University language service

The Service Universitaire des Langues - SUL - welcomes mobile students of different nationalities, helping them to discover and/or perfect their knowledge of modern languages. Multilingualism is an essential part of its activities. Since 1953, the Pôle FLE, based in Aix-en-Provence, has offered a wide range of courses in French as a foreign language at all CEFR levels. Carlam, based in Marseille, offers resources, self-training and certification in modern languages.

The SUL's mission is to :

  • Offer training in French as a Foreign Language: its University Diploma(DU LCF), recognized by the various AMU departments (L2, L3, Master), is a driving force behind this. For 70 years, every semester, nearly 300 students from all over the world come to learn and discover a language and culture with an experienced and dynamic teaching team. The SUL also offers 30-hour FLE sessions over the course of the semester, organized in Aix-en-Provence, Marseille and online, for all types of students and AMU staff, as well as international students on supervised (Erasmus+) or individual mobility programs. Intensive summer courses enable students to learn French while enjoying the Provencal environment.
  • Supporting learners of Modern Languages (French and foreign) in its language resource center, CARLAM, by providing self-training materials and supervised tutoring and conversation activities. Several hundred students deepen their language learning each year, some of them obtaining the " Bonus Langues " validated by their training in AMU components.
  • Offer students and individuals the opportunity to take the language certifications they need for international mobility and/or professional integration.
    In particular, the department organizes the CLES (Certificat de Langue de l'Enseignement Supérieur), the TOEIC - Listening and Reading, the DALF (Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française), the TCF (Test de Connaissance du Français) and will also offer other language certifications (FLE and LVE).
  • Train FLE trainers seeking to perfect their didactic skills in French as a foreign language. This mission is assigned to SUPFLES. It involves the SUL, Pôle FLE and Aix Marseille University's FLE didactics department (ALLSH).
  • Contribute to research on the teaching/learning of modern languages.

Located in France's second largest metropolitan area, the SUL aims to meet the needs of Aix-Marseille Université's components to ensure the best possible integration of students in the university's various programs and cycles (bachelor's, master's, doctorate) and in their pursuit of studies in higher education.