Introductory description

Prerequisite: prior knowledge of French

• B2.1 of CEFR (to be finalised at diagnostic interview)
• or a high grade at A-level
• or equivalent in International Baccalaureate
• or Language Centre French 4 or Intermediate Accelerated
• or equivalent

The emphasis of the module will be on improving the following skills:

• communicating more effectively in French, in situations ranging from informal conversation to a formal interview or presentation
• understanding extended speech (presentations, news reports, lectures...) and the majority of films in standard French
• reading and understanding articles in French and a varied range of fictional and non-fictional passages
• gaining practice in writing essays in French
• writing formal, transactional, non personal emails in French
• facilitating students’ self-awareness of strengths and weaknesses in order to improve their learning skill

Successful completion of French 5 qualifies students to progress to a level 6 module (e.g. French for Business 2, French Language through Films, French through Translation).

Module web page

Module aims

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.

Skill-based: Reading/writing/listening and speaking on a variety of topics appropriate to the level, including higher education, human rights, diversity (inequalities/discrimination, language...), contemporary French society, politics, literature and film.
Grammar: consolidation of major elements, such as all tenses, the negative, passive form, direct & indirect object pronouns, relative pronouns, emphatic pronouns, demonstratives conjunctions…

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• develop competence in a broad range of complex and non-routine language tasks across a wide and often unpredictable variety of contexts
• consolidate and expand grammatical and syntactical competence
• become more proficient in using a wider range of register and style both in speaking and writing
• further awareness and appreciation of French culture
• develop an appreciation of literary and non-literary texts
• develop strategies to work independently on an open-ended project
• develop strategies to communicate some information coherently and effectively to a specific audience within an open-ended project

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