From 'Bonjour' to Baudelaire: your journey into the heart of the french language

“When I arrived at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, I didn’t know more than bonjour. Nine months later, I was taking my economics classes entirely in French.” The testimony of Jana Althawadi, now a first-year undergraduate student in economics and management, sums up a question often seen as unrealistic: can you really learn French in one year? At a time when some apps promise a “ready-made” language in a matter of weeks, the SUAD experience offers a more demanding - and more realistic - approach: learning a language takes time, but one intensive, immersive year can be enough to reach a solid functional level. 

From first words to mastery 

From the very first weeks, the pace sets the tone. Twenty-two hours of French a week, days filled with classes, oral practice, listening exercises and debates. In the classroom, students try, make mistakes, and start again. Every year, students from very different backgrounds arrive in Abu Dhabi with little or no knowledge of French. One year later, they are pursuing university studies in French and using the language confidently in academic and social contexts. 

This progression is built around the Foundation Programme in Intensive French, designed as a true immersion programme. “The idea is to immerse students in the language from day one,” explains Dr Karine Germoni, Head of French as a Foreign Language Department, Associate Professor, at SUAD. “French is not just an object of study; it is a tool that is used constantly. Our programme works because it is structured as an intensive, immersive curriculum, where the language is continuously activated in real-life contexts.” 

When technology brings the language to life 

Immersion continues beyond the classroom. Wearing a virtual reality headset, a student steps up to a virtual counter. The task? Order a baguette, then book a table at a restaurant. Ask a question, understand the reply. The apprehension is real, even if the scene is virtual. “With VR, students don’t just observe a situation—they step right into it,” the professor explains. Designed in-house by the department, these tools allow students to practise without filters or fear of judgement, in everyday situations. On their smartphones, the educational chatbot Nora extends this support on a daily basis, encouraging students to self-correct and develop greater autonomy. 

Throughout the year, no skill is overlooked: understanding a text, speaking confidently, structuring an argument, refining pronunciation. Progression is carefully structured, from A1 to a functional B1+ level, with continuous assessment aligned with international standards such as the DELF and the Sorbonne University Diploma. Another distinctive feature is that each skill is taught by specialist instructors, offering complementary approaches and constant exposure to the language. “This combination of intensity, structure and pedagogical coherence enables beginners to reach a functional level in one year,” says Dr Karine Germoni. 

Beyond the Classroom: embracing Living French 

Over the months, sentences take shape and automatisms settle in. French becomes familiar—and then comes the day of the Grand Oral. Four times a year, the rhythm of campus life changes. The amphitheatre fills up, guests arrive, microphones are switched on. This time, it is no longer a classroom exercise but a real public event. Facing the students are Francophone figures from the United Arab Emirates—diplomats, scientists, business leaders. Around them, an audience. And in between, the students, responsible for everything, in French: welcoming guests, managing the unexpected, moderating discussions. French is no longer a subject; it is the only tool available. “It’s total immersion in a real and unpredictable situation,” explains Dr Karine Germoni. 

For many, this moment marks a turning point. “That’s when you realise what you’re capable of,” says Salama AlQubaisi, a law student. “I used to be afraid of speaking in public. Today, I do it—in French. The Grand Oral turned my fear into confidence.” 

As the months go by, teachers observe a transformation that goes far beyond linguistic proficiency alone. Hesitation fades, confidence grows. “They change their posture: they dare to speak up, to debate, to assert their ideas,” notes Karine Germoni. Jana Althawadi puts it simply: “Immersion helped me stop translating in my head. I started thinking directly in French.” This new mastery opens up concrete opportunities. It allows students not only to pursue university studies in French, but also to take an active part in Francophone intellectual and cultural life. Initiatives such as the Choix Goncourt de l’Orient are emblematic of this: reading, analysing and debating contemporary works in French, and engaging in an international literary dialogue. At this stage, the language is no longer a goal, it has become a space in which students operate. 

But the language moves decisively beyond the theoretical framework to become a living means of exchange, both on campus and beyond, as students practise it through cultural events organised throughout the year — theatre performances, concerts, screenings as part of Sorbonne CineArt — all opportunities to engage with it outside the academic context.But the language moves decisively beyond the theoretical framework to become a living means of exchange, both on campus and beyond, as students practise it through cultural events organised throughout the year — theatre performances, concerts, screenings as part of Sorbonne CineArt — all opportunities to engage with it outside the academic context. 

French: a passport to the world 

These experiences invite a broader reflection on language learning today. “A language is not a product you download in thirty days,” Karine Germoni reminds us. While some apps can help learners acquire basic skills, they cannot replace time, real interaction or sustained pedagogical support. 

In a world where English has become a prerequisite, French represents an additional asset—particularly in the United Arab Emirates, where many French companies are established. Numerous international studies show that graduates who master at least two foreign languages enjoy better employment prospects, with higher rates of professional integration and faster career progression, especially in sectors such as diplomacy, energy, culture and luxury—fields that are strongly represented in the UAE. 

But the stakes go beyond economic indicators alone. At SUAD, learning French also means gaining access to a demanding intellectual space and developing the critical and cultural skills essential in a globalised world. Here, the language becomes not only a tool, but a genuine form of academic and human capital.