In 2027 the University of Toronto will offer FSL French Language courses in Tours, France. Students will earn either one full credit or two half-credits, depending on the level. Language courses are taught by faculty from the Institut de Touraine.
French Language Courses in Tours: (FSL100H0 + FSL102H0) / FSL195Y0 / FSL295Y0 / (FSL322H0 + FSL420H0) / (FSL442H0 + FSL443H0)
Students enrol in Institut de Touraine French language courses, and earn a regular University of Toronto credit (i.e., the U of T course code and grade will be listed on their U of T transcript). Classes take place Monday to Friday. Class times and schedules are not available until after students arrive in Tours; however, typically no classes are held on Friday afternoons.
Language courses are taught by faculty from the Institut de Touraine. Classes are small and include students from around the world, in addition to participants in the U of T summer program. Students have access to several language labs, a small library and a multimedia studio.
FSL courses are Breadth Requirement = 1 (Creative and Cultural Representations)
Placement Test
The Institut de Touraine language program comprises nine levels of instruction. All students (with the exception of absolute beginners - see below) write the Institut de Touraine's online placement test in February to determine their Institut level. It is your responsibility to ensure you are eligible to take your requested course. Consult with the French department for further detail about your own program requirements. Details about the placement assessment will be sent to students after the application deadline.
Absolute Beginners: Students with no significant French exposure at any level (formal instruction or non-academic exposure) do not have to write the placement assessment. Those students will need to sign and upload the "Beginner Declaration Form" when applying to the program. If you request the beginner level (FSL100H+FSL102H) but have had any previous French exposure you must write the placement assessment.
Based on the assessment results, students will be assigned to the most appropriate level. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are eligible to take the FSL course you have been assigned. It is not possible to take a course for which you already have a credit or an exclusion. Consult with the French department for further detail about your own program requirements. If you are not eligible to take the course(s) of your choice, you have the option of taking one of the English-language courses instead.
Note: All UTSG students who are placed in FSL195Y0 or FSL295Y0 must write U of T’s placement test upon their return to Toronto to determine the appropriate U of T course credit for their course in Tours, as well as their appropriate next level. Students are responsible for contacting the French department themselves and arranging to write this test (french.undergraduate@utoronto.ca). After writing the test, the equivalent FSL credits will be noted in Degree Explorer only - the 1.0 credit labelled as “FSL195Y0” or “FSL295Y0” will remain on your academic record as is. Students placed in the H0 courses who wish to take an FSL course other than the next course in the usual FSL sequence should also contact the French department (french.undergraduate@utoronto.ca) to inquire about whether a different course (more advanced or less advanced) is appropriate based on your Tours experience. UTM and UTSC students should consult with their home language departments to confirm equivalency.