French
Bonjour et bienvenue!
Welcome to French Studies in the School of Modern Languages and Applied Linguistics
French has been a cornerstone subject at University of Limerick since its foundation in 1972. We have a long-standing tradition of teaching all aspects of French and Francophone studies - including language, culture, history, literature and politics - through the medium of French from first year onwards. This level-appropriate practice has been complemented in recent years by the introduction of an ab-initio (beginners) stream. Whether starting with prior knowledge of the language or as pure beginners, our students develop strong linguistic proficiency alongside a deep understanding of the cultures associated with the French language, skills which are highly transferable to a wide variety of professional settings.
Research expertise in our section spans a rich and diverse range of interests. These include 20th and 21st century French and Francophone Literature; Cinema and Visual Studies; Feminist and Gender Studies; Critical and Cultural Theories; Translation and Interpreting Studies, Intercultural Communication and Multilingualism; French Language Teaching and New Technologies; Linguistics and Sociolinguistics. Our research directly informs our teaching across all modules and programmes, which are continuously updated to reflect the latest developments in these fields.
Our students benefit from a supportive, dynamic learning environment characterised by small and medium-sized class groups, a close working relationship with both their instructors and their peers, and the opportunity to engage in a wealth of subject-related extracurricular activities, including our UL French choir, the Choix Goncourt book club, the annual intervarsity Joutes oratoires (competitive debating) teams, language exchanges, film screenings, discussion groups and games sessions.
WHAT CAREERS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ME IF I STUDY FRENCH?
Language graduates get good jobs as, by studying French, you acquire a whole range of skills that can be applied to a great variety of professions. In particular, you will have very good communication skills, which are highly valued by employers. Learning a language gives you another way of looking at, analysing and interpreting the world, so you are automatically more attractive to potential employers. As a result, language graduates can choose from a variety of careers and professions, for example:
- teaching (not just second level, but also professional language training)
- the public service (because you have shown language learning potential you may be recruited to learn another language)
- tourism
- international business (marketing, finance, personnel), translating, localising and interpreting
- the media and information industry
We look forward to welcoming you to our School! Venez nous rejoindre à UL!
The French Section
Follow us on Instagram: @french_UL
What our students say:
"I really appreciate how supportive, reassuring and helpful the lecturers and tutors are.” Annabel, Bachelor of Arts
"I hadn’t studied French before, but I realised how widely it’s spoken and the opportunities it opens. That’s what inspired me to start as a beginner." Faye, Bachelor of Arts
Courses in which you can study French
LM044 - BA in Applied Languages
LM002 - Bachelor of Arts
LM040 - BA in European Studies
LM029 - Bachelor of Laws (Law Plus)
LM050 - Bachelor of Business Studies with French
LM056 - BA International Business
LM039 - Journalism and Digital Communication
LM091 - Bachelor of Education in Languages
LM133 – BA in Contemporary Dance
LM134 - BA in Voice
Contact
Dr Cecilia Benaglia
Associate Professor of French / Section Leader
Tel: +353 61 213174
Email: Cecilia.Benaglia@ul.ie
