Module CFLS1F11: French Stage 1

Department: Centre for Foreign Language Study

CFLS1F11: French Stage 1

Prerequisites

• This is an ab initio course. No language qualification in French and no significant prior study of French is required. In borderline cases, consultation with the module convenor is required to determine the appropriate level.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• Any language module offered by the School of Modern Languages and Cultures.

Aims

• To provide an introduction to the French Language in the four core language skills, i.e. listening, speaking, reading and writing, and to the basic grammatical structures of the target language.
• To encourage a positive and confident attitude towards language learning.
• To develop and apply meta language and learning techniques appropriate to undergraduate level study.
• To provide a linguistic platform for communicative competence in French.
• To promote cultural awareness.

Content

• The module is designed to provide a sound platform for foreign language acquisition by allowing students to acquire the core structure of the French language through the study of grammar.
• Classes will be used to introduce and practise new vocabulary through interactive language exercises that facilitate students’ independence and develop fluency at an introductory level.
• Guided and independent self-study will be an important element in order to maximise exposure to the target language and to accelerate students' progress.
• Cultural and intercultural awareness will be developed through the study of selected relevant materials.
• Functional topics may include:
• Talking about yourself.
• Interacting in a range of everyday situations and real-life scenarios.
• Commenting and expressing opinions.
• Talking about past present and future events.
• Describing people, objects and places.
• This module seeks to develop learners’ ability to communicate with increasing accuracy, independence, and sensitivity to context. Through engagement with authentic materials, collaborative projects, and critical reflection, students enhance their linguistic skills, deepen their awareness of aspects of French culture, and strengthen key graduate attributes such as open mindedness, curiosity, creativity and intellectual ambition and rigour.

Learning Outcomes

• On successful completion of the module, learners should be able to:
• Demonstrate an understanding of basic grammar and be able to communicate using some present, past and future tenses on familiar topics and activities.
• Communicate in tasks requiring a direct exchange of information on familiar topics and activities.
• Have an awareness of the main features of contemporary Francophone cultures.

• On successful completion of the module, learners should be able to:
• Understand and elicit basic factual information in French in simple everyday situations.
• Understand, extract, and elaborate on relevant information from course related written and aural texts.
• Describe aspects of their background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.
• Be able to write varying texts, including creative texts and argument-based texts demonstrating the ability to organise ideas in a logical and coherent sequence.

• On successful completion of the module, learners should be able to:
• Demonstrate the ability to identify their own learning needs and address them effectively.
• Demonstrate an understanding of core meta language sufficient to undertake independent study of essential grammar and lexis.
• Demonstrate a strategic competence that will allow them to understand the gist of conversations / texts in simple, everyday but unpredictable situations.

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

• This module is delivered through seminar style language 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 language exercises.
• 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).
• 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.
• In alignment with the Principles for Learning, Teaching & Assessment teaching and learning take place through a combination of interactive language classes and guided independent study. Activities are designed to promote active use of the target language, engagement with authentic and creative materials, and development of critical and reflective skills. Assessment is based on integrated performance tasks that test reading, writing, listening, and speaking, together with reflective components that support students’ awareness of their learning process.
• The written projects usually comprise of a series of tasks based on a prompt or stimuli.
• Time dedicated to the Oral Examinations factors in turnaround time, and are usually done under exam conditions and held in person.

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.

■ Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.