Agrégation des Lettres Classiques
Encyclopedia
The Agrégation des Lettres Classiques like its peer, the Agrégation de Grammaire, is a higher level French
competitive examination
held in theory to recruit senior secondary school teachers (though many of its holders are in fact university teachers), who count as state civil servants
. The number of posts offered varies slightly from year to year. The texts prescribed are partially renewed each year (and totally over two years).
Until 1946 this competition was a purely Classical examination. The Grammaire competition was a mixture mainly of Classics
but also of Indo-European
studies. A proportion of medieval and modern French literature was then added (slightly greater in Lettres Classiques than in Grammaire) making it virtually impossible for outsiders to succeed in the competition. The opening of these competitions to European citizens has had insignificant practical outcome.
The Greek and Latin texts chosen are of wider range than in most English-speaking universities. Philo of Alexandria and St. Ambrose have for example figured in recent years.
The examination last three days, one of the papers for five hours. Candidates bring a range of dictionaries (e.g. Gaffiot and Bailly amongst others) to the prose composition and version (translation into French) sessions, which allows them to concentrate on stylistic aspects.
The written papers are followed some weeks later by the oral examination.
Candidates who have reached the level of Maîtrise (currently replaced by Master) prepare for a year at leading universities, such as Paris IV or Nanterre (Paris X), or at grandes écoles
such as the Ecole Normale Supérieure
. It is quite frequent for them to make three or so attempts.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
competitive examination
Competitive examination
A competitive examination is an examination angwhere candidates are ranked according to their grades. If the examination is open for n positions, then the first n candidates in ranks pass, the others are rejected...
held in theory to recruit senior secondary school teachers (though many of its holders are in fact university teachers), who count as state civil servants
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
. The number of posts offered varies slightly from year to year. The texts prescribed are partially renewed each year (and totally over two years).
Until 1946 this competition was a purely Classical examination. The Grammaire competition was a mixture mainly of Classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
but also of Indo-European
Indo-European
Indo-European may refer to:* Indo-European languages** Aryan race, a 19th century and early 20th century term for those peoples who are the native speakers of Indo-European languages...
studies. A proportion of medieval and modern French literature was then added (slightly greater in Lettres Classiques than in Grammaire) making it virtually impossible for outsiders to succeed in the competition. The opening of these competitions to European citizens has had insignificant practical outcome.
The Greek and Latin texts chosen are of wider range than in most English-speaking universities. Philo of Alexandria and St. Ambrose have for example figured in recent years.
The examination last three days, one of the papers for five hours. Candidates bring a range of dictionaries (e.g. Gaffiot and Bailly amongst others) to the prose composition and version (translation into French) sessions, which allows them to concentrate on stylistic aspects.
The written papers are followed some weeks later by the oral examination.
Candidates who have reached the level of Maîtrise (currently replaced by Master) prepare for a year at leading universities, such as Paris IV or Nanterre (Paris X), or at grandes écoles
Grandes écoles
The grandes écoles of France are higher education establishments outside the main framework of the French university system. The grandes écoles select students for admission based chiefly on national ranking in competitive written and oral exams...
such as the Ecole Normale Supérieure
École Normale Supérieure
The École normale supérieure is one of the most prestigious French grandes écoles...
. It is quite frequent for them to make three or so attempts.