Program

Instructions for the French Placement Test

The French placement test is designed for students who are planning to take their first Trent French course. Only the following courses require the placement test: 1010H, 1020H, 1030H, 1060H, and 1070H. You do not need the placement test if you wish to take FREN 1101H/1102H. Note that, beginning in 2022-23, FREN 1040H and 1050H have been discontinued, replaced by FREN 1060H (fall) and 1070H (winter).

The test normally has two components: (1) a short online test involving multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank questions; (2) a very brief oral interview with a French instructor to confirm the results of the first component. As of July 27, the oral component is unavailable, and you will be placed in the level suggested by your online test, subject to confirmation by the instructor of your course when classes start.

(1) Online placement test. 

1. Go to the Blackboard dashboard in myTrent (once you have a Trent ID number) and click "Courses" (top menu bar)

2. Under "Course Search" enter "French Language Course Placement Test" in the search box and click "Go"

3. Make sure you select the 2022 version of the course. Under "Course ID," use the drop-down arrow and select "Enroll". 

4. On the prompt for Access Code enter the word "paris" and click Submit.

When you are in the course, go directly to "Module Placement Test" in the left margin and proceed with the test.

Once you have completed the online test, you will be directed back to this page for instructions on the oral interview.

(2) Oral interview. [TEMPORARILY DISCONTINUED FOR FALL 2022]

1. Click on the link below to access the appointment booking system.

2. Select a 5-minute slot that suits your schedule. Note that the interview itself will last only a few minutes; you might have to wait a short time to be admitted to the virtual room.

3. After the interview, you will be told what level you have been placed into.

4. Within 2-3 business days, you will be able to register for the course yourself on myTrent.

Appointments for oral interviews are no longer available for fall courses.  

Click here to book your appointment.

What course should I take?

Interested in pursuing a major in French and Francophone Studies but unsure whether you have the prerequisite or not? Wanting to take French, but not knowing what courses to take? Students without grade 12 (4 U/M) French or equivalent who wish to take their first Trent French course will be asked upon registration to take the French placement test. Instructions on how to find the test will be provided automatically. Questions should be directed to the department.

Here are, for reference only, some of the FSL courses to which you will be directed (results may vary depending on your actual knowledge of French):

1. I have never taken French before.

FREN 1010H – French for Beginners 

Please note that credits for this course do not count towards a degree in French.

2. I have successfully completed Grade 9 or Grade 10 (1 or 2 U/M) French.

FREN 1020H – Intermediate Beginner French I 
FREN 1030H – Intermediate Beginner French II

Please note that credits for these courses do not count towards a degree in French.

3. I have successfully completed Grade 11 (3 or 4 U/M) French, and I would like to take French to improve my skills and then possibly pursue a major.

FREN 1060H – Advanced Beginner French I
FREN 1070H – Advanced Beginner French II

Please note that credits for these courses do not count towards a degree in French.

4. I have successfully completed Grade 12 (4 U/M) French, or equivalent, or FREN 1050H; I would like to pursue a single or joint major, or a minor, in French

FREN 1101H – Introduction aux études françaises / Introduction to French Studies

FREN 1102H – Études françaises dans un environnement canadien / French Studies in a Canadian Environment

Please note that these two courses are required for any French degree.

Upper-year courses

These are chosen based on your program requirements (listed in the Academic Calendar) from the following areas. Bolded course numbers are required for the major programs:

French language and expression

​​FREN 2151H – Français intermédiaire avancé I / Advanced Intermediate French I

FREN 2152H – Français intermédiaire avancé II / Advanced Intermediate French II

FREN 3051H – Stylistique comparée de l’anglais et du français / Comparative English-French Stylistics

FREN 3052H – Traduction anglais-français / English-French Translation

FREN 3053H – Langue et expression écrite / Language and Written Expression

FREN 3150Y – Linguistique appliquée et phonétique/Applied Linguistics and Phonetics

FREN 4053H – La communication en contexte / Communication in Context

French Canadian literatures and cultures

FREN-CAST 2452H – Cultures et société: Le Québec et le Canada français / Cultures and Society: Quebec and French Canada

FREN-CAST 3231H – Théâtre québécois / Québécois Theatre

FREN-CAST 3232H – Poésie québécoise / Québécois Poetry

FREN 3236H – Littérature pour la jeunesse au Québec et au Canada français / Children’s Literature in Quebec and French Canada

