SÉJOURS LINGUISTIQUES À L’ÉTRANGER

If you are interested in spending time abroad in a Francophone country as part of your degree, please read all of the general information on this page. After that you can return here for a useful overview of the options available.

Please click here for general notes to read when preparing to go abroad.

It is Department policy to actively encourage undergraduate participation in one of the mobility programmes which the College offers. Quite apart from the obvious benefits for modern-language learners of linguistic and cultural immersion in an authentic target-language context, it is increasingly desirable that undergraduate degrees include an international component. This is especially true in the context of the single European jobs market and current employment challenges at home. Today, many University graduates gain experience working and living abroad at an early stage in their careers. In this context, having previously studied abroad is a significant advantage at both professional and personal levels.

Students of French may incorporate an international dimension into their BA or BEd programme in one of the following ways:

COLLEGE ERASMUS MOBILITY PROGRAMME

This exchange programme is Europe-based and allows for the exchange of students between partner institutions. A full list of the institutions with which the Department works is available here.

Students spend one semester (normally the second semester in Second Year) in the partner institution pursuing an agreed course of study in both of their degree subjects. The exchange is supported through the provision of a grant (organized by the College’s International Affairs Office), and, for students attending French third-level institutions, through the CAF student payment (organized soon after registration by the host institution). Interested students will be asked to commit to their exchange towards the end of the second semester of First Year. Formal application to the partner institution and preparation for the exchange will take place during the first semester of Second Year. Additional detail on all aspects of the exchange programme is available from the Head of Department and International Affairs Office in College.

BA International or BEd International Degree

BA and BEd students have the option of pursuing a four-year International programme, which, in addition to the three-year degree programme content, involves spending one academic year in France, between Second Year and Third Year. BA students spend two semesters in a French University pursuing a programme of study in their two degree subjects, which must be approved by the Head of Department for each BA subject. Provision for work placement can be made, subject to relevance, funding and opportunity. Students are assessed at their host institution, through formal written and oral examinations and through essay submission. Further details specific to the BA International Programme and students of French are provided here.

BEd Internationals will spend time teaching English in one or more primary schools, attending Education/Pedagogy courses in a French College of Education, as well as followingFrench literature lectures in a University. Students are assessed through teaching practice inspections, host University examinations and essay submission, SPD Education essay and Teaching Practice folder. Further details specific to the BEd International Programme and students of French are provided here.

ENGLISH-LANGUAGE TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIP

BA and BEd students may apply through the Embassy of France in Ireland (Service culturel section) to work as an English-language teaching assistant in French primary or secondary schools. If successful, students will take a year out of their three-year degree programme (usually at the end of Second Year) and, on return, will start their final year with some extra professional, cultural and linguistic experience, all of which will help their prospects in the Degree examinations. Recently, students finishing their final year have seen in the Assistantship scheme an opportunity to gain experience teaching abroad in advance of pursuing a career at home. Teachers with one year’s experience teaching abroad, whose performance is backed up with positive references, are often amuch more attractive option for school principals and boards of management, than those with little or no real experience.

Details of the Assistantship terms and conditions may be found on the appropriate section of the Embassy’s site http://www.ambafrance-ie.org/france_irlande/spip.php?article883). The Assistantship scheme is normally announced in November or December, the closing date for applications is normally in February or March, and teaching begins in late September. If interested, contact the Head of Department. 

 

 

Last Updated: Wednesday May 04 2011