Module Catalogue 2024/25

FRE1071 : Level B (HE Intermediate) French

FRE1071 : Level B (HE Intermediate) French

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Sandra Salin
  • Lecturer: Miss Nathalie Paris
  • Other Staff: Ms Christelle Vicente-Jacques
  • Owning School: Modern Languages
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 10
Semester 2 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 10.0
European Credit Transfer System
Pre-requisite

Modules you must have done previously to study this module

Code Title
FRE1065Level A (HE Entry Level) French I
FRE1066Level A (HE Entry Level) French II
Pre Requisite Comment

Available to any student with an A-level or equivalent in French (if so, to be approved by Module Leader).

Note: Non-SML students are advised not to proceed to level C unless they achieve at least 40% in this module.

Co-Requisite

Modules you need to take at the same time

Co Requisite Comment

None

Aims

In consonance with the overall aims of the degrees offered in the SML, this module will:

- Focus on developing the students' written communicative and oral communicative competences in the target language (including fluency, grammatical and lexical accuracy and range, register and pronunciation);
- Facilitate students' ability to establish and maintain effective social and working relations with
speakers of the foreign language in written and spoken media. This includes students’ ability to use and understand authentic material and produce their own written and spoken output.
- Prepare students for the future study of the target language (including written and oral communicative skills, and intercultural awareness) and for their future learning experience (including independent learning and study skills; reflective skills and self-regulation);

This module is available to all students with an A-level or equivalent in the target language.

Outline Of Syllabus

Students cover a variety of topics related to contemporary French (and Francophone) society, and / or relevant to Contemporary societies and cultures. Depending on student feedback, these may include:
-       Social media
-       Literary genres
-       Cinema / Music / Visual arts
-       Culture and Traditions
-       Student Life
-       Current affairs and current issues
-       Press / Media / Advertising
-       Travel and Tourism
-       French languages and registers / Francophonie

THIS COURSE WILL BE TAUGHT AND ASSESSED IN FRENCH

Learning Outcomes

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will have had the opportunity to learn about:
- sentence and text structure, grammatical categories and their exponents and use, lexical fields and registers and their usage.
- all areas of grammar, vocabulary and background knowledge related to the skills listed below.
- topics and issues relevant to contemporary French (and Francophone) society and culture.

Intended Skill Outcomes

Subject specific skills:

By the end of the course, students will have had the opportunity to learn about:
- using varied lexical and grammatical structures in spoken and written communication.
- reading for information using authentic material of appropriate complexity and length and responding appropriately in written and oral form.
- writing and typing in the target language (e.g.: answers, short reports, short essays, summaries)
- listening for information using different types of authentic sources in the foreign language and responding appropriately in written and oral form.
- conversing and discussing directly with peers and target language speakers and producing/giving presentations in French using an appropriate range, on agreed topics.
- how to study and apply grammar systematically.
- how to identify and present the language graduate skills developed during the course of the module.

Cognitive/ intellectual skills:

Students will learn:
- to locate, make use and critically evaluate materials for this level other than those provided by the teacher.
- to evaluate their own performance or the performance of others.
- to apply a range of strategies for language learning appropriate for this level and module
- to work independently and confidently on their own and in a group, either within or outside the classroom.
- to locate information from different authentic sources (e.g. Internet) in order to contribute their own materials and ideas to the course.
- to articulate and reflect on the skills developed during the course of the module, in written or spoken form.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture221:0022:00Grammar lectures
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion301:0030:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesPractical221:0022:00Practical sessions in language labs
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching221:0022:00Synchronous language seminars
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study1011:00101:00N/A
Guided Independent StudyOnline Discussion60:303:00Non-synchronous discussion on VLE
Total200:00
Jointly Taught With
Code Title
FRE1171Level B (HE Intermediate) French - Exchange Semester 1
FRE1271Level B (HE Intermediate) French - Exchange Semester 2
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Teaching in the language seminars and practicals in the language labs will focus on communication skills while the grammar lectures will focus on key study skills and the formal structures of the language. All four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking are fully integrated in the language seminars and associated guided work and preparation.

Independent learning and learner autonomy are further developed through the means of grammar-related activities, online guided tasks, pair and group work, assessment preparation and completion, and self-study at home, via the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and in the Language Resource Centre. Particular initiative is expected from students at this level, e.g. course participants will be asked to contribute their own materials to the classes and activities.

Reading Lists

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written Examination601A30On-campus written exam (reading/writing)
Written Examination1202A40On-campus written exam (reading/grammar/writing)
Exam Pairings
Module Code Module Title Semester Comment
Level B (HE Intermediate) French - Exchange Semester 11N/A
Level B (HE Intermediate) French - Exchange Semester 22N/A
Level B (HE Intermediate) French (Ex-Level A)1Written Exam 1
Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Oral Examination2M303-4 minute video based on listening material, to be submitted before Easter
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

- The Written Examination at the end of Semester 1 (30%) will enable students to produce a 250 to 300-word written piece of work. This will be based on a text of 1000-1500 words. It will test students’ ability to read and understand written sources in the target language and to respond appropriately in written (or typed) form in the target language. [Students may be allowed to type their own answers provided that spell check / grammar check has been disabled]. Students will receive feedback so that they can assess their progress and identify their strengths and areas for improvement before the final written examination in Semester 2.

- The content of the 3-4 minute oral component (30%) will be based on 6-8minutes of video material. This oral component will test students’ ability to listen and understand video sources (excluding written text) and to respond appropriately by producing and present their own output orally in the form of a video. This assessment provides summative information to staff and student on students’ achievement in speaking and listening in the module.

- The final written exam at the end of Semester 2 (40%) will test the students’ reading, grammar and written skills. Students may be allowed to type their own answers provided that spell check / grammar check has been disabled. This formal examination provides summative information to staff and student on student's achievement in reading / grammar and writing in the target language in this module.

Timetable

Past Exam Papers

General Notes

N/A

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Disclaimer

The information contained within the Module Catalogue relates to the 2024 academic year.

In accordance with University Terms and Conditions, the University makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the modules as described.

Modules may be amended on an annual basis to take account of changing staff expertise, developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Module information for the 2025/26 entry will be published here in early-April 2025. Queries about information in the Module Catalogue should in the first instance be addressed to your School Office.