Bachelor's Degree in French: Training French Language Educators
The IPA's French Department offers a 3-year Bachelor's degree in French. This degree prepares future teachers and teaching specialists of French for the Burundian and African context. The programme combines three inseparable pillars: linguistic expertise in contemporary French, in-depth knowledge of French and Francophone literature, and the teaching skills to turn this expertise into effective learning for pupils.
This is not a programme in abstract "French studies". It is practical preparation for helping generations of African learners understand, speak and write French. Students leave the Department not only as French specialists, but as reflective educators able to adapt language teaching to the specific context of Burundi.
The Department brings together an active intellectual community that debates, analyses and experiments together. Graduates work as secondary school teachers, teacher trainers and researchers in French language didactics in Burundi.
How the IPA trains French teaching specialists: a progressive methodology
Three principles shape the French Department and reflect the IPA's teaching approach.
Principle 1: Cumulative progression from theory to practice
The six semesters are not a series of isolated courses. They form a structured progression. The first two semesters lay the foundations: general linguistics, French grammar, phonetics, classic French literature, and an introduction to learner psychology. In the third semester, students go deeper: syntax, semantics, comparative literature. In the fourth semester, the teaching focus becomes explicit: students take "Pedagogy and Didactics" — theory of teaching, setting objectives, teaching strategies, assessment. In the fifth semester: "Special Didactics of French" — how to apply this theory specifically to French teaching. In the sixth semester: teaching placements in real schools, supported by IPA supervisors.
This progression ensures that every student first masters the content, then learns how to teach it, and then practises it in a real context.
Principle 2: Integrating African and Burundian French
The curriculum does not limit literature to classical France. Alongside classical French literature, students study African literature written in French and Burundian literature. They explore how to teach French not as a colonial language, but as a language of African communication and culture. This grounding in the local context makes teaching relevant and motivating.
Principle 3: Balancing theory and practice at every stage
Each course combines lectures (theory), tutorials (discussion and analysis), practical work (experimentation), independent study (individual reflection) and group work (collaborative learning). It is not "theory first, then practice". It is a constant alternation, so that every theoretical concept is immediately applied and discussed.
Structure of the Bachelor's in French: curriculum architecture
The Bachelor's degree in French is organised over three years (six semesters) according to the ECTS system. Each semester is worth 30 credits, i.e. 60 credits per year. The teaching load amounts to 450 hours per semester, i.e. 2,700 hours over the three years, divided between lectures (CM), tutorials (TD), practical work (TP), independent student work (TPE) and group work (TGE). At the end of the six semesters, students receive the official Bachelor's degree in French recognised by the University of Burundi.
Subject foundations
General linguistics, French grammar, phonetics, French literary history, child and adolescent psychology. Students gain systematic mastery of the French language and a basic understanding of the learner's cognitive development.
Deeper knowledge and an introduction to pedagogy
Advanced morphology, syntax and semantics. African literature in French and Burundian literature. In semester 4, an introduction to the principles of general pedagogy, setting learning objectives, teaching strategies, assessment of learning. Students recognise the distinction between subject expertise and teaching expertise.
Applied French didactics
Students apply teaching principles to the specific context of French teaching. Didactics of second and foreign languages, integrating literary texts in the classroom, building teaching sequences.
Supervised practice in a professional setting
75 hours of teaching placements in a partner school. Students observe, teach, receive feedback from supervisors and write a report analysing their practice.
| BAC I SEMESTER 1 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.E | ECUE | Codes | Hours | Credits | |||||
| VHP | CM | TD | TP | TPE | TGE | ||||
| UE 1. Linguistics I | 1.1. General Linguistics | BF1101 | 60 | 40 | 10 | 10 | 40 | 100 | 4 |
| 1.2. French Grammar I | BF1102 | 45 | 25 | 20 | 30 | 75 | 3 | ||
