FRN1080 - French Studies 8

Leader: Patrick Durel

Offered

Clayton Second semester 2007 (Day)

Synopsis

In the language-culture component of this unit class activities are designed to enable students to acquire advanced communication skills in spoken and written French. Oral work focuses on expository techniques needed to present the contents of articles taken from the French press. Written tasks involve expository essay writing, and English to French translation. Dictionary usage and close attention to vocabulary figure prominently in all written work. Revision and extension of competence in syntax is undertaken in conjunction with the communication skills practiced. The specialized culture component of the unit will help students to develop skills in textual commentary.

Objectives

At the end of the unit, students should have further reinforced their ability to communicate and interact efficiently in French both in oral and written form by using appropriate techniques of exposition. They will be expected to develop and demonstrate the following skills in the target language:

1. Reading comprehension/oral production: students should be able to demonstrate their analytical reading skills within the framework of an oral compte rendu exercise. They will have learnt to read and present a newspaper article, reformulating, structuring and explaining its content.
2. Writing skills: students should be able to demonstrate advanced skills in writing expository essays, with particular focus on issues of textual grammar (coherence and cohesion) and argumentation strategies.
3. Morpho-syntax and stylistics: through translation work students should demonstrate their understanding of stylistic and syntactic differences between French and English.
4. Aural comprehension/writing skills: students should be able to demonstrate their aural competencies and writing skills within the framework of a written compte rendu of a 10min video extract of a French current affairs/news program.
5. The specialised culture component of the unit will develop skills in textual commentary.

Assessment

2 Collaborative written assignments (500 words each ) (1000 words ) : 10%
Comprehension test (400 words ) : 12%
Translation test (400 words ) : 15%
End semester written examination (500 words ) : 20%
End semester oral presentation : 18%
Group presentation : 10%
End semester commentaire de texte (800 words) : 15%

Contact hours

5 hours (2 x computer lab workshops, 1 x 2 hour language tutorial and 1 x culture lecture/seminar) per week

Prerequisites

FRN1070

Prohibitions

FRN2080, FRN3080