Newcastle University > Undergraduate > Find a Degree > Module

• Offered for Year: 2021/22

• Module Leader(s): Dr Sandra Salin
• Lecturer: Dr Cécilia Gil, Ms Isabelle Ruegg Alter, Dr Adeline Charlton
• Other Staff: Ms Christelle Vicente-Jacques, Dr Anne-Charlotte Husson

• Owning School: Modern Languages
• Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus

Semesters

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
-       Literature (Story telling)
-       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

Teaching Methods

Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.

Teaching Activities

Jointly Taught With

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The module talk introduces students to the module, its content, its format, its objectives and assessment methods and the learning tools used during the year, including digital tools.

Teaching in the language seminars and practicals in the language labs will focus on communication skills while the lecture materials and drop-ins 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 online grammar videos and 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.

Assessment Methods

Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.

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

Exams

Exam Pairings

Other Assessment

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

- The portfolio (40%) will encourage regular work on the four language skills and enable students to receive regular formative 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 oral recording (20%) will test students’ ability to produce and present their own output orally and enable them to receive feedback on their work.

- The final written exam at the end of Semester 2 (40%) will test the students’ reading, grammar and written skills. This exam will test students ability to write or type in the target language. Students may be allowed to type their own answers provided that spell check / grammar check has been disabled.

Should the situation change due to Covid-19, the portfolio and oral recordings could be all submitted and marked online. The final exam could become a 24-hour online off-campus written exam.


* skills (20% each) - set during Semesters 1 and 2.

Reading Lists

• FRE1071's Reading List

Timetable

• Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
• FRE1071's Timetable