Newcastle University

Pre Requisite Comment

Students must have completed Level C French or equivalent.
French native speakers should not take this module.

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

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

- build on language skills gained at stages 1, 2 and 3
- provide students with an in-depth knowledge of the French language and with the ability to use it at a high level of proficiency in professional and academic environments.
- prepare students for postgraduate study in areas that make extensive and intensive use of the target language
- focus on further developing students' oral, aural and written competence in the foreign language gained at stages 2 and 3, with a focus on the professional and academic world.

Outline Of Syllabus

This module focuses on two main activities:

- professional oral communication skills
- aural comprehension and written report and/or commentary

In Semester 1, students will be given the opportunity to practise formal oral communication in the target language in a variety of professional and academic contexts, eg. presentations (informative and persuasive); discussions; debates; vivas and interviews (professional and media).

In Semester 2, students will learn to synthesise audio-visual materials in a formal and professional manner. They will practise written communication in the target language through a range of professional and academic tasks, eg. reports, syntheses, commentaries or critical reviews. The audio-visual sources will cover cultural, political, economic and societal themes in relation to the French-speaking world.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will have gained knowledge in:

- using complex lexical and grammatical structures in a range of advanced discourse types, both spoken and written
- synthesising information from a variety of authentic sources, comprising extended aural and written input from a variety of demanding discourse types
- extended writing in the target language, focusing particularly on argumentative and synthetic compositions in a formal professional and academic register
- understanding, using and evaluating information from authentic audio-visual media sources
- giving oral presentations, leading and taking part in critical discussions in the target language on a variety of controversial, topical issues, using appropriate range and register.

Intended Skill Outcomes

1. Subject-Specific skills:

By the end of the course, students will have gained experience in:

- using complex lexical and grammatical structures in a range of advanced discourse types, both spoken and written
- understanding, using and evaluating information from authentic audio-visual sources

2. Cognitive/intellectual skills:

Students will further develop their ability to:

- apply and evaluate a range of learning strategies appropriate to the demands of the course
- work independently and confidently, on their own or as part of a group, either within or outside the classroom

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Language classes will introduce, model and offer guidance in each of the skills that students are required to practise during the course (e.g. oral presentations, taking part in critical discussions, aural comprehension and commentary, etc.).

Group work will offer students an opportunity to work in small groups (in the target language and in English) under close supervision of the lecturer. These classes will focus on the skills listed in the outline syllabus.

Teaching will be mainly in the target language.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The assessment of oral is performed in a setting that is as close to a real-life professional or academic situation as possible.

The exercise of aural commentary is assessed by means of an examination to ensure that the students’ output is produced in identical conditions and is their own work.

The oral and aural mock exams help students assess their progress before the formal examinations take place. Formative feedback will be provided regularly.

* (Continued from above)...understand and synthesise authentic video sources under time constraints. For this reason, students cannot control the video source but reasonable adjustments can be made if required as part of a student support plan. Some students may be allowed to type their own answers provided that spell and grammar checks have been disabled.

** (Continued from above)...and without any notes other than the printout of their PowerPoint/Prezzi/Keynote presentations. In exceptional circumstances, reasonable adjustments to this rule can be made as part of a student support plan.

General Notes

N/A