French Language Program and Minor

Any student who wants to show proficiency in French can register to be tested. A student does not need to be enrolled in a French course to take the exam. Because the candidate should demonstrate a low advanced level (according to the ACTFL standards) in speaking and reading, students enrolled in the French program should take the Oral Proficiency Exam after having completed at least FREN 2002, Advanced French II. Typically, students take the proficiency exam in the fall, while being enrolled in FREN 2761, Topics for Oral Proficiency, which is specifically designed to prepare them for the test.

The Oral Proficiency Exam is given three times a year. Every student who wants to be tested should officially apply by filling out this form before the deadline.

Two exam administrators will be present for each exam; one may be present via Zoom. A third administrator may also be present for training purposes. All exams may be recorded, for internal purposes only.

Upon arrival, all students must present a current GU ID card with a photo or a QID. The student will be provided with an abbreviated version of the Georgetown Honor Code in writing and will be asked to sign it.

The exam administrators will also collect the student’s articles and handwritten notes and remind them that they are not allowed to share any information regarding the exam.

1. Part 1 (15 minutes): Reading and preparation: Students will have 15 minutes to read a press article in French. The length of the article will be approximately 1200 words, although it may vary according to the difficulty of the text. No outside materials (including dictionaries, course notes, etc) or technology (mobile phone, computer, AI, etc) may be consulted. However, students may write notes on a blank sheet of paper provided by the evaluators during the reading part of the exam, and they can consult their notes during the speaking part of the exam.

2. Part 2 (15 minutes): Conversation: After the 15 minutes of preparation, the student is directed to the exam room for the 15 minutes of the speaking part. First, the candidate will summarize the content of the article in an organized manner.  Then, the exam administrators take turns asking comprehension and critical thinking questions related to the article. The examinee should demonstrate the ability to situate the news within a historical perspective. At the end of this section, the examinee should be able to state his/her position on the issue and state the reasons behind that position. For more information on criteria, please consult the exam rubrics.

The proficiency exam is evaluated on a “Pass” or “Fail” basis. Students who pass the proficiency exam are able to sustain a discussion dealing with current events and demonstrate familiarity with relevant historical, cultural, political, and economic information. Students are also able to participate in routine social interactions to discuss their interests, studies, and future plans.

A pass on the proficiency exam is comparable to achieving an Advanced Mid, in reading comprehension and oral production as per the Teaching of Foreign Languages Proficiency Guidelines (ACTFL) rating. The assessment criteria are available here.

If a student fails the exam, he or she needs to wait until the next semester to take it. The proficiency exam cannot be taken twice within the same semester. Therefore, senior students are required to take the proficiency exam in the fall if they have not completed it before.

The article will cover one of the following topics: Political life in France (the French Republic and its political institutions, political parties, elections and their procedures, environmental policy, immigration, secularism, social welfare, the education system, work organization and professional life, the European Union, the francophone world). Because the article will be taken from a newspaper or magazine internationally recognized within the French-language press, it is crucial that the candidate should stay up to date with the news within the francophone world.

Most of the topics mentioned above are covered in Advanced French I and II as well as more advanced courses such as Topics for Oral Proficiency, French & Francophone Philosophies, etc. FREN 2761 Topics for Oral Proficiency is specifically designed to prepare you for the exam.

For more information about the French Oral Proficiency Exam, please visit  https://french.georgetown.edu/sfs-proficiency/#

You must first take the placement test. The placement test will indicate the appropriate course and level you should enroll in. If you need to wait for a semester to enroll in the appropriate level, contact the Director of the French & Global Languages Program to discuss your options.

No, by policy, in the SFS, you cannot take a language course as Pass/Fail. (“All undergraduate students in the School of Foreign Service are expected to enroll in a modern language class each semester, for a letter grade”)

Yes, you must be enrolled in a language course until your level of proficiency has been assessed.

Yes. Main campus offers a wide range of French courses. Make sure that you choose the appropriate course within the French language course sequence. If you are not sure, contact the Director of the French & Global Languages Program or your former instructor at GU-Q.

You must discuss your options with your Advising Dean and  the Director of the French & Global Languages Program before you finalize your study abroad plans.

You can take the Oral Proficiency Exam until you pass. However, you cannot take the OPE more than once a semester. You will have to wait until the next semester to take it.

Yes, the Oral Proficiency Exam is part of the requirements to graduate from the SFS. Its completion is independent of the Minor’s requirements.

Yes. You can request to be tested in French in addition to being tested in other languages.