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Cost: £430
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Overview - French (all levels)
These ten-week online evening courses are open to everyone and will help you to communicate effectively in French.
You'll learn French as it's spoken in everyday situations and develop your reading, writing, listening and speaking skills.
Two-hour classes are held once a week on weekday evenings from 5pm or 7pm, depending on the class/level.
Courses are taught at various levels, from complete beginner to proficiency. You can start at any level (if you meet the entry requirements) and you'll be able to progress to the next level after ten weeks.
These courses are run by the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education (CLIE).
What you'll learn (by level)
- Levels 1 & 1+ - Beginners French
These courses will help you function at a basic everyday survival level (basic vocabulary, grammar, morphology, syntax and phonetics).
You'll be introduced to various language learning skills, including autonomous learning and how to approach some authentic material. Some transferable skills will also be covered.
On completing both levels you'll be able to communicate in and understand French on a number of practical everyday matters.
Detailed course content can be found on the CLIE website.
- Levels 2 & 2+ - Lower Intermediate French
These courses will give you the opportunity to revise your existing skills and acquire more sophisticated ways of dealing with practical matters. This includes revision and consolidation of vocabulary, grammar, morphology, syntax and phonetics.
You'll develop your language learning skills, including how to approach authentic material, and your cultural awareness.
On completing both levels you'll be able to communicate in and understand French on many practical everyday matters relating to various aspects of French culture.
Detailed course content can be found on the CLIE website.
- Levels 3 & 3+ - Upper Intermediate French
These courses will help you to communicate and interact at an intermediate level and further develop your skills and knowledge of French language and culture.
You'll further develop your cultural awareness through an extended use of authentic material.
You'll also further enhance your language learning skills, including autonomous learning.
On completing these two levels, you'll be able to converse reasonably fluently with native speakers and discuss personal, social and current issues using appropriate structures.
Detailed course content can be found on the CLIE website.
- Levels 4 & 4+ - Advanced French
These courses will help those with an advanced knowledge of French to become more fluent in the language.
You'll learn how to express yourself with more complex and linguistically accurate structures (different types of discourses, registers etc…).
Your cultural awareness will be further developed and raised within a European/global context. Your language learning skills and ability to approach authentic material will be further enhanced.
On completing these two levels you'll be able to communicate in all situations within French speaking countries, converse with native speakers and be able to follow discussions and debates on current issues (world wide).
Detailed course content can be found on the CLIE website.
- Levels 5 & 5+ - Post Advanced French
These courses are designed to help advanced-level students to become as fluent as possible in French.
You'll improve your command of topic-related vocabulary and ability to vary your style according to the situation.
You'll practice your linguistic skills through a variety of activities (debates, games, oral comprehension etc.).
Your cultural awareness will be further developed and some transferable skills will be covered.
On completing these two levels you'll be able to follow any debate, discussion or conversation as well as communicate in all situation using complex and linguistically accurate structures (different types of discourses, registers etc.).
Detailed course content can be found on the CLIE website.
- Proficiency - French
This course is designed those who are fluent in French to practice their linguistic skills.
You'll practice your language skills through a variety of activities (debates, games, oral comprehension etc.)
The main emphasis will be on conversation and group discussions with the extensive use of authentic materials.
The syllabus is quite flexible and various topics may be studied, depending on the group's interests (i.e. contemporary literary extracts, science, new technologies, cinema and art exhibitions, corporate life).
On completing this course you'll be able to use your language skills in social and professional environments and follow any debate, discussion or conversation.
You'll also be able to use complex and linguistically accurate structures (different types of discourses, registers etc.).
Detailed course content can be found on the CLIE website.
Full details of the courses syllabi are available on the CLIE website.
Who these courses are for
CLIE language courses are open to everyone aged 18 years and above. Classes are usually made up of a wide range of ages and professions, with various motivations for learning.
Entry requirements
Unless you're a complete beginner, or re-enrolling, you may need to take an assessment so you can join a class at the most appropriate level.
Assessments involve an informal conversation with a tutor and should take no longer than 15 minutes. See the CLIE website for more information.
- Levels 1 & 1+ (beginners) - suitable if you have no previous knowledge of French
- Levels 2 & 2+ (lower intermediate) - suitable if you've studied French before, for instance up to GCSE level, and have some knowledge of the main present and past tenses
- Levels 3 & 3+ (upper intermediate) - suitable if you have a good basic knowledge of French or have studied it at A level some years ago. You should be able to give instructions and describe events, talk about the future and have a basic knowledge of the conditional and subjunctive
- Levels 4 & 4+ (advanced) - suitable if you have a good command of French and its main grammatical structures or have recently achieved a good grade at A level
- Levels 5 & 5+ (post-advanced) - suitable if you're able to use French with a high degree of fluency and accuracy
- Proficiency - suitable if you're able to use French fluently and accurately
Technical requirements
While these courses are being run online, you'll need a:
- laptop or PC
- headset (recommended) or speakers and a microphone
- webcam
- modern browser, upgraded to the latest version (Chrome recommended)
- fast internet connection (we recommend speeds of at least 5 Mbps)
Self-Access Centre and online resources
While enrolled on a CLIE evening course, you'll be able to use the Self-Access Centre, where you can access books, films, documentaries, course videos and audio recordings in a wide variety of languages.
You'll also have access to a range of online resources (e.g. lectures, films, TV documentaries) to help you practise your listening and oral comprehension skills at home.
Dates and enrolment periods
Classes are held once a week on a weekday evening from 5pm to 7pm or 7pm to 9pm, depending on the class/level. You can see the available days and times for different classes when you enrol.
The 10-week courses will run from:
- 9 October to 14 December 2023 (term 1)
- 15 January to 21 March 2024 (term 2)
- 22 April to 37 June 2024 (term 3)
Cost and concessions
The standard fees for external students are:
- one term (10 lessons) - £430
- two terms (20 lessons) - £735
- three terms (30 lessons) - £965
Discounts are available for UCL and University of London (UoL) staff, students and alumni.
Detailed fees information is available on the CLIE website.
CPD accreditation and certificates
This course has been accredited by The CPD Certification Service.
You can request a UCL certificate of attendance on completing at least 70% of the course.
If you're a UCL undergraduate student and complete at least 70% of the course, a Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) can be included in your examination transcript.
Further information
For more detailed information about our language classes, visit the CLIE website.
Course team
Our language teachers
Language teachers at UCL Centre for Languages & International Education are either native speakers, or have native fluency in the languages they teach. They're highly qualified and popular with their students, creating a friendly, stimulating environment for language learning.
"UCL's evening language courses are a great way to brush up on your language skills. The classes are small and lively, with plenty of opportunities to practise speaking and listening."
"Classes are fast-paced, friendly and fun and I'm thrilled with how much they've helped me to progress."
"You are challenged but always encouraged and never made to feel foolish."
"The customs and cultural aspects of a language are useful and interesting to learn about, and something that is difficult to pick up from self-study, online courses, etc."
"The course is more like a place to have fun without any pressures of exams or assessments. Since it is not the aim to pass certain tests, everyone is free to ask any question, have casual conversations and learn what is really useful for real life!"
"Motivating and encouraging teachers; interactive and engaging lessons; emphasis on communication and on the practical use of language. Language classes at CLIE are excellent!"
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Course information last modified: 14 Aug 2023, 16:58