Course descriptions

FSL course options are offered twice a year, either from January to April or September to December. Not all courses are offered each session. 

Beginner: Introduction to basic French (FLS 1700)

Thursdays, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Introduction to basic French focusing on all four skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Listening practice with audio/audiovisual materials. Reading practice with short texts. Basic conversation practice and short writing tasks. Authentic material drawn from the health sciences context will be used wherever possible. Individual and group practice. This course is designed for individuals with no prior knowledge of French.

Elementary: Reading and Listening Skills Basic (FLS 1710)

Thursdays, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (September to December only)

French for “false-beginners” focusing on reading and listening skills. Listening practice with audio/audiovisual materials. Reading practice with short texts. Authentic material drawn from health care contexts will be used wherever possible. Individual and group practice. This course is designed for individuals with some basic knowledge of French.

Elementary: Written and oral expression (FLS 1711)

Thursdays, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (January to April only)

French for “false-beginners” focusing on speaking and writing skills. Review of basic production skills (pronunciation, grammar and spelling, and vocabulary). Basic conversation practice and short writing tasks. Authentic material drawn from health care contexts will be used wherever possible. Individual and group practice. This course is designed for individuals with some basic knowledge of French.

Intermediate: listening comprehension and oral expression (FLS 2810)

Thursdays, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (September to December only)

Revision and systematization of the French linguistic code and its application to oral comprehension and production activities (pronunciation, spelling-phonetic relationship, oral grammar and active vocabulary) based on oral comprehension and production strategies, practical oral comprehension and expression exercises: free conversation, short presentations, role-playing, activities based on authentic communication tasks from the healthcare sector. Individual practice.

Intermediate: Written comprehension and expression (FLS 2811)

Thursdays, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (January to April only)

Review and ongoing development of reading and writing strategies. Exploit and revise linguistic features of different types of texts. Observation of these patterns and reinvestment in reading tasks: identification of addressee, theme, main and secondary ideas, cohesion markers, text progression, etc. as well as writing tasks: note-taking, writing memos, memos, short reports, e-mails, etc. Reinforcement of grammatical and lexical knowledge. All related to the healthcare sector. Individual practice.

Advanced: listening and speaking (FLS 3810)

Thursdays, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (September to December only)

Revision at an advanced level of listening comprehension and oral production strategies, with an introduction to critical evaluation and the formulation of opinions and feelings. Advanced use of texts of varying length and difficulty, with note-taking and synthesis exercises. Practice of oral expression through: imitation of complex models, structured discussions, commentaries and oral presentations. Study and practice of oral comprehension and communication in colloquial and semi-formal registers. Reinforcement of grammatical and lexical knowledge. All related to the healthcare field.

Advanced: written comprehension and expression (FLS 3811)

Thursdays, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (January to April only)

Revision at an advanced level of reading and written production strategies, including the steps required to develop complex texts related to the health field, e.g.: reviews, summaries, reports and analyses. Observation and analysis of various models and reinvestment in writing tasks. Reinforcement of advanced grammatical and lexical skills. Individualized practice. Development of rapid reading, revision and self-correction strategies. All health-related.

1. Are the courses offered in person or virtual?

Yes, all courses are virtual.

2. I have registered but have not received any information or confirmation.

A calendar invitation is sent to the participants during the week leading up to the beginning of the course. If you have not yet received information by the morning of the first class, please send an email to [email protected] for help.

3. I will have to miss a few classes; will I still receive my certificate?

To receive a completion certificate, 80% of classes must be attended.

4. I have a test score of … but cannot find the recommended course in the Faculty of Medicine FLS list.

Registration deadlines

For the January - April session: January 14

For the September - December session: September 23

Registration steps

For new FSL students:

• Complete the online placement test. (A fee of $29.25 will be charged to cover the cost of the test.)
• Register for the appropriate course (Test results are mandatory to complete registration.)

For returning FSL students:

• Register on the online platform for the course following the one previously completed.

There is no tuition fee to participate in FSL courses offered at Roger-Guindon Hall. These courses are not credited. A certificate will be issued to anyone who has attended at least 80% of the courses.