French studies 3: language and culture of the French-speaking world

This module follows on from an OU Level 2 French module. It further develops your knowledge and understanding of French-speaking societies and extends your language competence. The interactive online study materials are based around text, audio and video resources including interviews and documentaries. You’ll engage in critical analysis, develop academic writing, research and presentation skills, and are introduced to the concept of linguistic and cultural mediation. The six module themes provide both broad and focused coverage of historical and contemporary aspects of French-speaking societies which you are encouraged to discuss with your fellow students in tutorials and forums.

Modules count towards OU qualifications

OU qualifications are modular in structure; the credits from this undergraduate module could count towards a certificate of higher education, diploma of higher education, foundation degree or honours degree.

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Module

Module code

L332

Credits

Study level

Level of Study
OU	SCQF	FHEQ
3	10	6

What you will study

All the materials for this module are delivered online via the module website.

Each of the six units studied covers different aspects of language and culture of the French-speaking world.

The units in detail are:

Unit 1: The first unit deals with linguistic diversity and identity. You'll begin by looking at the concept of ‘la Francophonie’, and the status of the French language in a world where English is still predominant. You will then explore how regional identities are expressed in metropolitan France and Corsica and how language plays a significant role in feelings of belonging. You'll then look at Quebec and French Polynesia, where French language and culture play very different roles.

Unit 2: Unit 2 is about economy and society. Starting with the industrial revolution in the textile sector in northern France, you'll explore how the industrial revolution shaped society as we know it today. You will then examine the status and role of French women in the professional world in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries before looking at alternative economic models, including the move to a greener and more sustainable economy and society.

Unit 3: Unit 3 takes you on a voyage around the written word and its adaptations. You will start by exploring the main artistic movements in France through a thematic panorama from the 18th century to the present day and through a selection of internationally renowned French and Francophone authors. Then you will look at two traditionally highly popular genres in France: the crime novel and the ‘bande dessinée’ (comics).

Unit 4: Unit 4 is about migration and identity. You will look at where and why migration happens and how it affects identities, not only in mainland France but also on the African continent. You will explore how identities are constructed through political media coverage of migration and how sensitive and complex the issues surrounding migration and identity are dealt with. During this unit you will also engage in a cross-languages interactive task with students of German and Spanish.

Unit 5: This unit deals with science and technology and starts by introducing you to the status and the importance of science in France, both from an educational and political point of view. You will then explore scientific and technological advances in the areas of space, biology, climatology, and artificial intelligence. Science and technology will be examined from a critical point of view, raising questions on their applications for the future of society.

Unit 6: Finally, Unit 6 will cover history and politics through the prism of key historical events such as the French Revolution, the Dreyfus affair, and mai 68. Throughout this unit you will see how significant events have shaped 20^th and 21^st century French society and identities and how these events still resonate deeply in today’s France and overseas countries and territories.

Throughout these units, you will be working on text and audio-visual material through completing a wide range of online activities, which are designed to deepen your understanding of the module topics and develop your confidence in communicating in French. Throughout the module you will progressively develop your academic skills, leading up to a small-scale project at the end. All materials are interactive and encourage your participation; they also allow you to evaluate your progress regularly and provide you with strategies to further develop your skills as an independent language learner. With your fellow students, you can engage jointly in forums and, in Unit 4, you will take part in an interactive cross-languages discussion task.

This module is designed to enable you to achieve a level of language proficiency equivalent to level C1 of the Council of Europe Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

Throughout your module studies, you’ll get help and support from your assigned module tutor. They’ll help you by:

marking your assignments (TMAs) and providing detailed feedback for you to improve
guiding you to additional learning resources
providing individual guidance, whether that’s for general study skills or specific module content
facilitating online discussions between your fellow students, in the dedicated module and tutor group forums.

Module tutors also run online tutorials throughout the module. Where possible, recordings of online tutorials will be made available to you. While these tutorials won’t be compulsory for you to complete the module, you're strongly encouraged to take part.

Assessment

The assessment details for this module can be found in the facts box.

One TMA is an interactive speaking assignment which will be carried out by your tutor online.

Future availability

French studies 3: language and culture of the French-speaking world (L332) starts once a year – in October.

This page describes the module that will start in October 2025.

We expect it to start for the last time in October 2031.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.

Course work includes:; 4 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)
: End-of-module assessment

Entry requirements

This is an OU Level 3 module for students who have successfully completed an OU Level 2 French module or who already have an equivalent knowledge of French.

If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.

Preparatory work

If you have time before the module begins, we suggest that you continue to use your French in any way you can. You could do this by: redoing some of the activities in your OU Level 2 module; watching and listening to the audio and video materials from your OU Level 2 French module; reading a French newspaper; accessing resources such as online editions of newspapers and magazines, internet radio and television; or borrowing French books and films from the local library. Anything you can do to keep practising your French will help you to prepare yourself for the start of the module.

Register

Start	End	England fee	Register
05 Oct 2024	Jun 2025	-	Registration now closed
This module is expected to start for the last time in October 2031.

