FR202-30 Modern French Language II Post-Beginners
Introductory description
This intermediate year module builds on the first-year ab-initio French language module in the French Studies section of the School of Modern Languages and Cultures. It will develop students' language acquisition in French, extend their linguistic skills through translation, writing, reading, speaking and listening activities. The module will prepare them for final-year study. The module will further develop students' awareness of French and Francophone culture.
Module aims
- to work towards B2+ standard of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference);
- to enable students to develop language learning strategies;
- to develop the four key skills: reading, listening, speaking and writing.
- to understand ideas in complex text, and produce text on a wide range of topics;
- to hone and develop translation, writing and grammar skills, register awareness and vocabulary acquisition, both general and specialised.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
Communicative skills: Listening, speaking as well as reading and writing activities will be supported by a variety of authentic written and spoken material focusing on aspects of life and culture in French-speaking countries in addition to topical issues.
We will cover items such as : Origins/family/social relations, Employment, Consumer society, the French language, Media and the news, the Environment, France and the French, Travel and Adventure, Health + Fitness, the Arts, Technology, Tomorrow's world.
Grammar - We will cover items such as: present, perfect, imperfect, future, conditional,
pluperfect and conditional perfect, the subjunctive, adverbs, comparatives and superlatives, object pronouns, demonstrative and emphatic pronouns, relative pronouns, making a hypothetical statement, conjunctions to develop oral and written skills.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- apply knowledge of grammar appropriate to the level
- understand the main ideas and some detail of complex texts on concrete and abstract topics
- interact with fluency and spontaneity, and account for and sustain viewpoints
- write clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects; explain viewpoints on topical issues
- develop strategies to communicate some information coherently and effectively to a specific audience
International
This module develops intercultural awareness and helps to prepare students for international student mobility.
Subject specific skills
- Strategies for understanding gist and specific information
- Strategies to communicate effectively both in writing and orally in French
- Intercultural competence
Transferable skills
- Communication skills: writing and oral presentation, defending one’s point of view
- Intellectual skills: critical thinking, analysis
- Organisational skills: independent work, time management
- Interpersonal skills: flexibility, adaptability and the ability to work with others
- Digital skills: online tools, online collaboration
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Supervised practical classes | 21 sessions of 4 hours (28%) |
| Online learning (scheduled sessions) | 21 sessions of 1 hour (7%) |
| Private study | 187 hours (62%) |
| Assessment | 8 hours (3%) |
| Total | 300 hours |
Private study description
work set on moodle and homework set by tutor
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group D
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grammar test with targeted translation | 15% | 2 hours | No |
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Test to monitor progress at the end of term 1. |
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| Grammar test with targeted translation | 15% | 2 hours | No |
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Test to monitor progress at the end of term 2. |
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| Oral examination | 20% | 1 hour | No |
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Speaking examination - 10 minutes to prepare + 10 minutes' discussion |
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| In-person Examination | 50% | 3 hours | No |
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Combined skills exam: reading, writing, translation
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Feedback on assessment
Feedback will be provided in the course of the module in a number of ways. Feedback should be understood to be both formal and informal and is not restricted to feedback on formal written work.
Oral feedback will be provided by the module tutor in the course of seminar discussion. This may include feedback on points raised in small group work or in the course of individual presentations or larger group discussion.
Written feedback will be provided on formal assessment using the standard SMLC Assessed Work feedback form appropriate to the assessment. Feedback is intended to enable continuous improvement throughout the module and written feedback is generally the final stage of this feedback process. Feedback will always demonstrate areas of success and areas for future development, which can be applied to future assessment. Feedback will be both discipline-specific and focussed on key transferrable skills, enabling students to apply this feedback to their future professional lives. Feedback will be fair and reasonable and will be linked to the SMLC marking scheme appropriate to the module.
Post-requisite modules
If you pass this module, you can take:
- FR301-30 Modern French Language III
Courses
This module is Core for:
- Year 2 of UFRA-R1VA Undergraduate French and History
- Year 2 of ULNA-R1WB Undergraduate French and Theatre Studies
This module is Core optional for:
- Year 2 of UPOA-M163 Undergraduate Politics, International Studies and French
This module is Core option list A for:
- Year 2 of ULNA-R9L1 Undergraduate Modern Languages and Economics (4-year)
This module is Core option list B for:
- Year 2 of ULNA-R1Q3 Undergraduate French and Linguistics
This module is Core option list C for:
- Year 2 of ULNA-R1L4 Undergraduate French and Economics (4-year)
This module is Option list C for:
- Year 3 of UFRA-QR3A Undergraduate English and French