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Why choose French at Carleton

Carleton, c’est aussi le français à l’université.

The Ottawa-Gatineau region is a great place to learn and live in French. Whether you’re just starting out, or you’re already bilingual, Carleton University’s French department can help you get to where you want to go with the language. Students learn to communicate with confidence, reflect deeply, and express themselves clearly in French. You’ll feel part of a welcoming community of learners in small, supportive, and inclusive classes. French at Carleton offers free tutoring sessions for improving spoken and written French, cultural outings, and opportunities for courses and exchanges in Québec and in Europe.

The Bilingual Advantage

Become bilingual and discover the francophone world from a variety of critical perspectives. The Department of French offers a comprehensive approach to French Studies, geared to the interests and needs of both English and French speakers. Students can choose from a wide range of culturally grounded language courses, addressing all levels and targeting both oral and written proficiency. They can also engage in the critical study of French linguistics and French literatures through a structured sequence of courses spanning introductory classes and special topics.

French Programs for a Variety of Interests

French programs at Carleton meet a variety of needs and interests. They include a four-year Bachelor of Arts (Honours) with a focus on either French Linguistics or francophone literatures, a Combined Honours program for students interested in combining their studies in French with another discipline, and a Bachelor of Arts program usually completed in three years. A Combined Honours program in Journalism and French is available to students in the Bachelor of Journalism program. Our Department also offers a minor in French and French language courses as electives or to fill language requirements in other programs.

“After having taken courses with several French teachers outside of Carleton, I can confidently say that the FREN1100 course I took here was one of, if not the best I’ve had! My professor really helped instill in me a love for the language: learning French has now become something of a hobby for me! The department has a wealth of resources and support services on offer, including 1:1 bookable sessions for practicing French with TAs. I really enjoyed the grammar lessons: in particular, the interactive exercises and the dual English/French audio.  The small class sizes allowed for students to get to know each other, and also allowed for some degree of personalisation: my professor was very receptive to student feedback on what we wanted out of the course. 

Thanks to the courses at Carleton, I’m now able to watch (and mostly understand) Youtube videos in French: I feel a sense of pride and fulfillment in being able to use it to communicate in my everyday life! I’m confident that my knowledge of French will open a lot of doors for me, professionally speaking!” 

– Shaun, Bachelor of Computer Science Honours, Industrial Applications Internship

In the Classroom and Beyond…

French studies at Carleton are further enhanced by the academic and cultural activities taking place in the classroom and beyond. Our students benefit from free oral and written French support services, and they can also join the Club francophone to participate in the various activities it organizes. In addition, Carleton University is ideally situated in the bilingual community of Ottawa-Gatineau, where students can experience the vitality of a French-speaking environment.

An Exciting New World of Ideas

Having a good command of French is of course a definite asset for careers in many fields, such as teaching, law, government, management, public relations and international affairs.

Besides being one of Canada’s two official languages, French is also a world language with a rich cultural heritage across Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia, the South Pacific and the Caribbean.  The study of French at Carleton opens an exciting new world of ideas and possibilities.

Skills and Knowledge You May Gain From Your Program

 

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