French Language and Culture Major

Total units 48 Units

Areas of interest European Languages, Language Studies
Major code FREN-MAJ

Academic career Undergraduate

This major aims at developing students' ability to understand, pronounce and speak standard French and to read and write French as it appears in newspapers, magazines, media, cinema and literature. All courses, right from the Introductory level, emphasise the importance of culture, history, politics and society. The aim is to have students gain fluency in French and develop their knowledge of France, both in its European and global contexts (e.g., Africa, Asia, North America and the Pacific). To this end, we use a variety of material drawn from written, audio-visual and electronic sources.

We encourage students to study for part of their degree at a French-speaking university, once they are proficient enough. It is standard practice for Honours students to spend a semester abroad. The ANU has exchange agreements with universities across the French-speaking world: France: several universities in metropolitan France; also in the French Pacific (Noumea, Tahiti); Canada: universities in Quebec (McGill University; Université de Montréal) and the bilingual Université d’Ottawa; Switzerland (Université de Genève). Scholarships are available on a competitive basis.

The pathways to the French Language and Culture Major depend on the entry level. These pathways are listed below.

Language level placement tests are held prior to commencement for all students having had previous exposure to the language.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Due to structural changes in the undergraduate program rules in 2012, the courses that make up the new 2012 majors may be different to the pre-2012 majors, and therefore some courses cannot be counted between majors. Students are advised to contact the CASS Student Office if they are unsure about their Majors.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

demonstrate good 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);
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

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Requirements

This major requires the completion of 48 units, according to the following pathways:

Pathway for beginners

42 units from completion of courses from the following list:

FREN1003 Introductory French I

FREN1004 Introductory French II

FREN2024 Continuing French I

FREN2025 Continuing French II

FREN3006 Intermediate French I

FREN3007 Intermediate French II

FREN3106 Current Affairs and the French Press (Continuing level)

6 units from completion of courses from the following list:

ARTH2080 Art and Visual Culture of the Long Eighteenth Century 1660-1815

HIST2223 The French Revolution and Napoleon

LANG3001 Translation across Languages: the translation of literary texts

LANG3002 Translation across Languages: specialised material

LANG3003 Contemporary European Narrative

LANG3005 Language and Identity in a European Context

Pathway for students starting at Continuing level (post-beginners)

30 units from completion of courses from the following list:

FREN2024 Continuing French I

FREN2025 Continuing French II

FREN3006 Intermediate French I

FREN3007 Intermediate French II

FREN3008 Advanced French Topics*

6 units from completion of courses from the following list:

FREN3106 Current Affairs and the French Press (Continuing level)

FREN3107 Current Affairs and the French Press (Advanced level)

A minimum of 6 units from completion of courses from the following list:

FREN2021 Selected Topics in French Studies*

FREN2022 French Literature and the Pacific

FREN2026 New Caledonia: Fieldwork and Research

FREN3008 Advanced French Topics

FREN3108 Imagining the French Empire: French Colonialism on Film

A maximum of 6 units from completion of courses from the following list:

ARTH2080 Art and Visual Culture of the Long Eighteenth Century 1660-1815

HIST2223 The French Revolution and Napoleon

LANG3001 Translation across Languages: the translation of literary texts

LANG3002 Translation across Languages: specialised material

LANG3003 Contemporary European Narrative

LANG3005 Language and Identity in a European Context

Pathway for students starting at Intermediate level

24 units from completion of courses from the following list:

FREN3006 Intermediate French I

FREN3007 Intermediate French II

FREN3008 Advanced French Topics*

FREN3107 Current Affairs and the French Press (Advanced level)

A minimum of 18 units from the completion of courses from the following list:

FREN2021 Selected Topics in French Studies*

FREN2022 French Literature and the Pacific

FREN2026 New Caledonia: Fieldwork and Research

FREN3108 Imagining the French Empire: French Colonialism on Film

A maximum of 6 units from completion of courses from the following list:

ARTH2080 Art and Visual Culture of the Long Eighteenth Century 1660-1815

HIST2223 The French Revolution and Napoleon

LANG3001 Translation across Languages: the translation of literary texts

LANG3002 Translation across Languages: specialised material

LANG3003 Contemporary European Narrative

LANG3005 Language and Identity in a European Context

Pathway for students starting at Advanced level

12 units from completion of courses from the following list:

FREN3008 Advanced French Topics*

FREN3107 Current Affairs and the French Press (Advanced level)

A minimum of 24 units from completion of courses from the following list:

FREN2021 Selected Topics in French Studies*

FREN2022 French Literature and the Pacific

FREN2026 New Caledonia: Fieldwork and Research

FREN3108 Imagining the French Empire: French Colonialism on Film

A maximum of 12 units from completion of courses from the following list:

ARTH2080 Art and Visual Culture of the Long Eighteenth Century 1660-1815

ARTH2081 Art of the European Courts, 1500-1815

HIST2223 The French Revolution and Napoleon

LANG3001 Translation across Languages: the translation of literary texts

LANG3002 Translation across Languages: specialised material

LANG3003 Contemporary European Narrative

LANG3005 Language and Identity in a European Context

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