Student Life
The Department of French is small enough to allow for close co-operation and contact between staff and students, yet large enough to offer a wide range of courses in subjects as diverse as language, literature, intellectual history, Contemporary society and francophone studies. These courses offer not just stimulating and up-to-date content, but also foster the development of analytical, research and communication skills which are of value in any professional context. The presence of a number of native speakers, both among the staff and the student body, also makes French a truly living language and medium of communication within the Department. From the array of available options it is therefore possible to build a study pathway which is adapted to individual career goals or prepares the way for further study.
A lively calendar of diverse activities is organzed by students within the Department. The French Society puts on regular French conversation and film evenings, as well as the popular Wednesday French lunch. French plays are also performed periodically by students in the Department, recent productions including Molières Le Tartuffe, Marivauxs Le Jeu de lamour et du hasard, and Ionescos La Cantatrice chauve. Films from the annual nation-wide French Film Festival are also shown in St Andrews, and events such as talks and discussions around these showings are organised by staff and students within the Department.
