Module LANG1281: FRENCH IN SOCIETY I

Department: LANGUAGE CENTRE

LANG1281: FRENCH IN SOCIETY I

Prerequisites

• A-Level French, grade C or equivalent.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• No other French language module available within the Language Centre or MLAC

Aims

• To consolidate and develop knowledge and understanding of the French language.
• To enhance communicative proficiency in the target language.
• To develop basic presentation skills in the target language.
• To introduce students to aspects of French society and current affairs.
• To develop essay writing skills in the target language.

Content

• This module enables students to consolidate and develop their knowledge of the French language as well as their ability to apply their skills by focusing on the four language skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening
• Through a thematic approach, which will build upon the use of authentic source material, students will become familiar with aspects of contemporary French culture and society as well as wider social issues.
• The module also contains a comprehensive programme of grammar revision and consolidation.
• Students will spend 2-3 weeks on the study of specific issues, using both written and aural source material.
• Class time will be used for short student presentations and tutor in-put followed by small or whole group discussions.
• Indicative themes for this module are: La France en chiffre (geopolitique), Medias, Cinemas et realites, Tout le monde en parle (les themes de societe les plus discutes), Les Francais at la politique.

Learning Outcomes

• On successful completion of the module learners will:
• understand how to isolate, recognise and produce the key grammatical structures of French
• have acquired a knowledge of contemporary French social issues from a variety of relevant national media
• know how to express French popular, contemporary and social issues in the target language
• understand graphical and statistical information in French

• At the end of the module students will have enhanced their ability to:
• evaluate, synthesise and organise information from a given set of media sources in the target language
• produce an essay on a course related topic showing the ability to evaluate, synthesise and organise information from a given set of media sources
• demonstrate basic presentation skills using the target language
• extract and communicate relevant information from non-specialised aural material taken from radio and TV sources
• conduct discussions in the target language

• At the end of the module students will have acquired skills:
• in the evaluation, synthesis and organisation of information from a given set of sources
• in the interpretation of graphical and statistical information
• in their ability to marshal arguments to support a case
• in their ability to critically assess argument
• and improved their ability to participate in debate and discussion
• and an ability to act as a self-directed language learner

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• This module is delivered in French through seminar style classes and multimedia lab sessions, supplemented by guided self-study time. Short tutorials will also be given
• In preparation for each session students will be expected to prepare a set of material, either individually or in small groups, which will be presented and discussed during class time.
• In addition, unseen material may be introduced by the tutor in order to promote and assess students' flexibility in using and transferring their language skills to new and unexpected contexts.
• Regular grammar exercises will be given and completed in self-study time on a weekly basis in order to develop and consolidate language accuracy.
• The assessment scheme for this module is designed to test students' level of attainment in language production (speaking and writing) and reception (listening and reading).
• In order to reflect the continuous nature of language learning, the module will be assessed by a combination of formative and summative in-course assessment and by formal examination.
• Summative assessments will also fulfil a formative function since feed-back on all summative in-course assessment will be made available to students.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Students will be given short fortnightly assignments in preparation for seminars and to practise and consolidate new material. All formative assessments will be submitted to the module tutor during class time. Summative language portfolio assignments will also fulfil a formative role since full feed-back will be provided to students.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University