French plays an important role in Canada. As one of the country's official languages, French is used in government, business, education, culture, and all aspects of everyday life. French is used in the francophone world more broadly, too, not only in France but also elsewhere in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Start learning this powerful language or build upon your knowledge.
Trent offers a major in French Studies, and you may choose to enter this program if you have the equivalent of Grade 12 4U/M French from an Ontario secondary school. It is also possible to enter the major (or minor) in French Studies by upgrading your French in your first year, depending on your background.
The TCLL offers French at three different levels: complete beginners, elementary, and intermediate. See the Course Listing for complete details of these courses, as well as other courses in French language, literature, and culture.
FREN 1010H is a course for complete beginners, designed especially for students from outside Canada who have had no exposure to French.
FREN 1020H and 1030H (1000Y) are for students with some French from secondary school, but not beyond Grade 10. Students with credit for 3U/M or 4U/M French, or equivalent, cannot take these courses.
FREN 1040H and 1050H are for students who have completed FREN 1002H/1030H or 1000Y or who have Grade 11 or 12 French (3U/M or 4U/M or equivalent) and who wish to refine their skills or refresh their knowledge of the language.
A placement test is required to enter any of the courses above. When you attempt to register in one of these courses as your first Trent French courses, you will be given instructions in how to take the test. Registration in the recommended courses for those with Grade 12 U/M French (FREN 1101H and 1102H) does not require the placement test, and these courses are open to major and non-majors alike.
All of our French-language courses stress the development of both oral and written skills and make extensive use of multimedia teaching and learning approaches.