FRN3080 - French studies 8

Leader(s): Patrick Durel

Offered

Clayton Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

In the Language component, class activities will build on the skills developed in level 7 and are designed to equip students with advanced comprehension, speaking and writing skills. Oral work focuses on expository techniques needed to present the contents of longer articles taken from the French press. Written tasks will involve essay writing and English to French translation. Listening and writing production activities will enable students to develop skills leading to the writing of expository accounts of radio or TV news and current affairs programmes. The specialized culture component of the unit will help students to develop skills in textual commentary.

Objectives

At the end of the course, students should have 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 communicate the main points contained in a newspaper article they have read, reformulating, structuring and explaining its content.
2. Listening Comprehension/writing production: students should be able to write an expository report presenting the information contained in radio or TV programmes of up to 12mn on current affairs.
3. Writing skills: students should be able to write a clear and detailed essay on topics which are familiar, passing on information or giving reasons in support of or against a particular point of view. They should be able to use appropriate expressions, vocabulary and syntax and demonstrate an acute awareness of issues of textual grammar (coherence and cohesion).
4. Morpho-syntax and stylistics: students should continue to further their knowledge of French grammar and develop their awareness of differences between French and English syntax through systematic use of a French reference grammar.
5. Students should also have become familiar with the use of software programs and electronic tools such as a grammar assistant, a bilingual electronic dictionary, an online French dictionary.
6. Students should have identified efficient learning strategies and developed an ability to autonomously take charge of and evaluate these strategies and their outcomes.
7. Socio-cultural awareness: students should have acquired a greater critical knowledge and understanding of modern French society, its values and their evolution.
8. Developed a critical understanding of issues of identity in France in the post-war period.
9. The specialised culture component of the unit will develop skills in textual commentary.

Assessment

Written work: 10%
Comprehension work: 11%
Culture component written exam: 25%
Comprehension test: 12%
Translation test: 12%
Oral exam: 15%
Written exam: 15%

Contact hours

5 hours (1 hr computer lab workshop, 1hr translation workshop, 1 x 2 hour language tutorial,1hr Specialized Culture lecture/seminar) per week.

Prerequisites

FRN3070

Prohibitions

FRN2080