Certificate in Business French

The Certificate in Business French is a unique program in Canada that offers you the opportunity to achieve a high level of proficiency in written and spoken French.

It ensures that you will be recognized as functionally bilingual and can use French effectively in the workplace and in business-oriented situations.

French is the first language of about a quarter of Canada's population and of 90 million people worldwide. Proficiency in French is a valuable asset in today's international job market.

The Certificate can help you prepare you for many types of employment:

Teaching
Translation and interpretation
Public administration: positions with federal, provincial and municipal governments
Health Services
Travel, tourism and transportation
Sales and advertising
Import-export
Publishing
Banking and financial services
Telecommunications
Broadcasting and audio-visual production
Administrative services

Admission

Admission Requirements

Completion of French 1900E or 1910 with a mark of at least 60%.

Progression and Graduation Requirements

The core language courses must be taken in sequence. Students must achieve an average of at least 70% in the 5.0 courses in order to progress in and complete this program. Students must receive counselling from the Department on their choice of courses and should seek regular advice on the availability of courses.

Students are encouraged to consult their Academic Cousellor on their choice of courses as early as possible in the program.

Program requirements

The program consists of a total of five full credit courses which can be taken on a full- or part-time basis.

French 2905A/B and 2906A/B are the prerequisites for all the 3000-level courses of the program. The core language courses must be taken in sequence.

Module: 5.0 senior courses

Second Year
1.0 credit Required Language	2905 A/B and 2906A/B (may be taken in any order), on campus or online
1.0 credit Required Professional French	2205 A/B, on campus 2206 A/B, on campus 2207 A/B, online 2208 A/B, online
Third Year
1.0 credit Required Language	3900, on campus or online
1.0 credit Required Business French	3200, on campus 3201E, online
1.0 credit Business French Translation	3306 A/B, on campus 3307 A/B, on campus 3308 A/B, on campus 3300, online

Many of the required courses are also offered as Western credit courses at the Trois-Pistoles French Immersion School in Québec during the intersession and summer sessions. Full-time students may be eligible for Summer Language Bursaries covering tuition fees and lodging expenses. Please consult www.uwo.ca/cstudies/tp/ or email tpistole@uwo.ca for more information.

Graduation requirements

An overall average of at least 70% in the six credit courses is required in order to complete this program. Therefore, it is recommended that you apply if you have a mark of B or higher for French 1910 or French 1900 E.

If your mark for Fr 1910/1900E is lower than a B, you are still eligible to apply, but please bear in mind that the remainder five courses of the program are advanced courses. Obtaining the required average might become a challenge in this case.

Diplomas of the Paris Chamber of Commerce

The Department of French at Western is a certified examination center for the Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de Paris. Students are encouraged to write the examinations held on campus every year in April for the Diplôme de français professionnel - Affaires (B2 or C1).

Students enrolled in the Certificate in Business French at Western have passed these examinations with a high rate of success for the past several years.

These (non Western) diplomas provide an additional guarantee of qualification for potential employers and are recognized by businesses around the world. For more information about the Paris Chamber of Commerce examinations, please consult www.francais.ccip.fr.

The Certificate in Business French offered by the Department of French Studies at Western is separate from these exams and is granted upon successful completion of the required course work.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I need to register for the Certificate in Business French?

YES! Once you have completed French 1910 or French 1900 E, you must register for the Certificate in Business French on your Intent to Register form each year so that you are registered in it on a continuing basis.

2. Who do I need to contact to apply?

Contact the Faculty of Arts and Humanities Academic Counselling Office, in University College, room UC 112G. The Academic Counsellors are:
Ms Bonnie Barratt, bbarratt@uwo.ca
Mr Ben Hakala, bhakala@uwo.ca

3. How do course exemptions work?

If the French placement test recommends that you take French 2905A/B or French 2906A/B, then your level of French is too advanced for French 1910 or French 1900E and you will automatically be exempted from French 1910 or French 1900 E. You do not need to replace French 1910 or French 1900 E with another course if you have received an exemption. In this case, a total of only 5.0 French credit courses will be taken in order to complete the requirements for the Certificate in Business French.

If the placement test recommends a course higher than French 2905A/B or French 2906A/B and you receive an exemption for French 2900, then you do need to replace Fr 2905A/B and French 2906A/B with other 2000-level course (or higher). Please consult Chantal Dawar (cdawar2@uwo.ca) or the Undergraduate Chair, regarding a suitable replacement for French 2905A/B and French 2906A/B. In this case, a total of only 5.0 French courses will be taken in order to complete the requirements for the Certificate in Business French.

No course exemptions are granted for French 3900 (advanced language course), or for French 2205A/B and French 2206A/B, French 3200, French 3201E.

Because French 3202 is no longer being offered, with a Special Permission granted by an academic advisor in the Department of French Studies, French 3202 may be replaced with French 3300 or French 3306A/B and French 3307A/B.

4. What do I need to do during my graduating year?

When you apply to graduate on the MyUWO website, apply for your degree AND for the Certificate in Business French. If, for some reason, you cannot apply for graduation for the Certificate in Business French on the website, contact the Office of the Registrar (http://www.registrar.uwo.ca)

Typically, you apply to graduate for the Certificate in Business French during the final year of the program while completing your 6th course requirement.

5. What is the difference between the Certificate in Business French and the Diploma in Business French at Western?

Both programs are exactly the same in terms of course requirements. Students who complete the program requirements simultaneously with their main degree are awarded the Certificate in Business French. Also, students who complete 1.0, 2.0, or 3.0 courses in the Summer or during sessions after completion of their degree are awarded the Certificate in Business French.

However, post-degree students (i.e., students who already have an undergraduate degree) who complete all the course requirements, or the majority of the course requirements (i.e., 4.0 courses or more), after receiving their main degree are awarded the Diploma in Business French upon completion of the Business French program requirements.

6. Who is the Coordinator of the Business French Program?

The coordinator is Chantal Dawar, cdawar2@uwo.ca, Phone: 519 661 2111, ext. 80540.

Note: A Diploma in Business French should be awarded when the following criteria are met:
1. normally a post-degree program;
2. normally requiring the equivalent of one calendar year or more to complete; and
3. normally consisting of a minimum of 5.0 degree-credit courses.

For further information, contact:

Chantal Dawar
Coordinator
Business French, Certificate Program
Department of French Studies, University College, room 138
The University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario, N6A 3K7, Canada
Tel: (519) 661-2111 ext. 80540
Fax: (519) 661-3470
E-mail:cdawar2@uwo.ca