Francophone Studies focuses on the language situation in the countries with the French language as an official language from the historical and contemporary perspectives. The range of socio-linguistic issues will then be introduced along with phonetics, lexicology and syntax of various forms of the French language, which are peculiar to a specific region or social group. Developed at the Department of Romance Philology, St. Petersburg State University, the course aims at those pursuing their education under the educational programmes in Linguistics, the fields of study «The Romance Languages» and «Translation Theory and Practice (French)».