Monash University Handbook 2011 Undergraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Notes

Synopsis

This unit provides teaching in the basic language skills (speaking/listening/reading/writing) and an introduction to French society. It is designed for students with little or no knowledge of the language. Students will be encouraged to develop appropriate language learning strategies. Regular assessed homework and tests emphasize the continuous nature of language learning and the need for frequent practice. 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 successful completion of this unit students should have met the following objectives: Communicative Competence and linguistic knowledge and skills:

1. Use the basic speaking, listening, reading and writing skills needed to communicate in a limited range of situations referring to the present, future.
2. Talk about, write about and understand others talking about self, family, studies and basic needs.
3. Communicate effectively in French, with a minimum of misunderstandings, in a limited range of situations in France and Australia e.g. carrying out everyday tasks such as shopping, eating out, travelling, attending university.
4. Skim read or read in detail straightforward, short texts in French e.g. advertisements, cartoons, brochures.
5. Demonstrate a knowledge of the basic structures and sounds of the French language e.g. present and near future tenses, articles, adjectives.
6. Demonstrate a knowledge of a range of vocabulary appropriate to the situations described above.
7. Develop an awareness of different language learning strategies
8. Adopt learning strategies most appropriate to their preferred learning style. Socio-cultural awareness:
9. Acquire a greater critical knowledge and understanding of modern French society, its values and their evolution.
10. Develop a critical understanding of issues of identity in France since the beginning of the 20th century.
11. Develop an explicit understanding and more sophisticated practice of text analysis, especially in relation to film.
12. Develop individual and cooperative research skills.

Assessment

Weekly written and aural language homework (800 words): 17%
Class tests: oral, aural and written (1500 words ): 33%
Written language exam (1200 words): 25%
2 Written assignments (1000 words): 25%

Chief examiner(s)

James Cannon

Contact hours

(1) Language and Culture component:
One 1-hour grammar lecture
One 1 hour writing/grammar workshop
One 2 hour oral/aural tutorial
(2) Specialized Culture component:
One 1-hour lecture

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

French studies

Prohibitions

ATS2061