The French studies program reflects the nature of French as a global language. The program offers a broad education in the humanities, recognising the need to developing core competencies while encouraging student choice. Students will develop through its core sequence a high level of communicative competence in the French language, including translation skills, as well as critical understanding of fundamental areas of French studies: literature, film, cultural studies, philosophy, politics and social sciences. Students will be able to pursue their interest through electives in these various fields should they wish to. Students will also be able to choose from credit bearing study tours (New Caledonia), a wide-range of targeted international study options in francophone institutions as well as a series of internships in a French speaking environment both in Australia and in the francophone speaking world (France & South Pacific region).
French can be studied from introductory level up to a level of near-native language competence (French Advanced 4). The French studies program has three entry points, each comprising a first and second semester (July) unit. To ensure that students are placed in the most appropriate level according to their individual profile and the best outcome they can expect to achieve, all students, except beginners, are required to undertake placement testing prior to the start of their first semester (February) of language study. For information on accessing, completing and returning placement tests, see the French studies program enrolment information page.
Right of school to determine entry level and approve accelerated enrolment
The French studies program convenor retains the right to determine the proper proficiency level for any particular student. Students are not permitted to accelerate their enrolment without first consulting the program convenor, nor can they elect to take classes that are below their proficiency level.
Students wishing to enrol in a language unit higher than introductory need to complete a language entry level test to determine the language level they should be enrolled in.
Overseas Study
Students are strongly encouraged to undertake 12 to 24 points of study at a partner university in France or the francophone world as part of their undergraduate studies The exchange program includes exchange agreements with the University of Lyon III, the University of Paris III University of Tours, the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris, and the University of New Caledonia allowing for semester-length study overseas.
There is also the possibility for summer semester study overseas outside the exchange program, especially for students who begin their French studies at entry point 1 or 2. For detailed information see the French studies program study abroad web page. In order to plan their overseas study component, students should seek advice from the program as early as possible in their studies. Written approval must be obtained from the program before enrolling.
Grants for study overseas are available through Monash Abroad, to which applications should be addressed.
Internships
Students can also incorporate an internship placement in their major. For detailed information regarding these internships, students should contact the internship coordinator as soon as possible and must obtain written approval from the French studies program convenor before enrolling.
Availability
French studies is listed in A2000 Bachelor of Arts at Clayton as a major and a minor, and in A0501 Diploma of Languages at Clayton as a major.
Outcomes
In addition to achieving the broad outcomes of their course, students successfully completing this major will have experienced global immersion in a French speaking environment through an overseas study component or an internship placement, or both. They will have acquired invaluable inter-cultural competencies, professional experience and working knowledge of the French speaking world which should place them in good stead in the future career of their choice.
Students will be able to:
- analyse the structure and understand the context of authentic, formal and complex language
- read and translate or interpret a range of French for social and professional use
- draw upon a sophisticated and detailed awareness of a range of important themes and/or sets of texts relating to modern French and francophone culture in their historical context from a selection of genres
- respond to these texts critically in written and spoken French
- use mostly discipline-specific language and appropriate genre to demonstrate knowledge and understanding within a field from a scholarly perspective and for a specified audience.