Third Regional Forum on the Future of French and Francophone Studies at School and at University

On 27 June 2025, the University of Bristol will host the third regional Forum on the future of French and Francophone Studies in UK schools and universities. Secondary and higher education teachers will share ideas and good practice in teaching and promoting the French language, and discuss how we might boost the recruitment of pupils and students. We will also talk about how we can help learners increase their personal confidence and knowledge about language, the contemporary Francophone world.

This Forum is organised by the School of Modern Languages at the University of Bristol, in collaboration with the Higher Education, Research and Innovation Department of the French Embassy in the UK and the Institut français du Royaume-Uni, with the support of the Association of University Professors Heads of French (AUPHF+), the Society for French Studies (SFS) and the Association of French Teachers in Further and Higher Education in the UK (FLEUR).

PROGRAMME

9.00 Welcome & Registration Student Common Room (17 Woodland Road)

9.00 Coffee and Tea  Student Common Room (17 Woodland Road) 

9.30-9.40 Introduction Arts Complex Lecture Theater B.H05

Prof. Natalie Edwards (Head of the School of Modern Languages & Professor of Literature in French, Society of French Studies) and Prof. Bradley Stephens (University of Bristol, AUPHF+)

9.40-10.25 Keynote: French as a Professional asset: language skills and beyond Arts Complex Lecture Theater B.H05

Francis Pepett Faculty of Arts Employability Consultant, Stéphanie Demont (Language Director for French, University of Bristol) and Bernardette Holmes (director of NCLE)

What is the current narrative about languages and employability? How is it presented to language learners? How is it currently embedded in the language curriculum both in schools and at university? During this session the speakers will discuss their experience of employability in the language curriculum and invite participants to share their own experiences.

10.25-10.35 Comfort break  

10h35-11h20 Workshops Session 1

• A vos plumes! Room G.H03 (Arts Complex building)

Dr Paul Earlie (Senior Lecturer in French Thought, University of Bristol) and Ségolène Armour (Lead Tutor for French and Spanish at the National Extension College)

Let’s see how promoting creativity in a language curriculum can engage students, enrich their language exploration, and familiarise them with various fields of activity: journalism, edition, heritage, literature, policy making…

• We are all translators Room G.H04 (Arts Complex building)

Prof. Bradley Stephens (Professor of French Literature, University of Bristol) and Ben Holmes (Teacher of Languages at The Downs School, Newbury)

Switching from one language to another is a very challenging and enriching exercise. Let's share strategies we can deploy when teaching translation at school and universities.

11.20-11.45 Coffee break & network Humanities Research Space

11.45-12.40 Workshops Session 2

• Starting French from scratch  Room G.H03 (Arts Complex building)

Fanny Mallejac (Teaching associate in French, University of Bristol) and Julie Laisne (French Teacher, Cardiff Sixth Form College)

The transition challenge of changing language in secondary school and starting modern languages at university.

• Deconstructing and Opening the Curriculum  Room G.H04 (Arts Complex building)

Dr Fabrice Roger (Teaching associate in French, University of Bristol) and Amélie Bowers (Curriculum Director, Head of Modern Languages Hills Road Sixth form College, Cambridge)

How can we use decolonial approaches and the Francophonie to deconstruct and open the curriculum? Does it lead to a multicultural and inclusive approach of languages and cultures?

12.40-13.50 Lunch Student Common Room (17 Woodland Road)

13.50-14.20 Keynote on AI in Education  Arts Complex Lecture Theater B.H05

Dr Aisling Tierney (Lecturer at the Bristol Institute for Learning and Teaching, BILT)

14.20-15.00 AI: Practices, challenges and next steps Arts Complex Lecture Theater B.H05

Chloe Laborde (Deputy Director for Language, French, University of Bristol) and Clare Gardner (MFL Teacher, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Bristol)

What are schools and universities’ guidance regarding AI? How are teachers using AI in their teaching, if at all? The session will invite participants to share their experience with using and working AI.

15.00-15.10 Comfort Break

15.10-16.00 Roundtable – Building bridges: UK-French mobility for secondary schools and universities  Arts Complex Lecture Theater B.H05

led by Prof. Martin Hurcombe (Research Director and Deputy Head of School, University of Bristol)

• Prof. Vincent Latour (Toulouse Jean Jaurès)
• Bernadette Paccalin (Déléguée régionale académique adjointe aux relations européennes, internationales et à la cooperation)
• Sophie Andrieu-Maurin (Chargée de coopération internationale, Académie de Bordeaux)
• Clare Colvin (Head of Europe and Americas, International Partnerships, Department for Education)
• Uzma Zahoor (Head of Languages Faculty at Cathedral School Llandaff)
• Lindsey Roberts (Policy Advisor, International Partnerships)
• Amélie Bowers (Curriculum Director, Head of Modern Languages Hills Road Sixth form College, Cambridge)

Chair: Dr Charlotte Faucher (University of Bristol)