AZA1062 - French and francophone studies 2 - 2017

This unit builds on the basic language skills (speaking/listening and reading/writing) acquired in AZA and provides a more advanced introduction to the study of French and Francophone cultures and special attention given to the study of French and how it acquired its modern identity. It is designed for students who have some knowledge of French but in a limited capacity or exempted from French Introductory I requirements. Students develop language learning strategies through regularly assessed homework and class tests designed to focus on the continuous nature of language learning and emphasise the need for frequent practice. In the Specialized Culture component of this unit, students explore aspects of Francophone African cultures and develop competencies appropriate to their year level in the history of Francophone Africa through literature, film and other cultural texts. This component will also help students understand the impact of French colonisation and the complex histories of the post-colonial experience.

Upon completion of this unit students should have met the following objectives in the following areas:

1. Demonstrate the capacity to use basic speaking, listening, reading and writing skills needed to communicate in a variety of situations such as discussing, writing about and understanding others, discussing self and family and travel and leisure activities.
2. Communicate effectively in French, with a minimum of misunderstandings.
3. Demonstrate the capacity to read in detail straightforward, short texts in French e.g. informal correspondence, short newspaper articles or extracts from longer texts.
4. Demonstrate a knowledge of the key structures and the sounds of the French language, e.g. past, present and future tenses, pronouns, articles, adjectives, adverbs and so on.
5. Demonstrate a range of vocabulary appropriate to the situations described above.
6. Develop an awareness of different language learning strategies and to be able to anticipate a text (oral/written) and access its content.
7. Develop the strategic skills required to communicate effectively in a range of situations as described above. Socio-cultural awareness:

8. Demonstrate a critical knowledge, an understanding and appreciation of African Francophone societies, their cultures and values. In other words, gaining insights into the influence of France in Africa and the extent to which this relationship succeeded or failed to shape modern-day Africa.
9. Demonstrate a critical understanding of Francophone African cultural heritage.
10. Demonstrate a sophisticated competence appropriate to their unit level in the theory, practices and discourses involved in analysing selected texts as the students examine the particular qualities of Francophone African literature and culture.
11. Demonstrate their research skills.

Within semester assessment: 75% + Exam: 25%

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. A unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

See also Unit timetable information

Dr Joseph Minga

French studies - South Africa

AZA1061 or equivalent

ATS1062

Students who have completed Year 11 French or its equivalent may not take this unit.