The Advanced French group meets on the second and fourth Friday morning of the month, 10 till 11.15 am. The level is around B2, i.e. roughly A-level (rusty A-level plus occasional holidays in France would be ideal).

We will explore different aspects of French life and culture – anything from absinthe and the 2CV to backwards slang (verlan) and famous poems and songs.

A wide range of media are used, including podcasts, dialogues and short subtitled videos in French. Sessions will often be themed, with translation, listening and conversation based on the session’s theme. This is a chance to have a go at French conversation in a supportive environment.

The only ‘course book’ we use is a materials book packed with lively, authentic French articles, available secondhand from me for just £6 - we will continue using this for several years.

This year there will be a French fiction element as we will spend part of some sessions reading a well-regarded modern French novella (online cost: about £6). This follows on from our previous foray into bandes dessinées.

There will be some preparation to do between sessions. You will need access to a printer to print out emailed materials, or alternatively an electronic device (e.g. iPad) to view them.

An annual subscription of £20 will be collected at the beginning of the ‘year’ in October, with anyone joining after that paying a pro rata amount. This subscription works out at just £1.50 per session and is designed to cover the cost of room hire from October to May plus occasional resources. We take a summer break between June and September.

The group is currently full but you are welcome to join the waiting list. It is a sociable group and a few members sometimes meet up for a coffee afterwards. If you think this group might work for you, please get in touch with the Group Convenor by clicking on the blue envelope email icon.

Some examples of items and topics we have covered recently can be viewed via the links below.