51³Ô¹ÏÍø

Location: South Kensington Campus | Level: C1+

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for learners and professionals with a C1 level or above in French.

If you are unsure this is the right course for you, please contact us for a free language level check.

This is an advanced French conversation and fluency course using contemporary Francophone themes. On it you will improve your fluency and communication while exploring current affairs, culture, and society across the Francophone world to develop advanced language skills.

Each week we will work with authentic materials such as newspaper articles, podcasts, short videos, interviews, artworks and cultural documents, using them as starting points for discussion and language activities. These materials will support observation, interpretation, and debate, while helping us to develop vocabulary and structured expression.

During the course, we will move beyond a France-centred view of the French-speaking world and discover different Francophone perspectives on contemporary topics. This will enable us to learn French terminology linked to many areas, such as society, affairs, media, and culture.

Strong emphasis is placed on speaking. We will practise core speaking skills through discussion, analysis, negotiation and phrasing in order to express ideas clearly and with confidence, and explore how we can convince others of our ideas using French.

Alongside speaking skills, we will continue to improve advanced listening, reading, and writing. Lively, interactive and fun, the aim is to help you use French flexibly and effectively in professional, academic and cultural contexts.

Course term dates

•  Autumn Term: week beginning 12 October 2026 until week ending 11 December 2026

•  Spring Term: week beginning 4 January 2027 until week ending 19 March 2027

For course content and language level enquiries: Contact the French Assistant Coordinator, Laurence Zanier, at l.zanier@imperial.ac.uk

For enrolment and booking enquiries: Contact Christian Jacobi at c.jacobi@imperial.ac.uk

Class recordings

These classes are not recorded.

51³Ô¹ÏÍø certificates

This course has no exams or assessments, so you can focus on enjoying your learning. Regular attendance may also lead to the award of an 51³Ô¹ÏÍø attendance certificate. (T&Cs apply).