Module FREN2071: FRENCH LANGUAGE 2 AND YEAR ABROAD

Department: MODERN LANGUAGES AND CULTURES (FRENCH)

FREN2071: FRENCH LANGUAGE 2 AND YEAR ABROAD

Prerequisites

• French Language 1(FREN1011).

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• French Language 2 (FREN2051). Not available to students following the European Studies programme; French in Society II (LANG2051)

Aims

• In respect of work undertaken in Year 2: to improve and expand linguistic competencies (oral and written).
• In respect of Year Abroad: to further improve and expand linguistic skills, knowledge of the culture of a country where the target language is spoken, and to stimulate intercultural awareness.

Content

• In the 'written' hour, the module seeks to consolidate the grammatical foundation laid down during the first year of study and to help students acquire fluency and accuracy in translating from and into French.
• The module also seeks to enhance their skill at expressing themselves in the written language.
• In the oral hour, the module seeks to develop students' oral fluency and their ability to present and argument in an appropriate register.
• In both classes preparation will be made for the year abroad in year three.
• This is the compulsory core-language module for students taking French at second-year level.
• There are two one-hour classes per week.
• The first is devoted to translation and essay work, the second to oral and general comprehension work.
• The passages selected for translation will be primarily extracts from the contemporary press or from modern French novels.
• Students will also be required to write essays on topics of contemporary interest, and this work may often be associated with a translation passage on a related theme.
• In the oral class, students meet in groups of roughly nine.
• All classes are taught by a native French speaker.
• Students will have the opportunity to develop their skills in informal conversation and in a more formal register of spoken French.
• Students will also be asked to undertake short comprehension exercises.

Learning Outcomes

• In the Year Aboard, students experience total immersion in the linguistic and cultural environment of a French-speaking country, acquiring increased knowledge and the ability to observe, absorb, and evaluate cultural differences.

• Students will improve their written and oral skills, expanding on the foundation of grammatical and syntactical accuracy consolidated at Level 1, so as to explore more sophisticated modes of verbal expression and a variety of linguistic registers.

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

• Year 2: regular, assessed practice in a variety of written and oral exercises extends linguistic accuracy and verbal manipulation.
• these exercises include some relevant to functioning well in a French-speaking country.
• Summative assessment tests competencies acquired in formative practice.
• Year abroad assessment consists of an essay to demonstrate: accuracy of language.
• appropriateness of language (register and idiom).
• range of language (lexis and structures).
• originality of content (evidence of personal experience and response.
• sophistication of reflection and analysis.
• insight into the target language culture).
• quality of information in content (breadth and/or depth of information).
• structure and presentation.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Regular language exercises.

■ 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