Do you enjoy reading in French and writing in English? Are you interested in the similarities and differences between the two cultures? Come and join this interactive translation course.
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.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
Enhance your understanding of French language and culture and develop your English writing style by doing and discussing translations.
What will we cover?
This is primarily a practical translation course with a focus on literature, although there will be opportunities to work with other forms of writing, depending on student interest. You will translate a range of short passages and discuss your work in class. We will also look at short extracts from published English translations alongside their French originals.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
- recognise a range of different writing styles in French and set about recreating them in English. - interpret French writing with greater subtlety, and with enhanced knowledge of French-speaking cultures. - write in English exploring different “voices”. - understand the work of the professional literary translator in more depth.
There may be other outcomes, depending on the needs and interests of the group of students.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This class involves reading passages from a range of French literary texts and teasing out their subtleties in order to recreate them as closely as possible in English. Students should have at least a strong level B2 in French, be comfortable reading French literature and have a good knowledge of French language and culture. They must be able to write fluent, idiomatic English (native or near-native speaker, C1 English as an absolute minimum) and be willing to explore different registers and styles.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
This is a practical, participative course in which students will be required to prepare translations for discussion in class. Homework will be set every week, which students should be willing and able to do in order to benefit fully from the course.
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?
Based on tutor's material.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
To be discussed with your tutor. You could also do another course related to French, creative writing, journalism, etc.
Trista studied French at UCL and, in 1988 published a book on the French writer Marguerite Duras, based on her PhD thesis: “The Other Woman” (Yale UP). Since then she has led a double professional life as a freelance translator and teacher. As a translator she works mainly in literary non-fiction, fiction and academic writing. Her translation of Gwenaëlle’s autofiction “Personne” was shortlisted for the French-American Foundation Translation Prize in 2013. For 30 years she also worked for the British Film Institute as a translator, performer and subtitles of film soundtracks and as an interpreter for actors, directors and producers from the French-speaking world. In parallel to translation she has always been a teacher, on courses in French language, literature, cinema and translation at various universities in London and, since 2005, also at City Lit. She greatly enjoys sharing her French-related interests with students and learning from the ideas and experiences that they bring.
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.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/literary-translation-in-practice-french-into-english1174393Literary translation in practice (French into English)https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/french-courses-london-online.jpg249249GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Languages/Courses/Languages/European/Courses/Languages/European/French/Courses/Languages/Translation/Courses/Online courses22851280128112871351417311228512801281Do you enjoy reading in French and writing in English? Are you interested in the similarities and differences between the two cultures? Come and join this interactive translation course.253032908Literary translation in practice (French into English)249249https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/french-courses-london-online.jpgInStockEveningMonOnlineAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-10-12T00:00:00+00:00AdvancedOct 2026LanguagesLF541249249Literary translation in practice (French into English)249162249Trista Selousliterary-translation-in-practice-french-into-english/lf541-2627Do you enjoy reading in French and writing in English? Are you interested in the similarities and differences between the two cultures? Come and join this interactive translation course.0000-Available|2026-10-12 00:00:00Enhance your understanding of French language and culture and develop your English writing style by doing and discussing translations.Do you enjoy reading in French and writing in English? Are you interested in the similarities and differences between the two cultures? Come and join this interactive translation course.This is primarily a practical translation course with a focus on literature, although there will be opportunities to work with other forms of writing, depending on student interest. You will translate a range of short passages and discuss your work in class. We will also look at short extracts from published English translations alongside their French originals.- recognise a range of different writing styles in French and set about recreating them in English.<br/>- interpret French writing with greater subtlety, and with enhanced knowledge of French-speaking cultures.<br/>- write in English exploring different “voices”.<br/>- understand the work of the professional literary translator in more depth.<br/><br/>There may be other outcomes, depending on the needs and interests of the group of students.