Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2007-2008 (archived)

Module FREN1011: FRENCH LANGUAGE 1

Department: Modern Language and Cultures (French)

FREN1011: FRENCH LANGUAGE 1

Type	Open	Level	1	Credits	20	Availability	Available in 2007/08	Module Cap	250	Location	Durham

Prerequisites

B in French at A level (or its equivalent).

Corequisites

One further Level 1 French module from: Reading French Literature (FREN1031), Literature and Society in the 20th Century (FREN1041) or Language Power and the Making of the French Nation (FREN1051).

Excluded Combination of Modules

Not available to students following the European Studies programme; French in Society I (LANG1281).

Aims

To further improve the skills acquired at A-level in speaking and listening, reading and writing.

Content

The module is taught in two strands: in the grammar/translation class, students consolidate their grammar knowledge and develop their translation skills through a variety of grammar-based language exercises and the translation of texts from French into English.
in the oral class, students develop their speaking skills through a range of oral exercises (conversation, discussion and individual presentations), their aural comprehension skills through related online listening exercises and their reading and writing skills through text-based comprehension and writing exercises.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

Consolidated knowledge regarding the structure of the French language and an understanding of a range of basic translation issues.

Subject-specific Skills:

Increased confidence, fluency and accuracy in both productive (spoken and written) and receptive (listening and reading) skills in French.

Key Skills:

Improved communication and presentation skills.

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

The module is taught in two strands: in the grammar/translation class, students consolidate their grammar knowledge and develop their translation skills through a variety of grammar-based language exercises and the translation of texts from French into English
in the oral class, students develop their speaking skills through a range of oral exercises (conversation, discussion and individual presentations), their aural comprehension skills through related online listening exercises and their reading and writing skills through text-based comprehension and writing exercises.
In each strand, student preparation and class work, formative exercises and feedback are precisely modelled on the summative assessments which have been devised to meet the learning outcomes.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total/Hours
Practicals	40	2 Per Week	1 Hour	40
Preparation and Reading				160
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component: Written examination - 1.5 hours		Component Weighting: 50%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Translation		50%	Yes
Resume & paraphrases		50%	Yes
Component: Online Grammar Test		Component Weighting: 25%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Online Grammar Test	45 mins	100%	Yes
Component: Oral examination		Component Weighting: 25%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Oral presentation	10 mins	100%	Yes

Formative Assessment:

Regular exercises for written and oral; online exercises (duo).

■ 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