French

This major covers the study of French language, culture and society, including Francophone cultures outside France.

In our language and culture subjects we use a range of authentic resources and teaching methods to equip students with a high level of proficiency in the written and spoken French language. Student learning outcomes are aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

A major in French allows students to study French language, literature, and culture either as beginners or advanced learners. Students who enter the major at post-HSC (or advanced) level, will be exempted from some language subjects.

The French major aims to provide a course of study which will enable students to:

comprehend normal spoken and written French in context;

speak and write clearly and accurately in French in everyday situations;

use their increasing knowledge of French to move from dependence on formal instruction to ongoing independent acquisition of language proficiency;

gather and synthesise information on topics of current interest from different French-language sources and media;

recognise and respond appropriately to culture-specific information and cultural suppositions in French source material, and to differences between French culture and their own cultural heritage;

make effective use of linguistic resources such as bilingual dictionaries, web searches, and descriptive grammars;

translate accurately non-specialist documents into French and English;

apply their foreign language skills to a contemporary French/Francophone workplace environment;

gain a broad overview of French and Francophone cultural and literary traditions;

take the opportunity to include a semester of study abroad at an exchange university in France or in New Caledonia as part of their Wollongong undergraduate degree.

Major Study

A major in French for beginners or near beginners consists of 60 credit points, and must include 12 credit points at 100-level, 24 credit points at 200-level and 24 credit points at 300-level, as set out below. Students who have achieved a strong 2 Unit HSC pass or equivalent will normally enter the language sequence at the level of FREN251, and complete a 56 credit points major comprising 24 credit points at 200-level and 32 credit points at 300-level, as set out below.

All students entering the French major at the level of FREN251 must obtain formal approval from the Convenor of the French Program.

Subject to the pre-requisites listed in the subject database, language and literature/civilisation subjects may not be taken independently of one another, e.g. French IIB language may not be taken without taking French IIA or its equivalent without the permission of the Convenor of the French Program. However, students wishing to complete a major in French must complete the sequence set out below.

Native or near-native speakers, whose major also consists of 56 credit points, may be granted waivers for FREN251 and FREN252. Such waivers will be granted only at the time of first enrolment in French, in accordance with the Program's policy and with the formal approval of the Convenor of the French Program and the Language Centre Director. Replacement subjects to make up the 56 credit points for the major are to be chosen from the additional subjects listed below. Credit may be granted for language courses taken at University level in accordance with established University of Wollongong guidelines.

Students may include ELL110 or ELL210 as part of their Language Major with the permission of the Convenor of the French Program and the Language Centre Director.

Minor Study

A minor in French consists of four sequential language subjects in French. Students beginning at 100-level will take 28 credit points and students beginning at upper levels will take 32 credit points. Students may not cross-count any subjects from the minor in any other minor or major study.

Example: A student beginner could take a minor by studying FREN151, FREN152, FREN251 and FREN252.

A student who had studied French to HSC level and was commencing university French at second year level could take a minor by studying FREN251, FREN252, FREN351 and FREN352.

Whilst the minor will not be stipulated on the student's testamur at graduation, it will be recorded on the academic transcript.

Diploma in Languages (French)

To qualify for award of the Diploma in Languages (course code 1002) a student must complete a total of at least 48 credit points from subjects listed from the French study program below.

Students will complete a minimum of 6 subjects. These subjects will predominantly be language acquisition subjects and may include study abroad in French as part of an exchange program or study abroad program with a partner University. Other subjects may be included with the permission of the Convenor of the French program and the Director of the Language Centre.

Students entering at 100 level may include one culture subject; students entering at 200 level may include 2 culture subjects and students entering at 300 level may include up to 4 culture subjects.

Example: A student beginner could take the Diploma by studying FREN151, FREN152, FREN251, FREN252, FREN351, FREN352 and LANG305.

A student who had studied French to HSC or equivalent level and was commencing university French at 200 level could complete the Diploma in Languages in French by studying FREN251, FREN252, FREN220, FREN351, FREN352 and FREN215 OR LANG305.

Subjects can be counted only in one course, that is, subjects counted towards the Diploma cannot be counted towards another degree. Students who complete the Diploma will not receive a testamur or attend a graduation ceremony specifically for the Diploma. However, when students do the Diploma concurrently with a Bachelors Degree course, they will have the Diploma listed in their Bachelors degree subject transcript upon graduating.

**Students commencing study at 200 level must take both FREN220 and LANG305

Honours

See Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

Other Information

Further information is available at:
UOW Course Finder
Email: lha-enquiries@uow.edu.au