French
Co-ordinating Lecturer(s)
- Dr Catherine Chabert Tel/Ffôn: (029) 2087 5836 Email/Ebost: chabertc@cardiff.ac.uk
Our Centre is unique because of the wide choice of different foreign languages on offer. Amongst them, Croatian (Serbian and Bosnian), Greek, Polish, Portuguese, Russian and Turkish at various levels. In addition to these, we offer French, German, Italian and Spanish in eight different levels of entry to suit everybody’s ability.
If for personal or professional reasons you need to quickly improve your French or Spanish – and we know this is the case for a large number of our students – then please look at our Fast Track courses. They will give you a chance to do two levels in the same year. But if you prefer to take your time, you will enjoy the pace of a weekly class.
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French Courses
French for Beginners - Stage A
This course provides students with a grounding in the basic structures of French in order to communicate at a basic level in essential social and survival situations in French speaking countries.
French for Absolute Beginners
This course is for you if you have no knowledge of French. It focuses on speaking and understanding the language in practical contexts. Ideal if you want a taste of French!
French Conversation for Improvers
You can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. You will get ample opportunity to practise your French conversational skills on familiar topics such as introducing yourself and others, ask and answer questions about personal details such as where you live, people you know and things you have, ordering food and drinks, etc. (A1/A2).
French for Beginners - Stage A (Fast Track)
This course provides students with a grounding in the basic structures of French in order to communicate at a basic level in essential social and survival situations in French speaking countries.
Intermediate French Conversation
This course is for you if you have attended 3 years of part-time study (or 4 years but you feel that your speaking skills are still weak) and you can communicate in routine tasks requiring a direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. The intensive course will enable you to further practise and consolidate your language skills and give you confidence in speaking French.
French for Improvers - Stage B
You will acquire sufficient language skills for practical needs in simple everyday situations and develop your understanding of the culture of French speaking countries.
French for Improvers - Stage B (Fast Track)
You will acquire sufficient language skills for practical needs in simple everyday situations and develop your understanding of the culture of French speaking countries.
Le mode et monde du subjonctif
Si vous souhaitez développer de manière plus précise et juste votre expression orale et écrite, ce cours est pour vous. Vous pourrez vous concentrer sur un français de style plus soutenu grâce à la lecture d’un livre qui vous aidera à développer un plus grand choix de vocabulaire et d’idiomes. Ce cours portera sur les nuances de la langue française tout en se concentrant sur l’importance des modes, en particulier le subjonctif. Ce cours fait partie du Diploma et est entièrement enseigné en français.
Intermediate French - Stage C
With this course you will develop sufficient French to get by in French speaking countries with some hesitations on topics concerned with everyday matters and express your view in writing in a more elaborate style. You will further develop an understanding of the culture of French speaking countries.
Intermediate French - Stage C (Fast Track)
With this course you will develop sufficient French to get by in French speaking countries with some hesitations on topics concerned with everyday matters and express your view in writing in a more elaborate style. You will further develop an understanding of the culture of French speaking countries.
Higher Intermediate French - Stage D
This course will enable you to further develop your comprehension and expression, both orally and in writing. This level is the first step towards a level of independent user. In order to get to the independent user stage where, for example, you can follow the principal points of a fairly long discussion on a familiar subject, provide or request advice and opinions during an informal discussion between friends, you first need to consolidate your existing skills and gain accuracy in your expression and comprehension. In the Higher Intermediate French course, you will brush up your existing skills, develop your vocabulary and strengthen your understanding of the main grammatical structures of French language.
Higher Intermediate French - Stage D (Fast Track)
This course will enable you to further develop your comprehension and expression, both orally and in writing. This level is the first step towards a level of independent user. In order to get to the independent user stage where, for example, you can follow the principal points of a fairly long discussion on a familiar subject, provide or request advice and opinions during an informal discussion between friends, you first need to consolidate your existing skills and gain accuracy in your expression and comprehension. In the Higher Intermediate French course, you will brush up your existing skills, develop your vocabulary and strengthen your understanding of the main grammatical structures of French language.
Advanced French - Stage E
This Fast Track course is combined with Stage D and we recommend you to take Stage D before joining this course. If you intend to enrol directly on this Stage E, you need to have attended at least five or six years of French part-time courses and be prepared to work steadily for the rest of the year. For more information, please contact Dr Chabert.
Advanced French - Stage F
This course will enable you to further develop your oral, aural and written language in order to express yourselves fluently and spontaneously. You will further consolidate and expand your understanding of the structure of the language and the culture of French speaking countries. A wide range of topics will be covered including everyday life in French speaking countries and current affairs, issues regarding French language, French culture and society and politics (lifelong learning, environmental issues, generations, etc). At the end of this course you have the option of sitting the DALF B2.
Advanced French - Stage G
This course will enable you to expand your oral, aural and written language skills in order to develop a detailed knowledge and effective understanding of the structures, registers and linguistic principles. You will acquire an effective operational proficiency in French which allows fluent, spontaneous communication.
C'est arrivé cette semaine
Si vous voulez savoir ce qu’il se passe en France and pouvoir en discuter, ce cours va certainement vous intéresser. Discussions et débats sur les sujets chauds de l’actualité française garantis avec ce cours! Ce cours est entièrement enseigné en français (DELF B2/DALF C1).
La France à travers ses personnes célèbres
Ce cours vous propose de découvrir la France à travers certains de ses personnages les plus célèbres qu’ils soient réels ou imaginaires. En explorant la vie de Charles Baudelaire, Yves Saint-Laurent ou Bécassine, vous développerez votre connaissance de la société française ainsi que votre français oral. Ce cours est entièrement enseigné en français (DELF B2).
