French and the French-speaking world

France holds a prominent political position within Europe, which has only grown stronger since Brexit. It also serves as 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, not only can you enhance yourr proficiency in French, but also delve into the recent history and culture the Francophone 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.

The courses of this minor are taught in French and are open for students who have a at least a 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.

Read more about this minor and the courses you can take.

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.”