SMCE4025 F26 À Table et en Scène: French Culture Through Food and the Arts

• Delivery: In person on campus at the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto, with off-campus excursions
• Duration: 6 weeks
• Day of the week: Tuesdays
• Dates: October 13th to November 17th, 2026
• Time: 6:30- 8:30 p.m.
• Location: TBC
• Cost: $345 (includes HST)

Course Overview

This six-week intermediate French course invites learners to deepen their language skills through an immersive exploration of French art, food, wine, film, and performance. Designed for students who want to move beyond the classroom, the course blends language development with cultural discovery, emphasizing communication, confidence, and personal expression.

Weekly themes range from visual arts and gastronomy to cinema and theatre, each supported by targeted language focus and interactive activities such as role-plays, tastings, scene performances, and group discussions. At least two of the sessions will include an excursion to an authentic French cultural setting in Toronto where learners can put their language skills to real world use.

Method of Instruction

Through guided discussions, the use of authentic materials, and experiential learning, students learn to describe visual and performing arts using precise analytical vocabulary, express opinions and emotions in spoken French, and interpret cultural practices within their social and historical contexts.

This course is suitable for intermediate French learners with a B1 level in the Common European Framework of Reference.

CEFR Level B1, known as “Intermediate” or “Threshold,” represents an independent language user who can communicate, work, or travel in familiar situations. Learners can understand main points of clear, standard input on familiar matters, produce simple connected texts, describe experiences and ambitions, and handle most travel situations. 

Key B1 Capabilities:

Writing: Produces simple, connected text on familiar topics or topics of personal interest. 

Listening: Understands the main points of clear, standard speech on familiar subjects (work, school, leisure).

Reading: Comprehends texts with high-frequency everyday or work-related language.

Speaking: Handles most situations while traveling, enters unprepared conversations on familiar topics, and connects phrases to describe experiences

Learning Outcomes

In this course, learners will:

• Discuss visual and performing arts using appropriate descriptive and analytical vocabulary
• Express opinions, emotions, and cultural interpretations in spoken French
• Understand authentic cultural materials (films, menus, wine labels, interviews, reviews)
• Interact confidently in real-world cultural settings (museums, cafés, tastings, performances)
• Deepen cultural literacy around French artistic and culinary traditionswritten French. 

About the Instructor

Michael Salvatori

Career educator and author, Dr. Salvatori serves as Director of Continuing Education at the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto.  Prior to this role, Michael served as Vice President of Strategy and as Associate Professor at Niagara University in Ontario.

As the Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of the Ontario College of Teachers from 2009-2021, Michael led Canada’s largest self-regulatory body for the teaching profession.

Earlier in his career, Michael served as an elementary and secondary school core French and French immersion teacher, a vice-principal, principal, and as an assistant professor at Glendon College of York University.

Long a champion of second language education, he is fluent in French, Italian, English, and German and is author and co-author of numerous textbooks and teacher resources.

Questions?  

Please note this course is full. Registration is now closed.