FREN-CAST 3237H – Littératures francophones de l’Amérique du Nord / Francophone Literatures of North America

FREN-CAST-INDG 3238H – Littératures autochtones de langue française au Canada / French Language Indigenous Literature in Canada (ICR)

FREN-CAST 3239H – Littérature franco-ontarienne / Franco-Ontarian Literature

FREN-CAST 3831H – Le roman québécois des origines à 1945 / The Québécois Novel from its Origin to 1945

FREN-CAST 3832H – Le roman québécois de 1945 à nos jours / The Québécois Novel from 1945 to Today

FREN-CAST-CUST 4229Y – Science-fiction et fantastique québécois / Québécois Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature

FREN-WMST 4251H – Questions de genre / Gender Issues

FREN-CAST 4301H – Actualités franco-canadiennes / French-Canadian Current Affairs

FREN 4500Y/4501H – Étude approfondie de la littérature québécoise / Advanced Study of Québécois Literature

FREN-CAST 4520Y – Montréal

French literature and culture

FREN 2451H – Cultures et société: La France et la Francophonie / Cultures and Society: France and the Francophonie

FREN 3172H – Molière et son époque / 17th Century French Literature

FREN 3182H – Le siècle Candide / 18th-Century French Literature

FREN 3191H – Le roman au temps des Misérables / 19th-century French Novel

FREN 3192H – 19th Century French Poetry / Des romantiques aux poètes maudits

FREN 3200Y – La vie littéraire française au XXe siècle / Life and Literature in Twentieth-Century France

FREN 3201H – Le roman français au XXe siècle / The French Novel of the Twentieth Century

FREN 3202H – Le théâtre français au XXe siècle / French Theatre of the Twentieth Century

FREN 3203H – La vie littéraire française I / French literature I

FREN 3204H – La vie littéraire française II / French literature II

FREN 3305Y – La pensée française / French Thought

FREN-HIST 3505Y – La civilisation française / French Civilization

FREN 4800Y/4801H – Étude approfondie de la littérature française / Advanced Study of French Literature

International Francophone literature and cinema

FREN 2451H – Cultures et société: La France et la Francophonie / Cultures and Society: France and the Francophonie

FREN 3301H – Littérature de la Francophonie / Literature of La Francophonie

FREN-CUST 4302H – Cinéma francophone / Francophone Cinema

FREN 4780Y/4701H – Étude approfondie de la littérature francophone / Advanced Study of Francophone Literature

Texts and theories

FREN 2051H – La lecture critique / Critical Reading

FREN 4150Y – L’analyse du discours / Discourse Analysis

FREN 4200Y – La critique littéraire / Literary Criticism

FREN 4201H – Création littéraire / Creative Writing

FREN 4202H – La critique littéraire française / French Literary Critique

FREN-WMST 4251H – Questions de genre / Gender Issues

FREN-CUST 4611H – Littérature et contestation / Literature and Contestation

Honours courses

FREN 4150Y – L’analyse du discours / Discourse Analysis

FREN 4200Y – La critique littéraire / Literary Criticism

FREN 4201H – Création littéraire / Creative Writing

FREN 4202H – La critique littéraire française / French Literary Critique

FREN-CAST-CUST 4229Y – Science-fiction et fantastique québécois / Québécois Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature

FREN-WMST 4251H – Questions de genre / Gender Issues

FREN-CAST 4301H – Actualités franco-canadiennes / French-Canadian Current Affairs

FREN-CUST 4302H – Cinéma francophone / Francophone Cinema

FREN 4500Y/4501H – Étude approfondie de la littérature québécoise / Advanced Study of Québécois Literature

FREN-CAST 4520Y – Montréal

FREN-CUST 4611H – Littérature et contestation / Literature and Contestation

FREN 4780Y/4701H – Étude approfondie de la littérature francophone / Advanced Study of Francophone Literature

FREN 4800Y/4801H – Étude approfondie de la littérature française / Advanced Study of French Literature

Experiential learning

(Many of our courses have an experiential learning component. Check the syllabi for more details.)

FREN 4010Y – Initiation à la recherche littéraire / Introduction to Literary Research

FREN 4020D – Recherche littéraire avancée / Advanced Literary Research

FREN 4201H – Création littéraire / Creative Writing

FREN-CAST 4301H – Actualités franco-canadiennes / French-Canadian Current Affairs

See the Academic Calendar for a full description of our courses.

See the Academic Timetable to check which courses are offered this year.