Additional Costs

Study costs

There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.

If your income is not more than £25,000 or you receive a qualifying benefit, you might be eligible for help with some of these costs after your module has started.

Ways to pay for this module

Open University Student Budget Account

The Open University Student Budget Accounts Ltd (OUSBA) offers a convenient 'pay as you go' option to pay your OU fees, which is a secure, quick and easy way to pay. Please note that The Open University works exclusively with OUSBA and is not able to offer you credit facilities from any other provider. All credit is subject to status and proof that you can afford the repayments.

You pay the OU through OUSBA in one of the following ways:

Register now, pay later – OUSBA pays your module fee direct to the OU. You then repay OUSBA interest-free and in full just before your module starts. 0% APR representative. This option could give you the extra time you may need to secure the funding to repay OUSBA.
Pay by instalments – OUSBA calculates your monthly fee and number of instalments based on the cost of the module you are studying. APR 5.1% representative.

Joint loan applications

If you feel you would be unable to obtain an OUSBA loan on your own due to credit history or affordability issues, OUSBA offers the option to apply for a joint loan application with a third party. For example, your husband, wife, partner, parent, sibling or friend. In such cases, OUSBA will be required to carry out additional affordability checks separately and/or collectively for both joint applicants who will be jointly and severally liable for loan repayments.

As additional affordability checks are required when processing joint loan applications, unfortunately, an instant decision cannot be given. On average the processing time for a joint loan application is five working days from receipt of the required documentation.

Employer sponsorship

Studying with The Open University can boost your employability. OU courses are recognised and respected by employers for their excellence and the commitment they take to complete. They also value the skills that students learn and can apply in the workplace.

More than one in ten OU students are sponsored by their employer, and over 30,000 employers have used the OU to develop staff so far. If the module you’ve chosen is geared towards your job or developing your career, you could approach your employer to see if they will sponsor you by paying some or all of the fees.

Your employer just needs to complete a simple form to confirm how much they will be paying and we will invoice them.
You won’t need to get your employer to complete the form until after you’ve chosen your module.

Credit/debit card

You can pay part or all of your tuition fees upfront with a debit or credit card when you register for each module.

We accept American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Visa Electron.

Mixed payments

We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may wish to pay part of your tuition fee with a debit card and pay the remainder in instalments through an Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA).

Please note: your permanent address/domicile will affect your fee status and, therefore, the fees you are charged and any financial support available to you. The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2025. Fees typically increase annually. For further information about the University's fee policy, visit our Fee Rules

This information was provided on 15/09/2024.

Can you study an Access module for free?

Depending on eligibility and availability of places, you could apply to study your Access module for free.

To qualify, you must:

be resident in England
have a household income of not more than £25,000 (or be in receipt of a qualifying benefit)
have not completed one year or more on any full-time undergraduate programme at FHEQ level 4 or above or successfully completed 30 credits or more of OU study within the last 10 years

How to apply to study an Access module for free

Once you've started the registration process, either online or over the phone, we'll contact you about your payment options. This will include instructions on how you can apply to study for free if you are eligible and funded places are still available.

If you're unsure if you meet the criteria to study for free, you can check with one of our friendly advisers on +44 (0)300 303 0069, or you can request a call back.

Not eligible to study for free?

Don't worry! We offer a choice of flexible ways to help spread the cost of your Access module. The most popular options include:

monthly payments through OUSBA
part-time tuition fee loan (you'll need to be registered on a qualification for this option)

To explore all the options available to you, visit Fees and Funding.

What's included

You'll have access to a module website, which is the focal point of your study, and includes:

a week-by-week study planner
course-specific module materials
audio and video content
assessment details and submission section
online tutorial access
access to forums where you can communicate with your tutor and fellow students.

You will need

To join in spoken conversations in tutorials and to take part in your interactive TMA 04, you’ll need a wired headset (headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone).

You'll also need to have access to a suitable French dictionary, either in print or online, for example:

Collins French dictionary and grammar editor, Susie Beattie. Published by Collins.

You will also be working with the following grammar book, which you can access electronically through the library, or you may have a printed copy if you have previously studied L222.

Thacker, M. and d'Angelo, C. (2013) Essential French Grammar. Oxon: Routledge.

Computing requirements

You’ll need broadband internet access and a desktop or laptop computer with an up-to-date version of Windows (10 or 11) or macOS Ventura or higher.

Any additional software will be provided or is generally freely available.

To join in spoken conversations in tutorials, we recommend a wired headset (headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone).

Our module websites comply with web standards, and any modern browser is suitable for most activities.

Our OU Study mobile app will operate on all current, supported versions of Android and iOS. It’s not available on Kindle.

It’s also possible to access some module materials on a mobile phone, tablet device or Chromebook. However, as you may be asked to install additional software or use certain applications, you’ll also require a desktop or laptop, as described above.

If you have a disability

The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying L332 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.

To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our disability support pages.