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French Advanced-Level Proficiency Certificate

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College of Liberal Arts (TCLA)5J8 - French Advanced Level Proficiency Certificate

Description

Program details

Admission details

Requirements

Contact information

Learning outcomes

Completion requirements
Pass the French Language Proficiency Exam (LPE). This exam is typically taken after 4 semesters of college-level study, or the equivalent. For more information, please visit http://langtest.umn.edu/lpe.
Completion requirement

Students must take a minimum of 6 credits of Composition, Communication, and Content-Based Courses. Take FREN 3016 or its equivalent abroad, and one content-based course, or two content-based courses. A content-based course is defined as one that is either taught almost exclusively in French, or for which the discussion section is delivered in French, and is content-based and focused on an academic discipline. Courses taken abroad will count if they are taught in French and have a minimum of 10 pages of written work in French with at least one assignment of at least 5 pages in length.

Fulfill ALL of the following requirements:
Complete course(s) and earn up to 3 credit(s) from the following:
  • 0095971
    OR     8049651

  • Course equivalent to FREN 3016 taken abroad

AND
Earn at least 3 credits from the following:
  • 0096011
  • 0160861
  • 8169341
  • 8021101
  • 0096181
  • 8082661
  • 0096261

  • Other pre-approved content-based course

Completion requirement

Participate in an intensive French-language immersion experience. There are three options for completing this requirement. Because Option 3 involves less contact with French speakers than Options 1 and 2, students should only take Option 3 if it is the only one available to them.

Fulfill ANY of the following requirements:
Participate in an academic study-abroad experience of at least six weeks, that includes at least one course taught in French.
OR
Complete a pre-approved immersion experience. This could include a service-learning experience or internship, or the completion of the Community Engagement Scholars Program, with a focus on opportunities to engage with native French speakers.
OR
Complete two full semesters of weekly language exchange with a native speaker through the CLA Language Center’s TandemPlus program including 15 hours devoted to conversation in French. This experience must be documented through TandemPlus.
Completion requirement
Take the self-assessment and use this information to gauge your own proficiency level. It is strongly recommended that you do not attempt the ACTFL exam until the self-assessment results indicate that you may have achieved advanced-level proficiency.
Completion requirement
Submit a short essay (of 450-600 words) written in English that; (1) reflects on your French self-assessment results; (2) describes your current level of French language proficiency; (3) demonstrates how you have used your language and cultural understanding skills at the University and beyond through completion of some or all of the “Additional Recommended Experiences” listed below.
Completion requirement
When your self-assessment results indicate that you may be at advanced-level proficiency, you may take the ACTFL Advanced-level Exam. In order to complete your certificate, you must achieve a rating of Advanced-Low or higher in all 4 sections: speaking, writing, listening and reading. The cost for 4 sections of the ACTFL is $200. However, if you participate in the PACE Project you will be able to take the reading, listening and speaking exams at no cost and pay only for the writing exam.
Completion requirement
Additional experiences to increase your French-language proficiency include:

  • Study abroad in a French-speaking country for at least a semester (this is highly recommended)

  • Additional upper-division coursework taught in French (see the Certificate website)

  • Service learning, volunteer work, or internship in a French-speaking context for at least a semester

  • Participation in TandemPlus

  • Spend an average of 15-20 hours per week outside of class actively using your French (reading, writing, speaking, listening)

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