The School of Modern Languages aims to develop and educate its students to become ‘global citizens’. France is a major actor on the European and world stage, possessing a rich and sophisticated culture. French is one of the official working languages of the European community and still a global language of culture and diplomacy. By studying French you will gain a wealth of transferable skills and knowledge beneficial to the world of employment, making you competitive and attractive in an increasingly global workforce and opening the doors to a variety of career paths.We offer French for both advanced students and beginners. In terms of language acquisition, this course will enable you to develop your writing, oral and aural skills through a range of learning activities and audio-visual materials. In your first year, in addition to your language tuition, an introduction to French history and culture seeks to provide a solid foundation for more specialised studies as you progress through your course.Your understanding of the language will be further developed and refined during your year abroad, when you will experience life in a French-speaking country at first hand. In the final year, you have the opportunity to write a dissertation, which stimulates initiative and can serve as a useful preparation for postgraduate study. It is important to remember that studying languages is not just about the language itself. It involves exploring many aspects of a country, and we aspire to offer a genuinely broad course that offers challenging and stimulating modules. On completion of this four-year programme, you will have a high level of proficiency in the language, as well as a critical understanding of key aspects of French history, culture, literature, politics and contemporary society. Distinctive featuresthe option to begin your study at either beginner or advanced level (meaning an A-level in your chosen language may not be required) optional modules in film, literature, history of art, politics and historyemphasis on strengthening reading, writing, oral and aural skills through regular classwork exercises, written work, use of video and audio material, and interaction with native speakers (including Erasmus students hosted by the department) core language modules delivered by native speakersthe chance to spend your third year either studying or working in a country that predominantly operates in your chosen language of study