| 1.3. French Phonetics and Phonology | BF1103 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | ||
| 9 | |||||||||
| UE 2. French Literature and Literary Analysis I | 2.1. Major Movements in French Literature from the Middle Ages to the 18th Century | BF1104 | 60 | 45 | 15 | 40 | 100 | 4 | |
| 2.2. Study of Texts and French Authors from the Middle Ages to the 18th Century | BF1105 | 60 | 15 | 30 | 15 | 40 | 100 | 4 | |
| 8 | |||||||||
| UE 3. Expression and Communication I | 3.1. Oral Expression Techniques in French | BF1106 | 45 | 15 | 30 | 30 | 75 | 3 | |
| 3.2. Written Expression Techniques in French | BF1107 | 45 | 20 | 15 | 10 | 30 | 75 | 3 | |
| 6 | |||||||||
| UE 4. Support Courses | 4.1. Kiswahili I | BF1108 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | |
| 4.2. Introduction to Research | BF1109 | 30 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 50 | 2 | ||
| 4.3. General Contemporary History | BF1110 | 45 | 30 | 15 | 30 | 75 | 3 | ||
| 7 | |||||||||
| TOTAL S1 | 450H | 30 | |||||||
| BAC I SEMESTER 2 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.E | ECUE | Codes | Hours | Credits | |||||
| VHP | CM | TD | TP | TPE | TGE | ||||
| UE 1. Linguistics II | 1.1. Introduction to French Linguistics | BF1211 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | |
| 1.2. Contrastive French Phonetics | BF1212 | 30 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 50 | 2 | ||
| 1.3. Practical French Phonetics | BF1213 | 45 | 15 | 30 | 30 | 75 | 3 | ||
| 7 | |||||||||
| UE 2. Francophone Literatures I | 2.1. Introduction to Francophone Literatures | BF1214 | 60 | 45 | 15 | 40 | 100 | 4 | |
| 2.2. Study of Francophone Texts | BF1215 | 60 | 15 | 30 | 15 | 40 | 100 | 4 | |
| 8 | |||||||||
| UE 3. Educational Psychology | 3.1. Introduction to Psychology | BF1216 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | |
| 3.2. Child and Adolescent Psychology | BF1217 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | ||
| 3.3. Psychology of Learning | BF1218 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 2 | 50 | 2 | ||
| 6 | |||||||||
| UE 4. Support Courses | 4.1. History and Civilisation of Contemporary Africa | BF1219 | 45 | 30 | 15 | 30 | 75 | 3 | |
| 4.2. Introduction to Computing | BF1220 | 45 | 15 | 30 | 30 | 75 | 3 | ||
| 4.3. English | BF1221 | 45 | 25 | 20 | 30 | 75 | 3 | ||
| 9 | |||||||||
| TOTAL S2 | 450H | 30 | |||||||
| Total S1+S2 | 900H | 60 | |||||||
| BAC II SEMESTER 3 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.E | ECUE | Codes | Hours | Credits | |||||
| VHP | CM | TD | TP | TPE | TGE | ||||
| UE 1. Linguistics III | 1.1. French Morphology | BF2301 | 30 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 50 | 2 | |
| 1.2. French Syntax | BF2302 | 30 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 50 | 2 | ||
| 1.3. French Semantics | BF2303 | 45 | 30 | 15 | 30 | 75 | 3 | ||
| 7 | |||||||||
| UE 2. Expression and Communication II | 2.1. Oral Comprehension and Expression | BF2304 | 45 | 15 | 30 | 30 | 75 | 3 | |
| 2.2. Written Comprehension and Expression I | BF2305 | 45 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 30 | 75 | 3 | |
| 6 | |||||||||
| UE 3. French Literature and Literary Analysis II | 3.1. Major Movements in French Literature from the 19th Century to the Present | BF2306 | 60 | 45 | 15 | 40 | 100 | 4 | |
| 3.2. Study of Texts by French Authors from the 19th Century to the Present | BF2307 | 45 | 15 | 30 | 30 | 75 | 3 | ||
| 3.3. Study of French Literary Genres | BF2308 | 45 | 30 | 15 | 30 | 75 | 3 | ||
| 10 | |||||||||
| UE 4. Support Courses | 4.1. Introduction to Philosophy | BF2309 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | |
| 4.2. Information and Communication Technology for Education (ICTE) | BF2310 | 45 | 15 | 30 | 30 | 75 | 3 | ||
| 4.3. Citizenship Education | BF2311 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | ||
| 7 | |||||||||
| TOTAL S3 | 450H | 30 | |||||||
| BAC II SEMESTER 4 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.E | ECUE | Codes | Hours | Credits | |||||
| VHP | CM | TD | TP | TPE | TGE | ||||
| UE 1. Linguistics IV | 1.1. French Grammar II | BF2412 | 30 | 10 | 20 | 20 | 50 | 2 | |
| 1.2. French Lexicology | BF2413 | 45 | 20 | 15 | 10 | 30 | 75 | 3 | |
| 1.3. Discourse Analysis | BF2414 | 45 | 30 | 15 | 30 | 75 | 3 | ||
| 8 | |||||||||
| UE 2. Francophone Literatures II | 2.1. Modern African Literature in French | BF2415 | 60 | 45 | 15 | 40 | 100 | 4 | |
| 2.2. Study of African Texts and Authors Writing in French | BF2416 | 45 | 15 | 30 | 30 | 75 | 3 | ||
| 2.3. Burundian Literature in French | BF2417 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | ||
| 9 | |||||||||
| UE 3. Pedagogy and Didactics | 3.1. General Pedagogy | BF2418 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | |
| 3.2. Setting Objectives | BF2419 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | ||
