French MA (Hons)

In the first two years of your degree (known as sub-honours) you will take the required modules in French along with modules in at least one additional subject.

Typically, you will take one French module per semester in first year and between one and three French modules during second year. You will take at least two French modules per semester during your third and fourth year (known as Honours).

1st Year

Students are required to take the following compulsory modules in their first year:

• French Language and Literature 1: develops the language skills of post A-Level/Higher entrants and offers them a grounding in the literary and cultural tradition in France.
• French Language and Literature 2: promotes grammatical competence as well as written and spoken comprehension and production. You will be taught how to read French literary texts in their socio-cultural background and develop basic skills of literary criticism.

Students are required to take the following compulsory modules in their second year:

• Second Level French Language 1: consolidates and extends the analytical and linguistics skill acquired at first level.
• Second Level French Language 2: develops skills in spoken, aural and written French for a variety of academic and communication purposes and in different cultural contexts.

You will also take a choice of at least two modules on French literature and/or civilisation from the middle ages to the present.

Honours

If you take French in your third and fourth years, you will choose from a variety of advanced options which incorporate literary, historical and cultural studies into language learning. Modules at Honours level offered in previous years have included (but are not limited to):

• Consumerism in Modern France
• Creative Writing
• French Classical Period
• Politics and Propaganda in Medieval France
• Politics, Culture and Society of the Fifth Republic
• Translation Methodology.

In fourth year, students have the option of undertaking a dissertation of 5,000 or 10,000 words, written in French, on a topic of their choice. This independent project enables you to develop key research skills which are desired by both prospective employers and by graduate schools offering postgraduate degrees.