French Level 4

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Engage with native speech with relative ease, identifying key details of complex arguments and interact with a degree of fluency, spontaneity, and accuracy in a variety of contexts, including academic and scientific environments
• Navigate and analyse the main ideas and essential detail of complex texts from a variety of genres and topics, including scientific material, and write detailed, well-structured texts and explain viewpoints on a wide range of subjects using complex linguistic structures of B2 level
• Demonstrate an understanding of the target cultures by examining and comparing a range of socio-political practices and perspectives and relating them to your own backgrounds and contexts
• You will have developed your language-learning skills repertoire, using a broad range of digital language-learning tools competently, to develop your research and presentation skills in the target language and support your independent learning

In this module, you will cover the following linguistic structures:

• Revision of grammatical structures as appropriate
• Revision of past tenses, passive and subjunctive mood
• Construction of complex sentences: subordinate clauses in indicative/subjunctive
• Relative clauses
• Object pronouns
• Dependent clauses of cause, consequence, purpose, opposition, condition
• Expression on comparison
• Connectors
• Summaries
• Essay writing
• Writing and presenting a press review

These linguistic structures will be applied to the following topics:

• The French Republic: indentification and analysis of its principle values and their evolution
• Freedom of speech and the French media
• Educational system
• Work
• Environmental issues
• Ethics in science
• Current issues in France and Europe, as presented in the media

In line with modern foreign languages communicative and active learning methodologies, the in-class activities you will complete will cover all four skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking). These will include pair work and groupwork (information gap exercises, texts, audio-visual material analysis and discussion); individual tasks (presentations); discovery and formulation of grammatical rules. Homework and coursework tasks will give you the opportunity to revise and consolidate your knowledge and skills and to develop your awareness of how to use language-learning tools independently. Our approach not only ensures you engage with a wide range of tasks and activities, but also seeks to support different learning styles.

Your coursework will be marked and returned within two weeks. Rubrics and revision guidance (how-to guides) will be included as needed with each coursework. You will receive detailed feedback alongside suggestions for improvement and an overall percentage showing your provisional grade for that assessment.

The module includes formative as well as summative assessment. Homework tasks (theory revision, reading, writing, listening, etc.) are set every week on the virtual learning environment, following a flipped-classroom approach to ensure face-to-face time is devoted for interactional learning and communicative skills acquisition. This means that you will be provided with materials to study independently beforehand, and then apply these during classroom time. Your lecturer will give you support materials and guidance to reinforce topics covered at your own pace.

You will need to complete two pieces of summative coursework (set during mid-autumn term and mid-spring term), which will include rubrics and revision guidance to ensure you are supported when completing your work and you are aware of the assessment expectations. There will also be two 1-hour in-class tests (scheduled at the end of autumn term and at the end of spring term), and one practical in the form of an oral examination during the summer term. The coursework, examinations and practical contribute to your final grade.

• Coursework (15%): Mid-autumn term project-based coursework on the virtual learning environment: listening/ reading/ writing (300-320 words).
• Examination (15%): In-class test run on the virtual learning environment (bring your own device). This 1-hour test will take place at the end of autumn term. It will include: grammar/ reading/ writing (300 words approx).
• Coursework (20%): Mid-spring term project-based coursework: speaking (pre-recorded: 5 minutes), writing: (320 words approx).
• Examination (20%): In-class test run on the virtual learning environment (bring your own device). This 1-hour test will take place at the end of spring term. It will include: grammar/ reading/ writing (320 words approx).
• Practical (30%): Oral examination in the summer term, including presentation of pre-prepared material and discussion (approx. 20 minutes)

Assessment information for students on a course with a year abroad

• 7.5 ECTS points awarded on successful completion of the module.
• Available to take for credit towards your degree where your department allows. Also available for extra-credit.
• You must be prepared to attend all classes and undertake approximately 3 hours of private study each week in addition to the assessment.

Grammar support:  La Grammaire progressive du français, niveau perfectionnement, CLE INTERNATIONAL, Janvier 2012. ISBN: 978-2-09-035359-4

Students may also wish to consult the grammar reference book, French Grammar and Usage, Fourth edition by Roger Hawkins, Richard Towell, Routledge 2015. ISBN: 978-1138851108

Additional material: Selection of texts, Press articles and authentic audio-video material.

Further information for Year Abroad/Year in Europe StudentsFurther information for BSc Hons and MSc Language for Science Degrees