Module CFLS1F71: INITIATION TO CREATIVE WRITING IN FRENCH

Department: Centre for Foreign Language Study

CFLS1F71: INITIATION TO CREATIVE WRITING IN FRENCH

Prerequisites

• Successful completion of French stage 3, Grade B or above in A-Level French or an equivalent qualification, subject to decision by the module’s language coordinator). No higher French language entry qualification permitted There is no expectation that students should have a literary background to take this module. The module is aimed at students who enjoy reading, have an interest in the wider French-speaking world and cultures and would like to be creative with the French language.

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• Any Core Language Module offered by the School of Modern Languages and Cultures.

Aims

• To introduce students to creative writing in French
• To foster intercultural dialogue through creative writing
• To develop key writing techniques and a range of literary devices in various genres (such as but not limited to fiction, poetry, playwriting, life writing, travel writing, fairy tales, comic strips)
• To consolidate and widen further the knowledge of the French language, including grammar and lexis.
• To enhance communicative proficiency in French, in both writing and speaking.
• To develop listening and reading skills.
• To broaden the knowledge of the Francophone cultural diversity
• To broaden the knowledge of French-speaking written works
• To develop intercultural awareness and sensitivity

Content

• The development of the students’ language skills (reading, writing, listening, spoken production and interaction) will be integrated into a framework focusing on various literary genres (such as but not limited to fiction, poetry, drama, life writing, etc) and themes.
• Teaching material will include a range of written texts such as literary extracts, short stories, plays, poems, fairy tales, comic strips, (auto)biographies, etc. as well as audio and video materials such as interviews, documentaries and podcasts of writers discussing their work and writing approaches; extracts from visual arts (plays, films)
• The emphasis will be on the wider French-speaking world and its associated cultures and will aim to expose students to a variety of perspectives to highlight the range of views, cultures and power hierarchies and dynamics in the French-speaking world.
• Students will also have the opportunity to link their own discipline (sciences, social sciences, humanities) to a creative writing task.
• There will be a one 2-hour seminar a week, which will be used to consolidate and develop grammatical and lexical knowledge as well as to practice oral, aural, reading and writing skills.

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of this module, students will be able to:
• master conventions of creative writing in various genres
• identify a range of literary techniques and employ these in their own writing
• demonstrate a level of criticality of their own work as well as that of peers and published writers
• Use appropriate terminology when discussing one’s own work and that of others.
• demonstrate a sound knowledge of some aspects of contemporary France and the French-speaking world;
• demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the cultures and societies in France and French-speaking countries gained through the study of cultural products;
• demonstrate a sound knowledge and understanding of the main French linguistic principles, structures and registers used in various genres

• By the end of this module, students will be able to:
• develop the ability to write following the conventions of particular genres in French
• Apply wide-ranging creative processes and writing skills such as composing and redrafting a short story, a poem, a script, a comic strip, a fairy tale, etc.
• develop the ability to read and analyse the specificities of written texts
• to enhance one’s skills in writing with clarity and precision
• to use French creatively, and to experiment with abiding by and bending conventions.
• enter unprepared into conversation; and contribute to structured conversations;
• apply a range of grammatical principles;
• make effective use of reference material such as grammars and dictionaries;
• use a range of language learning techniques and skills effectively by independently developing strategies to extend their lexis and knowledge of grammar.

• By the end of this module, students will be able to:
• Develop an ability to work independently,
• Develop critical and self-reflective awareness of one’s own writing
• Consider different approaches
• Analyse and identify key characteristics of set texts
• Construct a coherent, substantiated reflective commentary
• Research a particular theme, era, writer and demonstrate engagement with the target culture(s).
• Explore their particular discipline in the target language through the lens of creative writing.
• Demonstrate advanced communication skills during class discussions
• communicate information, ideas and arguments both orally and in writing;
• independently gather, process and reference information from a variety of paper, audio-visual and electronic resources;
• use IT effectively both as a means of communication and as an aid to learning;

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

• This module is delivered through seminar style classes.
• Contact time will be used to introduce new material and provide the students with high quality target language input from the module tutor and multimedia sources.
• In preparation for each session students will be expected to revise new material and complete formative tasks.
• 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 the language learning process the module will be assessed by a combination of formative and summative in-course assessment. Summative assessments will also fulfil a formative function since feedback on summative in-course assessments will be made available to students.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Regular homework/assignments will be given to the students to practise and consolidate what they have done in class and to prepare the following session, some of which will be submitted and marked as formative assignments and regular feedback will be given to the students accordingly.

■ 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