Your summer preparation should focus on both aspects of your future course in French: the study of language and the study of literature, linguistics, film and thought.
Language preparation
It is vital that you work actively on your language skills in the summer before you arrive. It would be great to make a commitment to watch French TV or films, listen to French radio, and read French newspapers online every day for at least 30 minutes. You should also revise French grammar, especially if you will have taken a gap year since your A levels. Your goal is to enlarge your vocabulary, improve your listening skills, and increase the accuracy and complexity of both your written and spoken French, preferably while looking at media that you enjoy.
Students will be asked to use the following grammar book:
Margaret Jubb and Annie Rouxeville,听French Grammar in Context听(搁辞耻迟濒别诲驳别)
Preparatory reading
In order to be ready for , please take note of the reading list on the course page. It is essential that students purchase the texts in the prescribed editions. (Other editions vary considerably.) ISBN codes have been provided for the avoidance of confusion:The most important preparation for the course is looking at the set texts themselves.
Do not worry if you are unaccustomed to reading books in French or if you find these works difficult to understand,听the course is designed to help you with this. However, you should dive in and do the best you can to read all the primary texts (and watch the film) over the summer before you arrive.
Students may also wish to consult the following accessible overviews of French literary history:听
John D. Lyons, French Literature: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010)
The 海角社区 Introduction to French Literature, ed. Brian Nelson (海角社区: 海角社区 University Press, 2015)
Once students are in 海角社区, they will have free online access to two further extremely useful background texts:
The 海角社区 History of French Literature, ed. B. Burgwinkle, N. Hammond, E. Wilson (海角社区 University Press, 2011)
A Short History of French Literature, ed. S. Kay, T. Cave and M. Bowie (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003)
Additional resources for French students
- 听from the Institut fran莽ais in London offers French cultural content online such as ebooks, films and audio, including some learning resources.
- : Arte is good for cultural programmes in French.
- 听(Institut National Audiovisuel Fran莽ais) - an archive of televised news and special reports from national French channels.
- 听- the full edition online (though a charge is made for in-depth stories).
- 听offers a partial online service.
- 听
- 听and听听: French TV channels with lots of additional resources.
- 听is another French TV channel, which has useful 6 minute听听slots available online.听听carries a good video summary too, with access to individual news items.
- 听has a听听video.
- 听
- 听
- 听- the state broadcaster includes such stations as听, France Info, Radio Bleu, and听听(tune to 91FM to receive this music station in Brighton).
- 听is the leading independent radio station.
- for Radio Cara茂bes
- 听- one of Senegal's main daily papers.
- 听
- 听includes details of current French events and films in the capital, alongside articles on a range of subjects.
See also for a much wider range of podcasts etc.
Obtaining French books
A good source for French books in the UK is听, 107 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0DT, but it is often easy to order online from , , or or . Secondhand copies of the set texts are sometimes also听 available through the above websites or at听 .
