French Stage 1

With French and English being the only languages spoken on all five continents, it’s no wonder French is the second most studied and the fifth most spoken language in the world. Learning French is a smart investment: with 750 million people expected to speak it by 2050, it is one of the fastest growing languages. French is essential to boost your global employability: it is both a working language and an official language of many governmental and non-governmental organisations such as United Nations, the European Union, UNESCO and NATO. Many multinational companies and international courts also use it daily.

Our teachers are highly qualified and experienced native speakers. They will support you through individual surgery hours and you will have access to the Language Resources Centre speaking practice and workshops.

This module will enable you to:

• Introduce yourself and others
• Ask and answer questions about personal details, things, and people you know
• Understand French and interact in simple ways: write short messages, order in a café or boulangerie, ask and find your way in the streets of Paris, Québec, or Abidjan!

By the end of the module you will be able to:

• Communicate in everyday situations using the four language skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing at a basic level
• Have a basic grammatical knowledge and range of vocabulary
• Understand and use familiar everyday expressions and high-frequency vocabulary in predictable situations
• Read, assess and analyse short, simple texts
• Produce short, simple texts, e.g., writing an email
• Have basic intercultural awareness to understand simple references to common aspects of the culture, everyday life, and current issues in the country/countries where French is spoken
• Objectively compare aspects of the new culture to your own using the tools of intercultural learning.

The standard entry requirements comprise:

• A 2:2 honours degree or international equivalent,
• A CV and personal statement outlining your reasons for study, and
• English language band D (for example, IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each skill).

You will be assessed via examination, as follows:

• An oral Exam will take place online during Revision Week 2 (22-25 April 2025) = 40%
• A written Exam will take place in person during Assessment Period 2 (28 April-30 May 2025) = 60%

This is an on-campus module. The general approach to all King’s Language Centre classes is communicative - the language is dealt with in social situations and you are encouraged to participate as much as possible. To support independent study and to encourage contact with the culture of the language you are learning, you will have access to a wide variety of materials in the Language Resources Centre (LRC). Free speaking practice sessions with a native speaker, and a wide range of workshops are offered during the academic year to enhance your learning experience.

Teaching will be delivered via weekly 2-hour tuition sessions over 20 weeks, covering two semesters. Teaching will take place in person on campus. You will be expected to spend approximately 4-6 hours per week in self-study, including homework, speaking practice, and interactive exercises.

This module is offered as part of our flexible master’s awards in Professional Development. The awards are one of the most flexible currently offered in the UK, providing the opportunity to study a range of modules from across King’s, both on-campus and online. Whether you are looking for a promotion or to retrain, you have come to the right place.

Designed for mature professionals juggling life and work commitments, our postgraduate awards will enable you to study at your own pace. In challenging financial times, you are also able to fund your studies module-by-module. We will support you to select the right module diet that meets your objectives while ensuring that you are well prepared for success. We will also help you to build your professional network of peers from across our suite of CPD modules.

We can’t wait for you to continue your lifelong learning journey here at King’s.