Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Unit

Synopsis

The Language & Culture component builds on the skills developed in level 7. Activities equip students with advanced understanding, speaking and writing skills. Oral work focuses on expository techniques. Written tasks involve essay writing and English to French translation. Listening and writing production activities develop skills leading to the writing of expository accounts of radio or TV news and current affairs programmes. In the Specialized Culture component, students will explore an aspect of French culture and society and develop competence appropriate to their year level in the theory, practices and discourses involved in analysis of it.

Objectives

Upon completion of this unit students should have met the following objectives in the following areas: Communicative competence and linguistic knowledge: 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. Acquired a greater critical knowledge and understanding of modern and contemporary French society, its culture, values and their evolution.
8. Developed a critical understanding of a specific area of study of French Studies as a discipline addressing French culture and society.
9. Developed an explicit understanding and more sophisticated competence appropriate to their year level in the theory, practices and discourses involved in analysis of that area of French Studies.
10. Developed individual and cooperative research skills.

Assessment

Language & Culture component
+ Continuing written assessments (collaboration & individual) (1000 words): 15%
+ Composition Test (400 words): 15%
+ End semester oral examination (1000 words equivalent): 15%
+ Translation Test (500 words): 15%
+ End semester examination (600 words): 15%
Specialized Culture component:
+ Written assignments (1000 words): 25%

Chief examiner(s)

Patrick Durel

Contact hours

Language and Culture component:
+ One 1-hour computer lab workshop per week
+ One 1-hour translation workshop per week
+ One 2-hour language tutorial per week
Specialized Culture component:
+ One 1-hour lecture (weeks 1-8)
+ One 1-hour tutorial (weeks 2, 4, 6, 8)

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

French studies

Prerequisites

FRN1070

Prohibitions

FRN2080, FRN3080