<p>This class involves reading passages from a range of French literary texts and teasing out their subtleties in order to recreate them as closely as possible in English. Students should have at least a strong level B2 in French, be comfortable reading French literature and have a good knowledge of French language and culture. They must be able to write fluent, idiomatic English (native or near-native speaker, C1 English as an absolute minimum) and be willing to explore different registers and styles.</p><p><br/>If you are not sure about your level, please contact Languages on languages@citylit.ac.uk or check our level assessment chart on: <a href="http://www.citylit.ac.uk/self-assess-your-level" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.citylit.ac.uk/self-assess-your-level</a></p><p>This is a practical, participative course in which students will be required to prepare translations for discussion in class. Homework will be set every week, which students should be willing and able to do in order to benefit fully from the course.</p><p><strong>This course uses Google Classroom</strong>, a digital learning platform where all the teaching and learning resources can be found. <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/common-questions-about-google-classroom" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Here</a> are some common answers to questions about Google Classroom.</p>Based on tutor's material.<p>To be discussed with your tutor. You could also do another course related to French, creative writing, journalism, etc.</p><p>You may also wish to consider our<strong><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/languages/language-culture" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> language and culture</a> </strong>or our<strong> <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/languages/conversation" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">conversation courses</a></strong><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/languages/conversation" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong> </strong></a>to expand and consolidate your learning. </p>EuropeanFrenchvirtual249249162LF541NONEMon12/10/26 - 30/11/2618:15 - 20:1518:1520:158 sessions (over 8 weeks)85-10 weeksWeekdayOnlineOnlineTrista SelousAdvancedAvailable courses2026-10-12T00:00:00+00:00EveningOct 2026Languages249249Literary translation in practice (French into English)literary-translation-in-practice-french-into-english/lf541-2627Do you enjoy reading in French and writing in English? Are you interested in the similarities and differences between the two cultures? Come and join this interactive translation course.0000-Available|2026-10-12 00:00:00Enhance your understanding of French language and culture and develop your English writing style by doing and discussing translations.Do you enjoy reading in French and writing in English? Are you interested in the similarities and differences between the two cultures? Come and join this interactive translation course.This is primarily a practical translation course with a focus on literature, although there will be opportunities to work with other forms of writing, depending on student interest. You will translate a range of short passages and discuss your work in class. We will also look at short extracts from published English translations alongside their French originals.- recognise a range of different writing styles in French and set about recreating them in English.<br/>- interpret French writing with greater subtlety, and with enhanced knowledge of French-speaking cultures.<br/>- write in English exploring different “voices”.<br/>- understand the work of the professional literary translator in more depth.<br/><br/>There may be other outcomes, depending on the needs and interests of the group of students.<p>This class involves reading passages from a range of French literary texts and teasing out their subtleties in order to recreate them as closely as possible in English. Students should have at least a strong level B2 in French, be comfortable reading French literature and have a good knowledge of French language and culture. They must be able to write fluent, idiomatic English (native or near-native speaker, C1 English as an absolute minimum) and be willing to explore different registers and styles.</p><p><br/>If you are not sure about your level, please contact Languages on languages@citylit.ac.uk or check our level assessment chart on: <a href="http://www.citylit.ac.uk/self-assess-your-level" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.citylit.ac.uk/self-assess-your-level</a></p><p>This is a practical, participative course in which students will be required to prepare translations for discussion in class. Homework will be set every week, which students should be willing and able to do in order to benefit fully from the course.</p><p><strong>This course uses Google Classroom</strong>, a digital learning platform where all the teaching and learning resources can be found. <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/common-questions-about-google-classroom" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Here</a> are some common answers to questions about Google Classroom.</p>Based on tutor's material.<p>To be discussed with your tutor. You could also do another course related to French, creative writing, journalism, etc.</p><p>You may also wish to consider our<strong><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/languages/language-culture" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> language and culture</a> </strong>or our<strong> <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/languages/conversation" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">conversation courses</a></strong><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/languages/conversation" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong> </strong></a>to expand and consolidate your learning. </p>EuropeanFrenchconfigurable
