The University Language Service ( SUL) welcomes exchange students of various nationalities and supports them as they discover and/or improve their modern language skills. Multilingualism is a key focus of its work. Since 1953, the Pôle FLE, based in Aix-en-Provence, has been offering a wide range of courses in French as a foreign language at all levels of the CEFR. Carlam, based in Marseille, provides resources, self-study materials and language qualifications.
University Language Service
The SUL’s remit is to:
- To offer courses in French as a Foreign Language: its University Diploma (DU LCF), recognised by the various departments of AMU (L2, L3, Master’s), is a key component of this. For 70 years, every semester, nearly 300 students from all over the world have come to learn and discover a language and culture with an experienced and dynamic teaching team. The SUL also offers 30-hour FLE courses throughout the semester, held in Aix-en-Provence, Marseille and online, aimed at all audiences, including AMU students and staff, as well as international students on supervised (Erasmus+) or independent exchange programmes. Intensive summer courses enable participants to learn French whilst enjoying the Provençal setting.
- Supporting learners of modern languages (French and foreign languages) at its language resource centre, CARLAM, by providing self-study materials and supervised tutoring and conversation sessions. Several hundred students deepen their language learning each year, with some obtaining the ‘Language Bonus’ recognised by their degree programmes within AMU’s constituent institutions.
- To offer the opportunity to sit language certification exams required by students and individuals for international mobility and/or their entry into the workforce.
In particular, the service organises the CLES ( Certificat de Langue de l’Enseignement Supérieur), the TOEIC – Listening and Reading, the DALF ( Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française) and the TCF ( Test de Connaissance du Français), and aims to offer other language certifications (FLE and LVE) - To train FLE trainers seeking to improve their teaching skills in French as a Foreign Language. This remit is assigned to SUPFLES. It involves the SUL, the FLE Centre and the Department of FLE Didactics (ALLSH) at Aix-Marseille University.
- To contribute to research into the teaching and learning of modern languages.
Located in France’s second-largest metropolitan area, the SUL aims to meet the needs of the constituent parts of Aix-Marseille University to ensure the best possible integration of students into the university’s various degree programmes and levels (bachelor’s, master’s, PhD) and into further studies in higher education.
