The Advanced French Studies minor is for students who have an advanced, near-native level of competence in French. It aims to deepen students knowledge and critical understanding of French and Francophone cultures and societies, whilst continuing to improve their fluency in reading and listening comprehension as well as oral and written expression. Through the study of thematic courses in a broad range of areas such as literature, cinema and songs, as well as thematic courses targeting specific aspects of history, social movements and politics in the Francophone world, students will gain in knowledge and critical thinking, academic writing and oral presentation skills in French.
Students are encouraged to study for part of their French Studies minor at a French-speaking university. It is standard practice for Honours students to spend a semester abroad. The ANU has exchange agreements with several French universities, including in the Pacific (Noumea, Tahiti). We also have exchanges with Canada: McGill University, Montreal; the bilingual University of Ottawa; and with Switzerland: the University of Geneva. Scholarships are available on a competitive basis.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Students will have develop an extensive ability to express themselves orally and in writing in different genres and learning contexts.
- Students will have gained extensive knowledge on key aspects of French culture, history, politics and society. They will be able to interpret critically French and Francophone literary and historical texts, movies and visual-media.
- Students will have gained extensive intercultural awareness. They will be able to critically compare and reflect, at a sophisticated level, on cross-cultural differences between Francophone and Australian cultures and/or their native culture.
- At the end of a French Studies Minor students should be able to achieve at least the B2 level of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) Students who perform at a very high standard should be able to achieve the C1 level.
- Students will be able to conduct research topics related to the content of the thematic courses they have studied.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- demonstrate general fluency in oral and written expression as well as in aural and reading comprehension (fluency covers expression in different registers from everyday language use to academic language);
- express themselves orally and in writing in different genres;
- demonstrate substantial knowledge on key aspects of French culture, history, politics and society, and be able to interpret critically French and Francophone literary texts, movies and visual-media;
- critically compare and reflect on cross-cultural differences between Francophone and Australian cultures and/or their native culture (intercultural awareness); and
- achieve at least the B1 level of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
Other Information
FREN2021 and FREN3008 may be taken more than once if Topic is different
Relevant Degrees
Requirements
All Language Studies (LANG) courses must have a Course Topic of French to be included in this major.
This minor requires the completion of 24 units, which must include:
A minimum of 12 units must come from completion of courses from the following list:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| FREN2021 | Selected Topics in French Studies | 6 |
| FREN2022 | French Literature and The Pacific | 6 |
| FREN2026 | New Caledonia: Field Work and Research | 6 |
| FREN3008 | Advanced French Topics | 6 |
| FREN3107 | Current Affairs and the French Press (Advanced) | 6 |
A maximum of 12 units may come from completion of courses from the following list:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ARTH2080 | Art and Visual Culture of the Long Eighteenth Century, 1660-1815 | 6 |
| ARTH2081 | Art of the European Courts, 1500-1815 | 12 |
| HIST2223 | The French Revolution and Napoleon | 6 |
| LANG3001 | Translation across Languages: the translation of literary texts | 6 |
| LANG3002 | Translation across Languages: specialised material | 6 |
| LANG3003 | European Narrative | 6 |
| LANG3005 | Language and Identity in a European Context | 6 |
