French as a Foreign Language (FLE)

Foreign students who do not have a French baccalaureate, whether in the Section Internationale Bilingue - SIB - or on a university exchange program (Erasmus or other), are taught French language and culture. This course replaces the compulsory modern language 2 for French-speaking students.

Throughout the academic year, exchange students are offered a 3-hour weekly French course (1.5 ECTS credits/semester).

Three levels are offered: “beginner”, “intermediate” and “advanced”.

Audiovisual and computer resources, as well as a library specialized in FLE, are available to teachers and students. French language learning in the second cycle is based on a traditional course and a self-study system.

How to enroll?

Please contact the Professor in charge of FLE teaching, Mr. Laurent GAILLARD: laurent.gaillard@insa-rouen.fr

Hours of classroom teaching

In the Engineering Science and Technology department (STPI)

Semesters 1 and 2:

  • Beginner group: 3h per week over 30 weeks = 90h
  • Advanced group: 1h30 per week over 30 weeks = 45h

Semesters 3 and 4:

  • Intermediate group: 1h30 per week over 30 weeks = 45h
  • Advanced group: 1h30 per week over 30 weeks = 45h

In an engineering training department

Semesters 5, 6, 7 and 8:

  • for all students: 1h30 per week, i.e. 22h30 per semester.
  • for beginners: an additional 1h30 per week, i.e. 45h per semester.

Self-study teaching method

In the self-study system, the aim is of course to help students progress in French, but also to develop their autonomy.

They must therefore manage and take charge of their learning (self-assessment and self-management). The teacher, who becomes an advisor, will give his or her opinion on how the student is managing his or her progress, and can provide additional solutions if necessary.

This collaboration between student and teacher is highly individualized. After defining the student's specific needs and objectives, the teacher proposes an initial response that the student can adapt and add to as he or she progresses. Communication with the teacher-counsellor takes place by e-mail, and during fortnightly meetings. In this way, the learning process is particularly adapted to students' time constraints, and enables those who have to go away for an internship not to stop learning the language altogether.

The teaching content of the independent learning program is structured around three main areas:

  • colloquial French (oral and written, phase structures, vocabulary, expressions)
  • writing in French (reports, minutes, theses, etc.)
  • manipulating ideas in French: synthesis, note-taking, spontaneous argumentation, reporting, summarizing (oral and written)

Resources

Facilities have been set up to facilitate self-study: the library (where books, magazines, films and records are available) and the Humanities Department's specially equipped publishing room, where you can find:

  • teaching materials (grammars, methods, dictionaries, exercises, etc.)
  • a variety of French-language documents: books, films, audio and video recordings
  • a fully-equipped television
  • computer workstations
  • a special station for pronunciation training.

Part of the work is also based on the INSA Rouen Normandie e-learning platform: http://moodle.insa-rouen.fr/ under “cours communs” then “Français langue étrangère”. Activities related to writing and Internet links are available online.