Module Catalogue 2024/25

FRE2061 : Level C (HE Advanced) French

FRE2061 : Level C (HE Advanced) French

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Ms Isabelle Ruegg Alter
  • Lecturer: Ms Christelle Vicente-Jacques, Dr Myriem El Maizi, Miss Nathalie Paris
  • 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

Pre Requisite Comment

Level B (FRE1071) or equivalent

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:

1. Focus on further developing students' written and oral communicative competences in French gained in Level B (including fluency, grammatical and lexical accuracy and range; register and pronunciation);
2. Continue to prepare students for the future study of French (including written and oral communicative skills, and intercultural awareness and competence) and/ or for their future learning experience (including independent learning and study skills; reflective skills and self-regulation);
3. Continue to facilitate students' ability to establish and maintain effective social and working relations with speakers of French in written and spoken media during their intercalary year. This includes students’ ability to use and understand authentic material and produce their own written and spoken output.

The module will be taught and assessed in French.

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:
1. Cultural differences
2. A practical guide to living and working in France
3. Ethical / controversial current issues
4. Culture and Traditions / Cultural issues
5. French Languages and registers
6. Current Affairs

Learning Outcomes

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will have had the opportunity to further their knowledge of:
1. The use of appropriate sentence, lexical and text structures for a range of text types
2. All areas of grammar, vocabulary and background knowledge related to the skills listed below.
3. 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:

1. Using more complex lexical and grammatical structures in spoken and written communication
2. Synthesising information from more complex aural and written input
3. Close reading using authentic material of appropriate complexity and length
4. Extended writing and/or typing in the target language (summaries, short essays and articles)
5. Analyzing and using authentic spoken media sources including multiple speakers, the exposure to different accents, intonations, speeds of delivery, background noises etc
6. Conversing, discussing directly with target language speakers and producing / giving presentations in French using an appropriate range, on agreed topics
7. How to study and apply grammar systematically
8. Translating from French into English and from English into French
9. How to present and articulate the graduate skills developed during the course of the module

Subject-Specific skills Cognitive/ intellectual skills:

Students will further develop their ability :

1. To locate, make use and critically evaluate authentic materials for this course other than those provided by the teacher
2. To critically and constructively evaluate their own performance and the performance of others
3. To apply a range of strategies for language learning appropriate for this level and module
4. To work independently and confidently on their own or in a group, either within or outside the classroom
5. To conduct research using the Internet and other authentic sources in order to contribute their own materials to the course.
6. To reflect on and articulate in writing or speaking the graduate skills developed during the course of the module

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Structured Guided LearningLecture materials221:0022:00Non-synchronous online activities related to the grammar lectures
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture221:0022:00In-person grammar lectures
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesPractical12:002:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching212:0042:00Language seminars taking place on campus in labs and classrooms. Online if necessary due to Covid-19.
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study1121:00112:00N/A
Total200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

1. Teaching in the language seminars will focus on oral communication skills (speaking and listening) while reading and writing skills are mainly developed in the preparation of and the associated work after the language seminar.

2. The one-hour grammar lectures will focus on the formal structures of the language and key study skills. Students will work through independent study materials (exercises and recorded videos) at home to reinforce and consolidate the content covered in the lectures.

3. Independent learning and learner autonomy are further developed through the means of structured homework and research activities, pair and group work and self-study at home via the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) Canvas and 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 and be very pro-active in their language study.

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 Examination1502A50On-campus exam
Oral Examination152M30On campus, live presentation and discussion
Exam Pairings
Module Code Module Title Semester Comment
Level C (HE Advanced) French - Exchange Semester 22N/A
Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written exercise1M20Written task combining reading and writing skills.
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

- The written exercise (20%) will encourage work on language skills and enable students to receive formative (for learning) feedback. It will help students assess their progress and identify their strengths and areas for improvement, thus stimulating their independent and reflective learning skills throughout the year. The task will be submitted online towards the end of Semester 1 (20%). It will test the students’ ability to produce a well-structured text in the target language based on the comprehension and analysis of written source material.

- The oral examination (30%) will take place at the end of Semester 2. It will test students’ ability to conduct independent research, critically evaluate authentic material, and to produce and present their own output orally in a clear and structured manner. It will also assess their ability to speak freely, understand aural and/or audio visual input, and interact in a discussion on these findings and on general matters.

- The final written exam at the end of Semester 2 (50%) will take place during the exam period and will test the students’ ability to produce and present a well-structured text or texts in the target language. 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 the target language at the end of this module.

Timetable

Past Exam Papers

General Notes

N/A

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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.