Teaching literature in FLE: French as a foreign language through literary texts
A hands-on Erasmus+ week in Bordeaux on teaching literature in French as a foreign language: turn literary texts into a living resource that is accessible, meaningful and motivating for your learners.
Plan your Erasmus mobilityFLE literature course for teachers · Part of our Erasmus+ teacher training courses in Bordeaux
Many FLE teachers know that literature is a powerful resource, yet hesitate to use it: texts can feel too difficult, too far from everyday communication, or hard to exploit without turning the lesson into a grammar exercise. If that sounds familiar, this course is designed for you.
This Erasmus+ course shows how to teach literature in French as a foreign language in a way that is accessible and communicative at every level, from A2 to C1. You will leave with ready-to-use activities and a clear method for choosing and exploiting texts. It pairs naturally with our Teaching French as a foreign language and our CLIL training course.
Why use literary texts in the FLE classroom?
- Authentic, rich language: expose learners to real French, its rhythms, registers and cultural references.
- Motivation and emotion: stories, poems and extracts engage learners far more than neutral textbook dialogues.
- Culture and citizenship: open a window onto French and Francophone societies, history and values.
- Critical thinking: move beyond comprehension to interpretation, debate and personal response.
What you will learn during this teaching literature in FLE course
- Select literary texts adapted to your learners’ level and interests.
- Design accessible tasks around a text, from A2 through to advanced groups.
- Use poetry, short stories, extracts, theatre and graphic novels in class.
- Combine reading with speaking, writing and creative production.
What you will be able to do after this course
- Build a short literary sequence adapted to a real class you teach.
- Exploit a text without reducing it to a grammar or vocabulary drill.
- Differentiate literary activities for mixed-ability groups.
- Assess literary competence in a communicative, learner-friendly way.
Explore the course in detail
Objectives, content and programme
This course shows FLE teachers how to turn literary texts into a living resource for language learning. The aim is to help you select, adapt and exploit French literature so that it develops both language skills and a taste for reading.
You will learn to build sequences around extracts, from poetry to contemporary fiction, that stay accessible to a range of levels while remaining faithful to the pleasure of the text.
By the end you will be able to choose literary texts suited to your learners, design comprehension and production tasks around them, and use literature to work on vocabulary, culture and critical thinking.
You will leave with a set of ready-to-use, text-based sequences and clear criteria for adapting any extract to your own classroom.
We work the way we recommend teaching: starting from the text, we model close reading, guided discussion and creative response. Each morning explores a genre or approach; each afternoon turns it into a classroom-ready activity.
The emphasis is on making literature approachable, short extracts, audio and staged reading rather than intimidating full works, so language and meaning progress together.
Each day follows the same thread: understand, experience, design and transfer.
Monday: understanding literature as a resource
Morning
- Why use literary texts in FLE
- Choosing and grading extracts by level
Afternoon
- Workshop: turning a short extract into a lesson
- Build criteria for selecting texts
Tuesday: poetry and the sounds of French
Morning
- Working with poetry: rhythm, sound and meaning
- Reading aloud and staged reading
Afternoon
- Design a poetry-based activity
- Try it out with fellow European teachers
Wednesday: narrative, culture and diversity
Morning
- Short narrative and the past tenses in context
- Contemporary and Francophone voices
Afternoon
- Adapt a text for mixed levels
- Collaborative case studies
Thursday: from text to classroom sequence
Morning
- Building comprehension and creative-response tasks
- Linking literature to language and culture
Afternoon
- Hands-on workshop: design a literature-based sequence
- Collaborative review and improvement
Friday: building your practice
Morning
- Demonstrations and exchange of European practices
- Reflecting on what works across levels
Afternoon
- Final project presentation
- Personal action plan for your school
- Course evaluation, Europass and certification
Approach, impact and practical details
What works is treating the text as a springboard, not an obstacle: short, well-chosen extracts, clear entry tasks and space for personal response generate far more language than exhaustive analysis.
Reading aloud, dramatising a dialogue or rewriting an ending turns comprehension into production, and turns reluctant readers into willing speakers.
We often draw on open-access French literary texts on Gallica (BnF).
You gain transferable strategies: pre-reading to activate vocabulary, gap and prediction tasks, and creative writing prompts that let learners of different levels succeed with the same text.
These approaches connect naturally with our FLE methodology, giving you a coherent, action-oriented toolkit.
Beyond the week, you return with a repertoire of texts and tasks that refresh your teaching and reconnect your learners with the culture behind the language.
This course is part of our Erasmus teacher training courses in Bordeaux, and it pairs well with colleagues’ projects in reading promotion and cross-border literary exchange.
We support your Learning Agreement and preparation before you travel, and provide a clear programme on site.
