French Upper Intermediate (full syllabus)

This challenging but fulfilling course will help you progress from competent French speaker in everyday communication, to a level of fluency where you feel comfortable participating in debates, discussions and giving short presentations.

During discussions in the virtual French intermediate lessons you’ll be asked to develop a line of arguments, debate your point and justify your choices.

There is also time to explore topical political and social issues - using learning material such as newspapers, novels, audio and video clips – which will give you an insight into wider French culture.

Over 30-weeks, you’ll advance your skills to communicate at CEFR B2 level.

Who is it for?

You should already be able to communicate at CEFR B1 level of French (approximately 180 hours of prior learning). You may have completed our French lower intermediate syllabus or have French A-level. The eligibility section below has more information.

Timetable

The course includes 60 hours of learning and is taught across three terms, starting in October and finishing in July.

October – December (Part 1)

One evening per week (two-hour lessons) for 10 consecutive weeks.

Christmas Break

January – March (Part 2)

One evening per week (two-hour lessons) for 10 consecutive weeks.

Easter break

April/May – July (Part 3)

One evening per week (two-hour lessons) for 10 consecutive weeks.

Benefits

• The most cost-effective way of learning the full upper intermediate syllabus
• Develop confidence to take part in discussions and debates; and present to others in French
• Small group sizes, with tailored learning
• Highly skilled native French tutors, specialising in adult learning.

This course will teach you to have fun and use creativity with the language. The topics below give guidance on the types of subjects studied.

By the end of this course you will be able to

• speak fluently on prepared topics and vocabulary
• talk about the future and make hypotheses
• give notions of time and duration
• express enthusiasm, indifference and dislikes, with an enriched and expanded vocabulary
• express intention, judgement and opinions
• justify choices, approve and disapprove
• talk about French social current affairs, the education system and modern French society
• use advanced vocabulary when travelling
• understand the views and stories of expatriates
• handle scenarios involved in moving abroad
• talk in detail about health and the environment
• discuss news and current affairs with a comparative approach
• write letters and emails expressing disappointment and disagreement
• use vocabulary and expressions when comparing, disagreeing and expressing intention
• use argumentation – developing a critical point of view on a topic.

Grammatical structures

• revision of all tenses, including present, future, conditional, perfect and imperfect
• basic subjunctive present, key phrases
• pronouns: possessive, simple relative pronouns qui/que/où/dont
• more complex interrogative structures
• comparative and superlative; adverbs
• restriction: ne…que
• conditional and past conditional
• subjunctive present
• consolidation of space and time connectors
• advanced composed relative pronouns
• impersonal forms and passive sentences
• subjunctive use and irregular constructions
• word order with adverbs, in negative sentences
• pronouns: en, y, demonstratives, interrogatives
• prepositions after certain verbs
• adverbs: consolidation and adding layers in complex structures such as subjunctive, irregular constructions, and imperative.

You will be awarded an official City, University of London certificate on completion of the course. You must attend over 70 per cent of the classes to be eligible for the certificate.

There is no formal assessment, but you will be expected to complete weekly exercises in your own time. You will also need to prepare in advance to give short presentations or participate in group discussions.

Teaching

This course focuses on improving oral and written fluency, and the skills needed to think on your feet. Discussions and debates will help give a level of intricacy to your language skills.

Small group sizes mean the topics can be tailored according to needs and class progress.

At this level we use more advanced and complex learning material which relates to current affairs and contemporary social issues, giving a real-world context to your learning. French novels, newspapers, audio and film clips will be used to aid teaching.

It is the right level if you:

• have completed our full French Lower Intermediate syllabus, or equivalent course elsewhere
• can communicate at B1 level, according to the Common European Framework of languages
• have a A-level in French
• have studied French formally for around 180 hours.

You should already know:

• of the subjunctive, the use of gerunds and since/for/during
• how to speak on most daily topics
• how to understand the content of newspapers.

English requirements

You will need a good level of spoken and written English to enrol on this course.