| 3.3. Teaching Strategy | BF2420 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | ||
| 3.4. Assessment of Learning | BF2421 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | ||
| 8 | |||||||||
| UE 4. Support Courses | 4.1. Kiswahili II | BF2422 | 30 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 50 | 2 | |
| 4.2. General Sociology | BF2423 | 45 | 30 | 15 | 20 | 50 | 3 | ||
| 5 | |||||||||
| TOTAL S3 | 450H | 30 | |||||||
| TOTAL S3+S4 | 900H | 60 | |||||||
| BAC III SEMESTER 5 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.E | ECUE | Codes | Hours | Credits | |||||
| VHP | CM | TD | TP | TPE | TGE | ||||
| UE 1. Expression and Communication III | 1.1. Oral Comprehension and Expression II | BF3501 | 45 | 15 | 30 | 30 | 75 | 3 | |
| 1.2. Written Comprehension and Expression II | BF3502 | 30 | 10 | 20 | 20 | 50 | 2 | ||
| 5 | |||||||||
| UE 2. Literary Criticism and Analysis I | 2.1. Introduction to Literary Criticism | BF3503 | 45 | 30 | 15 | 30 | 75 | 3 | |
| 2.2. French Stylistics | BF3504 | 45 | 30 | 15 | 30 | 75 | 3 | ||
| 6 | |||||||||
| UE 3. Teacher Ethics and Practice | 3.1. School Administration and Legislation | BF3504 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | |
| 3.2. Teacher Deontology | BF3505 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | ||
| 4 | |||||||||
| UE 4. Special Didactics | 4.1. Language Didactics | BF3506 | 45 | 25 | 20 | 30 | 75 | 3 | |
| 4.2. Didactics of French as a Second and Foreign Language | BF3507 | 45 | 25 | 20 | 30 | 75 | 3 | ||
| 4.3. Text Didactics | BF3508 | 45 | 20 | 25 | 30 | 75 | 3 | ||
| 9 | |||||||||
| UE 4. Support Courses | 5.1. Cultural and Social Anthropology | BF3509 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | |
| 5.2. Entrepreneurship | BF3510 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | ||
| 5.3. Formal Logic | BF3511 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 2 | ||
| 9 | |||||||||
| TOTAL S5 | 450H | 30 | |||||||
| BAC III SEMESTER 6 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.E | ECUE | Codes | Hours | Credits | |||||
| VHP | CM | TD | TP | TPE | TGE | ||||
| UE 1. Linguistics V | 1.1. Psycholinguistics | BF3612 | 45 | 30 | 15 | 30 | 75 | 3 | |
| 1.2. Sociolinguistics | BF3613 | 45 | 30 | 15 | 30 | 75 | 3 | ||
| 6 | |||||||||
| UE 2. Francophone Literatures III | 2.1. Francophone Literatures of the North | BF3614 | 45 | 30 | 15 | 30 | 75 | 3 | |
| 2.2. Maghrebi Literature | BF3615 | 45 | 30 | 15 | 30 | 75 | 3 | ||
| 2.3. Caribbean and Guianese Literature | BF3616 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 75 | 2 | ||
| 8 | |||||||||
| UE 3. Literary Criticism and Analysis II | 3.1. Literary Criticism and Commentary | BF3617 | 45 | 20 | 25 | 30 | 75 | 3 | |
| 3.2. Introduction to Comparative Literature | BF3618 | 45 | 30 | 15 | 30 | 75 | 3 | ||
| 6 | |||||||||
| UE 4. Teaching Practice | 4.1. Didactics Exercises | BF3619 | 45 | - | 45 | 30 | 75 | 3 | |
| 4.2. Teaching Placements | BF3620 | 75 | - | 75 | 50 | 125 | 5 | ||
| 4.3. Teaching Placement Report | BF3621 | 30 | - | 30 | 20 | 50 | 2 | ||
| 10 | |||||||||
| TOTAL S5 | 450H | 30 | |||||||
| TOTAL S5+S6 | 900H | 60 | |||||||
Where does studying French lead? Careers and opportunities
Graduates of the French Department follow several career paths.
Secondary school teacher: Most become French teachers in Burundian or regional secondary schools. With their IPA training, they are not ordinary teachers. They know didactics, can adapt their teaching to their context, and can train their colleagues.
Teacher trainer: Some graduates join in-service teacher training programmes, either at the IPA itself or at other institutions. Their teaching expertise makes them valuable in supporting other teachers.
Researcher in didactics: Students interested in research can go on to a Master's in French (the Master's in TESOL for foreign languages, or a specialised Master's in French), where they deepen their knowledge of didactics and applied linguistics.
Educational coordinator or inspector: After several years of teaching experience, some graduates become school inspectors or educational coordinators at the ministry, where they help improve the quality of French teaching nationwide.
Graduates report high job satisfaction: they teach, they make a difference, and their IPA training prepared them to do so effectively.
Admission requirements
To be admitted to the first year of the Bachelor's (BAC 1), applicants must meet the general admission conditions set by the University of Burundi:
- Hold the Burundian State Diploma (State Examination) or a qualification recognised as equivalent;
- Be placed in or admitted to an IPA department through the official admission procedure held each year;
- Submit an application file within the deadlines set by the Directorate of Academic Services.
For the procedure and the programme choice platform, see the Bachelor's Admissions page.