French for Teachers (P.Grad.Cert.)

Overview

Course Overview

French for Teachers is a two-year part-time Postgraduate Diploma programme, starting in September 2025. The programme is structured to provide flexible learning to participants, through a combination of online, pre-recorded, face to face instruction and cultural immersion, designed to accommodate teachers in both full and part-time roles, as well as those based across the country. 

The course allows the teacher participants to develop their language proficiency in French, gaining an in-depth knowledge of French language and culture, and growing their pedagogical expertise. Upon successful completion of the Postgraduate Diploma (P.Grad.Dip.), teacher participants will meet the Teaching Council curricular subject requirements to teach French to Leaving Certificate level.

The programme is fully funded by the Department of Education, however participants are liable for their application and associated testing fees.

Is This Course For Me?

The course is designed for qualified, registered post-primary school teachers in Ireland who are not qualified or registered to teach French as a subject, but have some background in French (A2 CEFR level and above) and wish to become equipped to teach French at the post-primary level.

Career Opportunities

This course will qualify participants to teach French as a subject to Leaving Certificate Level in post-primary schools in Ireland.

Course Structure

The Postgraduate Certificate (P.Grad.Cert.) and Postgraduate Diploma (P.Grad.Dip.) in French for Teachers are designed as linked courses. Successful applicants are admitted directly to the one-year part-time P.Grad.Cert. and progress in Year 2 to the one-year part-time P.Grad.Dip. course.  

​Year 1: Postgraduate Certificate (P.Grad.Cert.) - 1 year part-time, 30 ECTS

​Year 2: Postgraduate Diploma (P.Grad.Dip.) - 1 year part-time, 30 ECTS

Progression to P.Grad.Dip. and registration to teach French with the Teaching Council is dependent on the completion of four weeks of immersive learning in a francophone country.​ If this condition is not satisfied, the student will not graduate with the P.Grad.Dip. in French for Teachers but only with P.Grad.Cert. in French for Teachers on completion of Year 1 (30 ECTS). The P.Grad.Cert. award will not qualify the student to register with the Teaching Council.

Course Content

The Postgraduate Diploma (P.Grad.Dip.) is a flexible part-time programme and the schedule is designed for teachers who are working full-time. Classes will take place primarily online outside of school hours, to enable practicing teachers to attend. There is also a requirement for some in-person workshops outside of school term time. 

The following is an outline of the modules offered and may be subject to change. All modules are mandatory.

Year 1  

1. French Language 1 (Semesters 1 and 2)  

   Through a range of activities, this two-term module provides participants with the linguistic competence necessary to be at a minimum level of B1.2 by the end of Year 1.    

1. France Today (Semester 1)  

   Drawing on key aspects of contemporary French politics and culture, the participants will build linguistic and analytical skills to share with future students.  

1. Language Curriculum and Policy: A Plurilingual Perspective (Semester 1)  

   This module explores the curriculum and policy context for French language teaching and learning in Ireland where the student body in schools has become much more linguistically and culturally diverse over recent years.  

1. France on Screen (Semester 2)  

   This module develops appreciation of France’s contribution to national and international culture through cinema and will equip with the skills to bring French culture to life in the classroom through film.  

1. French Language Pedagogy 1: Planning for Inclusion (Semester 2)  

   The module enables students to explore how people learn languages, specifically French, what methods facilitate developing linguistic and intercultural competence, particularly in a classroom environment, and how to apply this knowledge in activities in diverse classrooms. 

Summer between Y1 and Y2: Funded Immersive Experience

To progress to Year 2, all participants must complete 4 weeks of an immersive learning experience in a francophone partner institution. The experience allows the teacher participants to develop a sense of belonging to a French-language community, particularly through interacting with native speakers of French. Funding and details of appropriate immersive experiences will be provided.

Year 2  

1. French Language 2 (Semesters 1 and 2)  

Through a range of activities, this two-term module provides participants with the linguistic competence necessary to be at a minimum level of B2.2 by the end of Year 2.  

1. The Francophone World (Semester 1)  

This module develops participants’ understanding of the history of the francophone world and its changing social context.  

1. Français langue étrangère: research, pedagogy and practice (Semesters 1 and 2)  

This module interrogates the research evidence base in FLÉ (Francais Langue Étrangère) to integrate the learning across language and culture modules in order to design for lessons that optimise opportunities for meaningful language use and communication in the classroom context.

1. Literature and Society (Semester 2)

This module explores the important role of the French in literary history and how French speaking authors have engaged with shifting historical and social contexts across poetry, stage and text.  

Course Fees

The programme is fully funded by the Department of Education, however participants are liable for their application and associated testing fees.