The French area of the Department of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies (MLCS) at the University of Alberta specializes in the study of French as an international language in contact with multiple cultures. The integration of French in a department where more than a dozen languages are taught - with a linguistic and cultural component - has produced expertise and excellence in language teaching at all levels.

The French programs offered in MLCS focus on training students in linguistic and cultural literacy - which means not only acquiring a command of the written and spoken language, but as a practical and critical grasp of cultural texts to prepare students for the complexities of intercultural exchanges as well as careers in a number of fields, including international relations, law, business, government. Cultural literacy is achieved through the development of linguistic competence and through the study of literary and social texts. We offer courses in language, literature, culture, linguistics and translation, from the beginners to the graduate levels (MA & PhD).

The areas of expertise and topics of particular interests among our faculty are as follows:

• French Literatures, past and present, produced in the Hexagon (France), in Québec & French Canada
• Applied Linguistics (languages in contact, identity, discourse)
• Translation practice and theory
• French and Francophone Cultural Studies
• French and Francophone Cinema
• “Francophonies” of the world (e.g., Francophone Africa, the Caribbean).
• The status of French in post/colonial contexts