French

Bienvenue à King’s!

The French Language and Literature Program at King’s is designed to foster an appreciation of the various literatures and cultures of la Francophonie as well as to develop a variety of skills that will serve you well in the future. We offer a range of language and literature courses to help you hone your language, communication, and research skills.

Our small classes provide an excellent opportunity for you to interact with your classmates and your professors. 

  • Being able to speak French will open up career opportunities in teaching, business, government agencies as well as in many other sectors.
  • Our students have the opportunity to spend the third year of their French program at the Université Catholique de Lille. Studying abroad can be a life-changing experience, a chance to see the world, to make new friends, and to learn to appreciate cultural differences.
  • We have a free tutoring service for students having difficulties with French grammar or composition.
  • Every year, two graduate students from the Université Catholique de Lille will help you improve your pronunciation and conversation skills in the language lab.
  • You can join in extra-curricular activities such as French film nights and casual drop-in conversation hours to further enhance your French experience at King’s.

Why study French at university?

  • It’s one of Canada’s other official language
  • Learn to communicate effectively
  • Develop your critical skills
  • Broaden your cultural horizons
  • Give yourself an edge when applying for a job

French is the first language of about a quarter of Canada’s population. While the majority of these francophones live in Québec, substantial French-speaking minorities can be found in other provinces, such as New Brunswick (a third of the population) and Ontario (half a million Franco-Ontarians). Given this demographic situation, proficiency in Canada’s two official languages, French and English, is an undeniable asset in today’s job market.

University students today know that the world awaiting them after graduation is much different from the world of their parents’ generation. Globalization, downsizing and rapid technological change have radically altered the career landscape. Faced with these challenges, students are perhaps more concerned now than ever about making the right choices in their education. One of these choices is French at the university level. If you are looking for an exciting, varied and challenging program allowing you to combine literature with language, consider a program in French. If your main interests lie elsewhere, you can easily add French as a valuable component to your degree.

For Ontario high school students a minimum 80% final entrance average is required. Averages are calculated on the top six 4U or 4M credits including English 4U.

College transfer students are required to have a minimum cumulative average of "B" or better in an acceptable one-year certificate (General Arts and Sciences, Pre-Health Science, Human Services Foundation) or completed diploma. College transfer students may earn up to a maximum of five transfer credits. Individual courses must have a minimum achievement of 60% to be considered for transfer credit.

King’s projects a minimum 65% for admission for students transferring from another Canadian University. A maximum of ten transfer credit may be granted. Individual courses must have a minimum achievement of 60% to be considered for transfer credit.

Programs Offered

What French course should I take?

King’s offers a wide range of courses from beginners to advanced levels in language, literature, and translation.

In order to help you correctly choose your French course, we offer the following as a guide:

If you have completed:

  • 12U French → French 1910
  • 11U French → French 1010

If you have never studied French, or have 

  • less than 11U French → French 1004

You must contact the French Coordinator for appropriate placement if you have demonstrably higher ability or have done the prerequisite course more than three years ago or if your experience falls outside of the categories above.

Course descriptions:

French 1910: First-year university French

French 1910 is a first-year university-level French course intended for students who wish to consolidate and to develop their knowledge of the French language. The course is open to students who have Grade 12U high school French or equivalents such as immersion or the course French 1010, or who have permission of the Department of Modern Languages. The course is given entirely in French.

French 1910 covers all aspects of language training systematic grammar review, reading for comprehension, writing and composition, and oral practice. Classroom time is divided between the study of French grammar and practice in oral and written expression based on texts prepared beforehand. Students also spend one hour per week in the computerized language laboratory or in a conversation group where they work with the language teaching assistants from Lille, France. 

French 1010: Intermediate French

French 1010 is an intermediate French course intended for students who have completed
French 1002 or grade 10 or 11 French at the secondary school level. Students who complete French 1010 will have the equivalent of grade 12 French (or the former OAC French), which is the prerequisite for French 1910 (first-year university French).

French 1010 focuses on the development of oral, aural, and writing skills. Classroom time is devoted to the study of French grammar, written exercises, regular readings, and individual and group oral communication in French on various topics relative to life in different Francophone milieux. Students also spend one hour per week in the computerized language laboratory or in a conversation group where they work with the language teaching assistants from Lille, France. 

French 1004: Intensive Beginners’ French

French 1004 is a course intended for students who have little or no knowledge of French. Students who complete French 1004 will have a level of competency approximately equivalent to the level of mid-secondary school.

French 1004 focuses on the development of basic oral, aural, and writing skills. Classroom time is devoted to a variety of activities including readings, the study of grammatical construction, and discussion in French on a variety of topics such as the family, daily activities, personality and physical description, employment, food, drink, travel, etc. Students also spend one hour per week in the computerized language laboratory or in a conversation group where they work with the language teaching assistants from Lille, France. 

What can I do with a degree in French?

Almost anything!

Students often choose to do a degree in French with one of the following career goals in mind:

  • Teaching in schools (after completing a B.Ed. degree following the B.A.)
  • Teaching in colleges and universities (after graduate studies: M.A., Ph.D)
  • Translation and interpretation (usually after specialized training following the B.A.)

But there are many other types of careers for which university studies in French can prepare you:

  • Civil service: positions with federal, provincial, and municipal governments
  • Advertising
  • Publishing
  • Radio and television broadcasting
  • Law
  • Journalism
  • Sales
  • Graphic arts and printing
  • Import-export
  • Information management in libraries, business and industry
  • Fund-raising
  • Financial planning
  • Transportation: airlines, railways, bus companies 
  • Banking 
  • Travel, tourism and hospitality
  • Insurance
  • Audio-visual production
  • Telecommunications
  • Secretarial and administrative services

Approximate Costs

Fee details and schedules are available at www.kings.uwo.ca/fee-schdules/

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