French Language & Culture
“Language is wine upon the lips.” ~ Virginia Woolf
Did you know that French is the only language, other than English, spoken on five continents? French and English are the only two global languages, and France is the second most visited country in the world. French is the language of business, technology, art, fashion, cuisine, and opens a world of opportunity for you. We have French classes for beginners through professionals, all oriented toward improving conversational skills to prepare you for real situations such as travel in Francophone countries.
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Conversational French classes in Madison
Instructors for French classes
What students are saying about our classes
Distance learning in French
French for reading knowledge
Conversational French classes in Madison
Beginning 1: Learn to communicate in French in various social and cultural situations. Taught in an informal and relaxed atmosphere, this class develops skills needed by travelers and others who want to learn about French language and culture. Class topics encourage an appreciation for the richness of French and Francophone cultures. No prerequisites. Instructor: Britt Zeidler.
Intermediate: Our intermediate course builds confidence in your speaking skills. It is designed so students may take the course multiple times to expand their knowledge of French and Francophone cultures. Instructor: To be announced.
Back to Basics French: Providing an overview of grammar and vocabulary, this is a great refresher for those who haven’t studied French in a while, who want to become more comfortable speaking French, or who want to move on to an intermediate level. Instructor: Martha Goodge.
If you aren't sure which level is right for you, please contact the French classes coordinator at french@dcs.wisc.edu.
Browse upcoming French classes in the Continuing Education Catalog online.
French for reading knowledge: This course provides a concise overview of grammar, as well as reading and translation practice, for graduate students and others who wish to read French. With the successful completion of this course, you can certify that you have passed your UW-Madison graduate program requirements for reading knowledge of French. We have successfully prepared numerous participants to do research in their fields and for the French reading knowledge exam. Instructor: Sage Goellner.
Browse upcoming French classes in the Continuing Education Catalog online.
Textbooks for language classes are available for preview and purchase on campus in the University Book Store's lower level, in the outreach section. The University Book Store is located at 711 State St., Madison (at Lake St., on the Library Mall).
See campus map.
Your instructors
French classes are taught by Sage Goellner and Britt Zeidler.
Sage Goellner holds a PhD in French Literature from UW-Madison, has lived and worked in France, and has over ten years of teaching experience.
Martha Goodge is a graduate student in the Department of French and Italian. She has taught several evening French courses and has research interests in seventeenth-century French literature and culture.
Britt Zeidler is a native speaker of French, holds a MA in French Literature from the University of Calgary, and has studied and worked abroad.
What students are saying about our classes
"Great teacher! Learning French is very empowering."
"I think it was a very good course-informative yet enjoyable. The instructor obviously loves what she is doing, and it is infectious."
"I was very pleased and surprised at the openness of the professor and her ability to infuse others with enthusiasm about the subject."
"The course is very practical. You learn the basics to get you around in a travel situation. I enjoyed the course very much. It was both fun and the teacher was excellent."
"I really enjoyed this class-a great value. I feel like I have gotten a tax refund from the state. I particularly like the way that basic grammar and pronunciation was taught. The instructor was excellent and was very helpful."
Distance learning in French
If you can't attend our face-to-face classes, or if you want to work on reading and writing rather than speaking French, explore our Independent Learning courses. French language, literature, civilization, and business courses are available at the beginning, intermediate and advanced levels.
- Earn transferable college credit or high school units.
- Work one-on-one with our experienced instructors via e-mail or postal mail.
- Start your course at any time, all year round.
- Work at your own schedule for as long as one year to complete each course.
Also of interest
Download this flyer for information on French-speaking groups in Madison.
How to register
Call (608) 262-2451, 7:00 am-4:00 pm, M-F. Specific program numbers and links to the mail-in registration form or to register online can be found in the continuing education catalog.
Contact us
- Madison area registration questions: 608-262-2451.
- UW-Madison Continuing Studies in French coordinator Sage Goellner: sgoellner@dcs.wisc.edu or 608-262-4873.
- Join the mailing list for French or other language programs.
- Review frequently asked questions about language programs.
