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French

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​France has a rich and revolutionary culture and history. It is also well known for excelling in the arts, from the Nouvelle Vague in cinema to expressionist painting.

Our students develop an in-depth knowledge of the French language, the wider culture of Francophonie in the many countries across the globe where French is spoken, and the varied history, literature and cinema in which the language is embedded. You will have the opportunity to study with staff who are internationally recognised experts in French-speaking literature, history and culture, including the literature of the French Caribbean, French children’s books and publishing, twentieth-century French history, history and art, and translation studies.

98% of our modern language and linguistic research was classed as world leading, internationally excellent or internationally recognised, which feeds into your learning (Research Excellence Framework, 2014 - Modern Languages and Linguistics.)

You can study French on its own, or in combination with another language, or with another subject, such as English, History, International Relations or Management.

In each year you will study a French language module (starting from beginner’s, intermediate or advanced level in the first year, and achieving near-native fluency in the final year). Alongside the language module, you will take a number of cultural modules (the exact number of cultural modules you can take depends on whether you are studying French on its own, or in combination with another language or another subject). Examples of current modules include:

  • Introduction to French Culture
  • The Making of Modern France
  • Global French Life-stories
  • How to Think in French
  • The First World War: Then and Now
  • Introduction to French children’s literature
  • French Popular Music
  • Philanthropy à la française
  • The French Caribbean: Language, Literature and Identity
  • French Language for Management & Business

You will spend up to a year in a French-speaking country, studying at a university, working on a placement, or as a British Council language assistant in a school. This enables you to immerse yourself in the culture and develop your language to a high level. The core language module in the second year will prepare you for your time abroad, equipping you with the skills and knowledge required to work and live in a different culture. There is also the option to study for a degree in modern languages, inclusive of a year abroad, while at the same time training to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), a qualification that will enable you to teach in secondary schools in England and Wales after your degree.

By the time you graduate, you can expect to be able to write and speak fluently in French. Well-qualified linguists are in short supply in the UK, so there has never been a better time to study a modern language.

You will gain numerous transferable skills in research, analysis, presenting and group working, and will receive careers advice and CV workshops to enhance your career prospects. Studying or working abroad provides evidence of self-reliance, adaptability and enterprise, making you highly attractive to employers, as demonstrated by 94% of graduates from the Department of Languages and Cultures being in work or further study six months after graduating (DLHE survey, 2016-17. This data is for the department as a whole.)

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About the department

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I immensely enjoyed studying French at the University of Reading. Every person I came across in the French Department was friendly, supportive and encouraging.

Karl Turner
BA French and German

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