in French combine seamlessly with a wide range of disciplines, offering students opportunities to broaden their academic and cultural perspectives. They pair particularly well with other European languages, fine arts, political science, sociology, philosophy, drama, music, international relations, translation and interpretation, as well as media studies, creating rich interdisciplinary pathways for study and future careers.

Facts about French

  • French is a language of diplomacy, business, tourism, arts and culture, science and gastronomy.
  • It is a world language, spoken in Africa, Europe, Canada, the Pacific and Caribbean islands, and East Asia (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia).
  • It is spoken in more than 20 African countries where it is the official language.

Undergraduate study

First Year

Basic French Language and Culture

This module is a computer-aided language course for beginners wishing to gain basic French language skills.

Intermediate French Language and Culture

This is a more advanced continuation of the module above.

Second Year

French Language and Text Production

This module offers a revision of French Grammar and familiarises the student with advanced structural and grammatical problems. It tests this knowledge through practical exercises and translation. In addition, it offers an overview of the literature of the 20th century with literary analysis of selected texts. The course has a component on Francophone culture and civilisation.

French Language and Text Production (B)

This course is a continuation of module 215 and reinforces advanced oral and written language skills through practical exercises and translation. In addition, it reinforces the overview of the literature of the 20th century begun in module 215 and offers more advanced literary analysis of selected texts.

Third Year

Advanced French Composition and Stylistics

The aim of this course is to refine writing and reading skills and to enable students to interpret a wide range of texts representing all aspects of contemporary French usage.

Negotiating Language

Both oral and written language skills are refined in this module. Emphasis is placed on the practical application of French language skills. The different registers of the language are explored.

French Literature (Reading Course)

This course offers an in-depth exploration of selected canonical texts in French or Francophone literature. Texts are studied in the context of the socio-political and literary background of the period chosen.

Selected Topics in French Literature

This course offers a specialised study in 19th and 20th century French Literature. In particular, it will examine French and African writing of the colonial era. Independent research on a chosen topic will be an integral part of the course.

Postgraduate Programmes

BA Hons French
MA French
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