By “francophonie” is usually meant the entirety of the institutions, nations and social groups for which French is a principle language of, for example, administration, education, everyday social situations, etc. Yet this rather abstract definition elides the particular historical and contemporary relationships (cultural, social, political, among many others) that make up de facto the French-speaking world. In this course, we will discuss some of these relationships (in terms, for example, of colonialism and its aftermath, the question of national identity, etc.) in order to understand better the ever-evolving nature of la francophonie. Because the course will be conducted in French, students will at the same time be introduced to the specific language skills required for discussing this complex question. Media both linguistic and non-linguistic will be employed to prompt students to reflect upon, and discuss, the nature of the francophone world, but also to help them improve their proficiency in French more generally.