French and the French-speaking world

French is a global language. It is spoken on every continent and serves as an official language for many international organizations (NATO, UN, WHO). In this minor, you improve your language skills, study French from a linguistic perspective, and immerse yourself in the rich global Francophone culture and literature.

France holds a prominent political position within Europe, which has only grown stronger since Brexit. It is also an important trading partner for the Netherlands. At the same time, French is a true global language, granting access to a multitude of cultures and rich literary traditions. The French language counts over 320 million speakers across all continents. This number continues to rise, particularly in African countries that are becoming increasingly important players in the global economy.

Within this minor program, you can enhance your proficiency in French and delve into the recent history and culture of the French-speaking world, from Canada to the Maghreb and the Caribbean. You have the flexibility to shape your own program by choosing a specialization course focusing on French culture, linguistics, or literature.

This minor is scheduled in semester 1.

Minor
Course	EC
Langue française (intermédiaire)	10
Francophonies et littératures francophones	10
Le français dans le monde : introduction à la linguistique française	5
Culture et société contemporaine (des ‘Trente Glorieuses’ à aujourd'hui)	5
Littérature de la Renaissance aux Lumières	5
Séminaire pratique : Le Français des Affaires	5

Course overview

View the online prospectus here.

Related master programmes

MA Literary Studies (French)
MA Modern Languages (French)
Educatieve Master Frans

Admission and application

The courses of this minor are taught in French and are open for students who have a at least an A2/B1 level of French (equivalent to the level that is reached after about 6 years of French at secondary school). Students with a high level of French proficiency (B2 or higher/(near) native) can contact the coordinator of studies to discuss which courses they could take instead of the language proficiency course that is part of this program.

Jesse Bodaar

student

“During the minor French and the French-speaking World, you will not only dive into the French language but also into the contexts in which it is used. In just one semester, you will learn how to make yourself understood, but you will also discover why French is spoken in so many places around the world and what the consequences of this widespread use are. So, you won’t just be memorizing vocabulary—you will truly broaden your horizons.”