Oral and Aural Skills - Intermediate
The aim of this course is to improve your fluency and your comprehension of spoken French. You will work in small groups and discuss different topics, as well as listen to audio recordings. This course was suggested by students who often feel they need to get more practice of their oral and listening skills. This course is for students who have completed Stage B or Stage C (DELF A2).
Précision orale et écrite
This course will enable you to further develop your oral, and written French in order to express yourselves not only confidently but also with accuracy without conspicuous searching for words, using some complex sentence forms to do so. You will consolidate and expand your understanding of the structure of the language and of the culture of France. Many debates over different topics and themes will be covered. Ce cours est entièrement enseigné en français (DELF B2/DALF C1).
French for Beginners
The main aim of this course is to give you a grounding in some basic structures of French language so that you are able to communicate at basic level in essential social situations in French speaking countries. The course has a follow-on course, Speaking French – Beginners, which will help you consolidate what you will have learnt in this course and which will focus on spoken French.
Speaking French - Beginners
This course will give you an opportunity to practise your speaking and listening skills in simple, everyday situations. Activities will be based around the topics covered in the French for Beginners class, but new students, who have some knowledge of French, are also welcome. You will develop your oral skills by talking about yourself, your family, ordering food and drink, asking for directions etc. Listening exercises will take place in one of our digital language laboratories.
French for Improvers
The main aim of this course is to consolidate what you have previously learnt and give you the confidence to take part in a range of simple social interactions (going out and about; making a simple transaction in a shop, post office or bank; making inquiries about a journey; using public transport; requesting basic information, asking one's way and giving directions, buying tickets; asking for and providing services and products for everyday needs). There is a follow on course, Speaking French – Improvers, which will help you specifically with spoken French.
Speaking French - Improvers
This course will give you an opportunity to practise your speaking and listening skills in simple everyday situations. Activities will be based around the topics covered in the French for Improvers class, but new students, who have previously studied French (one year’s part-time study or ‘rusty’ GCSE), are also welcome. You will consolidate your oral skills by practising simple social interactions (different forms of address and courtesy when meeting people, replying to questions, etc.). Listening exercises will take place one of our digital language laboratories.
Speaking French - Intermediate
You will have the opportunity to practise in small groups and act role-play exercises of situations you will encounter in French speaking countries. The content of the course will include travelling through France, checking in at a hotel, choosing a meal at a restaurant, socialising in French, going to the cinema, to the theatre, going to the chemist’s, to the doctor’s and buying presents. Listening exercises will take place in one of our digital language laboratories.
Intermediate French Conversation
You will have the opportunity to practise in small groups and act role-play exercises of situations you will encounter in French speaking countries. The content of the course will include travelling through France, checking in at a hotel, choosing a meal at a restaurant, socialising in French, going to the cinema, to the theatre, going to the chemist’s, to the doctor’s and buying presents.
Intermediate French
With this course you will develop sufficient French to get by in French speaking countries with some hesitations on topics concerned with everyday matters. You will also work towards expressing your view in writing in a more elaborate style. You will further develop an understanding of the culture of French speaking countries. There is a follow on course, Speaking French – Intermediate, which will help you specifically with spoken French.
Speaking French – Higher Intermediate
This course will enable you to further develop your oral comprehension and expression. You will have the opportunity to practise in small groups and act role-play exercises of situations you will encounter in French speaking countries. The content of the course will include making travel arrangements through France; socialising in French; going to the chemist’s, to the doctor’s; asking for/answering social network and mobile phone matters; etc. Listening exercises will take place in one of our digital language laboratories.
Higher Intermediate French Conversation
Between Intermediate and Advanced, this "Higher Intermediate" level is designed for students who feel they need to brush up on some of the basic grammar points and gain confidence in their spoken French. The course is mainly about reinforcing what the student knows and helping improve fluency and correctness (B1).
Advanced French Conversation
This course is designed to stretch students’ idiomatic vocabulary and knowledge about each theme through discussions, research and presentations. Working individually and in groups, you will be invited to draw on personal interests and experience to support your participation whilst exploring the broadest aspects of the themes. Ce Cours est entièrement enseigné en Français.
Advanced French Oral and Aural Skills
You have achieved 6 years part-time studies in French (post-stage F), or have an A-level in French with a good grade. The course will be conducted in French and several sessions will be held in one of our digital language laboratories.
France D'Aujourd'hui
Pour étudiants d’un bon niveau (B2/C1), ce cours vous permettra de développer votre expression orale et écrite. Basée sur des articles de presse et extraits de journaux télévisés, chaque semaine sera différente. Ce cours est enseigné en français.
L'Histoire de France - From Louis XIV to Napoleon
Pour étudiants d’un bon niveau de français qui souhaitent mieux connaitre l’histoire de France ou la découvrir. Cette année, c’est le Grand Siècle, les Lumières, la Révolution et le 1er Empire, période passionnante qui a fortement influencé la société française actuelle. Ce cours est enseigné en francais et fait partie du Diploma.
La Francophonie dans le Monde
Ce cours vous intéressera si vous aimez la langue française et ses différentes facettes. Etant la langue officielle de 28 pays, quelle est l’importance géopolitique de la francophonie dans un monde de plus en plus mondialisé ? Quels sont les traits communs des différentes cultures qui composent cette francophonie? Ce cours est pour étudiants d’un bon niveau (B2/C1) et est entièrement enseigné en français.
Littérature française
Ce cours est pour étudiants d’un niveau avancé qui souhaitent approcher la langue française à travers la lecture et l’analyse de romans. Cette année, les deux œuvres choisies sont : L’Alouette de Jean Anouilh et Sylvie de Gérard de Nerval. Discussions ainsi que travail écrit aideront à l’analyse.
