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IEFE

University Montpellier III (University Paul Valéry) Institute of French Studies for Foreigners (IEFE)

The IEFE is continuing a long university tradition that dates back to the 12th century. It is a French language and culture teaching center which welcomes students from the five continents representing more than seventy nationalities.

Generales objectives

I.E.F.E. wants to help students master written and oral French, as quickly as possible through:

  • curriculum fitting each level (from the absolute beginner to the candidate for the Diplôme Spécial d’Études Françaises)
  • technical means (language laboratory, multimedia laboratory, audiovisual equipment, documentation center), and course programme to help students to:
  • understand and use the French language fluently
  • identify and produce different levels of language, from the everyday conversation to the academic language
  • better understand the French culture

Assessment conditions

Heads of Institutes like the IEFE belong to a national association called the A.D.C.U.E.F.E. (Association of the Heads of Academic Centres of French Studies for Foreign Students). They meet regularly to uphold homogeneous standards at the national level. Thus, a diploma issued by one of the member university centres is valid in the other ones throughout France.

Assessment consists of:

  • semester long evaluation, which requires regular class attendance
  • final exams

Website of the A.D.C.U.E.F.E. http://www.campus-fle.fr

Organisation of semester courses

Periods of study

  • Semester 1: Fall (September to December) 13 weeks, 16 hours/wk
  • Semester 2: Spring (mid-January to mid May) 13 wks, 16 hours/wk

One semester totals at least 200 hours of classwork for each level during the academic year.
Summer (July and/or August) 20 hrs/wk

Levels

There are six levels, which correspond to competence in French language and culture. Placement tests (oral and written) are organized at the beginning of each semester. Students are then assigned to groups, according to their scores

The I.E.F.E. courses for foreign students are constructed within the framework of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)

The CEFR divides learners into three broad divisions which can be subdivided into six levels:

  • A. Basic User
  • A1 Breakthrough
  • A2 Waystage
  • B Independent User
  • B1 Threshold
  • B2 Vantage
  • C Proficient User
  • C1 Effective Operational Proficiency
  • C2 Mastery

Common European Framework of Reference for Languages ( CEFR)

The CEFR describes what a learner is supposed to be able to do in reading, listening, speaking and writing at each level, in detail:
Electives (during the academic year)
In addition to the prescribed modules, i.e. languages and culture, students choose TWO other areas of study in order to complete the program. The topics offered as electives are:

  • B1: Cinema, Southern French Civilization, Culture and Heritage, French applied to the Social and Economic Fields, History of Art, Literature.
  • B2: Cinema, Business French, French for Environmental Studies, History of Art, Literature and Oral expression, Theater
  • C1 & C2: Creative writing, Cinema, Business French, French for Environmental Studies, History of Art, Literature

The time allocated is 1.5 hour per week per option

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