On completion you receive your Europass Mobility certificate, an evaluation and any further documentation needed for recognition by your National Agency.
Bordeaux is a city of writers and bookshops, with a rich literary heritage that makes it a fitting backdrop for a course on literature in FLE.
Its walkable centre, cultural venues and easy access from across Europe make it a rewarding destination for teacher mobility.
Target audience
This course on teaching literature in French as a foreign language is addressed to FLE and language teachers keen to use literary texts, and more broadly to trainers, educational and career counsellors, school psychologists, headteachers, school leaders and management or administrative staff. Participants teach across primary, secondary, vocational and adult education, in training centres, higher education and NGOs, and because groups often span several levels, activities are always adaptable up or down.
Erasmus+ funding: how it works
Attending this course can be fully financed by Erasmus+: teachers, trainers, headteachers, school leaders and other education staff can apply for an Erasmus+ KA1 grant, so your institution may cover travel, board and lodging, cultural activities and the fees of this teaching literature in FLE course through the grant.
We keep the course within the Erasmus+ envelope on purpose, offering different options so you enjoy real comfort and quality at a price your grant covers.
Erasmus+ quality standards
The course is delivered in line with the Erasmus Quality Standards: a clear description and learning outcomes, the dates and venue, and the names of the provider and trainers are all provided from the outset.
We support participants through certification and the validation of learning outcomes, focusing on Erasmus+ instruments such as the learning agreement, the quality commitment and the Europass Mobility certificate; extra documents, photos and a short video can be issued on request for dissemination.
Quality standards for our courses
- European values and policies
- Composition of the group and networking opportunities
- High quality teaching
- Inspiring and interactive learning
- Trustworthy, innovative and relevant content
- Use of digital tools and blended learning
- Continued learning
- Facilitating institutional impact
- Certification of learning outcomes
- Advance and complete information about the course
- Straightforward application process
- Preparation
- Transparent costs
- Changes and cancellations
- Support before, during and after the course
- Qualified staff
- Proportionate duration and schedule of the course
- Appropriate venue
- Inclusion
- Feedback and assessment
Our Erasmus+ organisational quality standards
- Practical arrangements
- Health, safety and respect of applicable regulations
- Preparation
- Monitoring and mentoring
- Support during the activity
- Evaluation and recognition of learning outcomes
- Core tasks, keeping ownership of the activities
- Integrating results of mobility activities in the organisation
- Developing capacity
- Regular updates
- Gathering and using participants’ feedback
- Sharing results within the organisation
- Sharing results with other organisations and the public
- Publicly acknowledging European Union funding
- Inclusion and diversity
- Digital education
- Active participation in the network of Erasmus organisations
- Environmental sustainability and responsibility
What is included in the course
- Always reachable: chat assistance all day long
- Erasmus+ eligible: funded via Key Action 1 grants
- Flexibility built in: easy changes, minimal restrictions
- A rounded experience: coffee breaks, exchange and cultural visits
- Certificate of attendance delivered
Official Erasmus+ validation
To ensure the recognition of your FLE literature course for teachers, we provide all required European certification and Erasmus+ compliance documentation:
- ✓ Europass Mobility: Official recognition of your professional development and teaching skills.
- ✓ Quality Commitment: Full compliance with Erasmus+ quality standards.
- ✓ Final Certification: Official certificate of attendance with training hours.
Social & cultural programme
Your Erasmus+ teacher mobility in Bordeaux is also an opportunity to experience French culture and build connections with other European teachers.
- ✓ Welcome aperitif: Network with European colleagues in a relaxed setting.
- ✓ Guided city tour: Discover Bordeaux’s UNESCO World Heritage sites.
- ✓ Local recommendations: Explore the best markets, cafés and cultural spots.
Optional premium add-ons can be arranged on request on Saturdays (e.g. Arcachon Bay & the Dune du Pilat, or a Médoc / Saint-Émilion château; other options available according to your interest).
Erasmus+ teacher mobility in Bordeaux
Bring literature to life in your FLE classroom
Join our Erasmus+ course in Bordeaux and leave with texts, tasks and a method you can use from your next lesson.
Start my projectFrequently asked questions
Yes. It is KA1-eligible, so an Erasmus+ grant can cover travel, stay and course fees.
No. The course is for FLE and language teachers; it shows how to use accessible literary texts as a resource, whatever your background.
They are adaptable from A2 upwards, using short extracts and staged tasks so learners of different levels can succeed with the same text.
You receive a Europass Mobility certificate and a certificate of attendance; the course runs one week in Bordeaux, in groups of up to 16.
Teachers’ zone
Our online programmes let you maximise your learning potential and bring your new skills straight into your everyday teaching. Participants also get virtual classroom access.