French (JH)

Overview

Why study French?

French is a major world language, and an official working language of many international organisations (UN, OECD, and NATO, to name a few) and plays a decisive role in world affairs. Knowledge of French opens a world of opportunities to those who study it.

In 2018, Ireland became an observer member of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), the international cultural and economic cooperation body for the French-speaking world, thereby recognising the importance of French in the post-Brexit EU and the economic possibilities that exist beyond the English-speaking world.

French has a rich cultural, literary, and intellectual heritage. You will find studying French enjoyable and rewarding if you have a passion for a language, French culture, French and European history, politics and thought, literature in all its forms, cinema, and drama.

You may also learn French at Trinity by opting for one of the multidisciplinary, non-literary degree programmes: European Studies (with French and another language), Middle Eastern and European Languages and Cultures (with French), Business Studies and French, Law and French, and Computer Science and Language (French).

Do you enjoy…

• Reading and discussing literature?
• Reflecting on history, politics and philosophy?
• Learning to speak and write in a foreign language and interacting with different cultures?

French: The course for you?

If you are fascinated by how other languages and cultures offer a different perspective on the world, French at Trinity could well be the course for you. You will enjoy studying French here if you have a passion for novels, cinema, drama, poetry, literature in all its forms – and if you want to develop your ability to think critically. If you are interested in French and European history, politics and thought, and if you would like to experience French culture first-hand by living and studying in France, then Trinity’s Joint Honours degree programmes in French are for you.

French at Trinity

• You will study French language to an advanced level in a small group setting.
• You will explore and engage with the cultural, literary, social and political diversity of France and the French-speaking world.
• You will have a life-changing opportunity to study abroad.
• You will develop linguistic abilities, intercultural competencies and critical thinking skills for a competitive advantage in the job market.

In-depth study of languages has never been more relevant. As Artificial Intelligence (AI) makes it easier for companies and organisations to establish contact with foreign partners, further advancing globalisation, there is an increased need for high-level multilingual staff who can manage international teams, take legal responsibility for translations, and conduct multicultural negotiations. Ever advancing AI may indeed replace a basic command of a foreign language but highly fluent critical thinkers are, and will remain, in ever higher demand.

Graduate skills and career opportunities

Independent thinking and critical analysis skills, advanced linguistic abilities, intercultural communication competencies, and advanced research and presentation skills are just a few of core competencies which a degree in French will help you develop and expand.

Graduates follow a wide range of careers all over the world. While a limited number of these build directly on a specialised knowledge of subjects studied, more commonly it is the general intellectual and personal skills developed which prove to be of most obvious value to employers. Some graduates also go on to take postgraduate courses in areas such as law, marketing and business for which a degree in arts and humanities provides an ideal background.

Our recent graduates are working in areas as diverse as diplomacy, tourism, publishing, investment banking, second- level teaching, the Civil Service, arts administration, translation and interpreting. Graduates have secured careers in Google, eBay, Christian Louboutin, The Abbey Theatre, Amazon, the British Institute in Florence, the Museum of Modern Art in New York or the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris..

Your degree and what you’ll study

Pathways 

At entry, French must be combined with one other subject. In later years, you will be able to select additional subjects and electives. The pathways available for study are Single Honours, Major with Minor and Joint Honours in French. Please see page 30 for further information.

First and second years

The programme in first years will cover three main areas:

• French language: you will advance fluency in reading, writing, speaking and listening, and build the foundation for studying abroad.
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  French literature from the Renaissance to the contemporary period and covering poetry, theatre, cinema and the novel.
• French and francophone history and society (first year); French ideas and politics; French linguistics (second year).
   

Third and fourth years 

You will combine advanced language study and a wide range of module choices, allowing you to choose options that reflect your own interests. Options range from study of Renaissance and Enlightenment writing to Romantic and Modern French literature; from French and francophone society and identity to French critical theory, philosophy and cinema. In your final year, you will research and write a Capstone project in English or French on a subject of your choice in consultation with a supervisor.

At all levels, you will be assessed by a combination of continuous assessment and exams. We use a mix of formal examination and continuous assessment. Language modules are traditionally assessed by written, oral and aural examinations.

There are QQI/FET routes available for this course. Please see www.cao.ie for details.

Click here for further information on modules/subjects.

Study abroad

Immersing yourself in the language and culture is also one of the most valuable ways of achieving fluency and getting to know about the people, politics, history and culture when you are studying a language. A year or semester studying abroad will be one of the highlights of your experience as Trinity languages student. For students of French we have exchange agreements with universities in Paris (Paris 3 Sorbonne Nouvelle), Lumière University Lyon 2, Bordeaux-Montaigne and Orléans.

Single Honours students spend an exciting third year of study abroad (compulsory), joint honours students can choose to spend a year or a semester in their third year in one of our partner universities. At a minimum, you will be required to spend two months in a French speaking country during the course of your studies.  For more information on study abroad destinations and requirements visit: www.tcd.ie/global/mobility