French 5: Georges Brassens: un chanteur, une chanson, une vie

Personnage d'une immense discrétion, Georges Brassens a inscrit son nom dans le patrimoine artistique français en créant un style unique sculpté autour de mélodies simples et de textes qui sont autant de chefs-d'œuvre poétiques.

Ce cours a pour objectif de vous faire découvrir la vie et la carrière de cet artiste, figure éminente de la chanson française traditionnelle, en mettant l'accent sur les textes de ses chansons, leurs...

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Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.

  • Start Date: 10 Nov 2026
    End Date: 17 Nov 2026
    Tue (Daytime): 14:00 - 16:00
    Online
    Location: Online
    Duration: 2 sessions (over 2 weeks)
    Course Code: LFW51
    Full fee £49.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £32.00
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Any questions? languages@citylit.ac.uk or call 020 3443 9714

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In stock
SKU
244400
Full fee £49.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £32.00

What is the course about?

An introduction to the life and work of Georges Brassens, one of the most influential singer‑songwriters of the French chanson tradition. Poet, composer and performer, Brassens developed a highly distinctive voice, combining musical simplicity with linguistic sophistication, irony and moral independence. This course explores his career, his poetic language and his place in French cultural history, while consolidating your French through listening, reading and discussion activities.

What will we cover?

An overview of Georges Brassens's life and his intellectual influences
Brassens and the tradition of French poetry and chanson
Close study of selected songs and lyrics
Key themes: freedom, friendship, marginal figures, humour and anticlericalism
The legacy of Brassens in French culture

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

Identify the main stages of Georges Brassens’ life and career
Better understand and analyse the lyrics of several of his songs
Extract specific information from audio material and written texts
Recognise recurring themes and stylistic features in his work
Discuss and express informed opinions about chanson as a literary and musical form in French

Please note that the above outcomes may be adapted depending on the pace and interests of the group.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This course is taught in French and is designed for students with a fairly high level of French (approximately French 5). Learners should normally have studied French for at least 5 to 6 years to feel comfortable taking part in discussions and analysis.

If you are not sure about your level, please contact Languages on languages@citylit.ac.uk or check our level assessment chart on: http://www.citylit.ac.uk/self-assess-your-level

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

Our courses are characterised by spoken interaction and communication. Typical activities include pair work, group work, role-plays and games. A range of resources will be used to support your learning including presentations, hand-outs, and audio-visual material.


This course uses Google Classroom, a digital learning platform where all the teaching and learning resources can be found. Here are some common answers to questions about Google Classroom

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

There are no other costs.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

Any other French 4 or 5 course.

You may also wish to consider our language and culture or our conversation courses to expand and consolidate your learning.

Pierre Porcheron Tutor Website

Pierre studied towards a "Licence de Langue, Littérature et Civilisations anglo-saxonne" at Grenoble University in the early 1980s. He moved to Paris in 1986 where he worked in the field of Corporate and Financial Communication, first as an editor-in-chief for a specialised publishing company, and later as an executive in charge of Corporate and Financial Communication for a large national financial institution. In the early 1990s, he gave it all up and moved to the UK (an ambition since I was a teenager) and started teaching French in a private language school, then as a secondary school classroom teacher. He then went on to study and in 2010, he gained the Dip Trans IoLET (the Chartered Institute of Linguists Diploma in Translation). In 2013, he decided to resume his teaching career, albeit choosing to do so in the Life Long Learning sector. Pierre believes that learning and teaching a foreign language is (but not limited to) about having fun, expanding personal communication skills, seeing and understanding things from a different cultural perspective.

Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.