This module provides a practical introduction to the world of business in a French language country. It focuses on key organisations such as companies as well as important issues such as advertising, marketing and the wider economy. It also offers valuable training in the preparation of business correspondence and CVs in the French language.

* display a basic knowledge and understanding of the organisation and workings of companies and banks, and the implications of ‘Brexit’, particularly for the French business world

* demonstrate the linguistic competence and powers of analysis with which to deal competently with most communication within the French business organisation

* show a capacity to work independently and in cooperation with other students

* show an ability to participate in discussion of key aspects of the French business world 

There will be lectures and seminars totalling at least 40 hours, including in-depth revision classes at the end of the course, all of which are obligatory. 

Lectures will provide the background knowledge of the business world in France. This material will feed into seminars where students will probe more deeply into lecture topics and practical communicative skills.

This will include: problem solving and comprehension exercises, business correspondence, language exercises and job applications. You will develop considerably your knowledge of business vocabulary in the target language. Students are expected to complete homework and guided study ahead of seminar classes. There will be an induction session addressing the needs of year 2 students which will cover critical methods and study skills appropriate to the module.  

• Lectures will develop the student’s capacity to absorb information, including through note-taking;
• Seminars will develop the capacity to deploy this information and apply it to texts drawn from the world of business in the target language country as well as regularly practising the target language;
• Seminars and coursework will enable students to develop their vocabulary, improve their writing skills in a range of areas (letters, emails, reports, CVs etc.), improve their listening, speaking, and, in some cases, presentation skills in the target language;
• Through coursework and examination students will demonstrate their knowledge of the world of business in France; and
• Other academic and key skills developed include research and organisational skills, communication and basic word-processing skills, intercultural awareness as well as interpersonal, negotiation and team-working skills.

The coursework element will count for 40% of the total mark and will include summative assessments which may take the form of correspondence, essays, summaries and/ or other exercises in the target language. Formative assessments will not count towards the module mark.

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR REASSESSMENT IN THIS MODULE:

In the event of failing this module, students will have the option of resitting the exam during the resit period. 

The syllabus content will vary depending upon the target language. However, some elements will be common to all business language courses :

Introduction

The structure and workings of companies in France

The workings of the economy in the target language countries

Marketing & Advertising

Business Correspondence

Job applications

Revision

The World and Language of Business French will cover the following indicative syllabus: :

Autumn Semester

Week 1: Introduction 

Week 2: Les banques françaises

Week 3: Les banques françaises et la crise économique

Week 4: Correspondance

Week 5: Correspondance

Week 6: Reading Week

Week 7: Les avantages du « Brexit »

Week 8: Les inconvénients du « Brexit »

Week 9: Les entreprises (classification, forme juridique)

Week 10: Les entreprises (croissance et ethique des affaires) 

Week 11: Révisions

Detailed reading lists will be provided in each of the different target language coursekits.

Coursepack

Claude Le Goff:                         Le Nouveau French for Business (Didier), April 2000 edition

Detailed reading lists will be provided in each of the different target language coursekits.

Highly Select Bibliography

Business French Dictionaries

M. Chalmers & M. Pierquin                   Oxford Business French Dictionary (Oxford Uni. Press, 2012 on line version of 2002 print dictionary: ISBN 9780191727283; electronic resource: http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780191739491.001.0001/acref-9780191739491)

Other Useful Texts

A number of other texts are useful for exercises or for more in-depth analysis of specific topics:

Banques

L Dahan and P Morel    Pratique du français des affaires (Maison du dictionnaire, 2008), pp. 223-237) [see learning central for PDF document]

L Dahan and P Morel    Maitrisez le français commercial en 40 questions (Langues Pour Tous,

                                       2004), pp. 262-9         

E. Cloose                       Le Français du Monde du Travail (PUG, 2004), pp.72-77, See also 2014 edition  

R- J Berg:                      Parlons Affaires! (Harcourt Brace, 1999)   

Penfornis, J & Habert, L.           Affaires.com  (Paris, Cle, 2007)

Entreprises

L Dahan and P Morel,   Pratique du français des affaires  (Maison du dictionnaire, 2008), pp 144-150, 233-237) [see learning central for PDF documents]

L Dahan and P Morel,   Maitrisez le français commercial en 40 questions (Langues Pour Tous,

                                       2004), pp. 156-161 (forme juridique), 270-2 (financement)

E. Cloose                       Le Français du Monde du Travail, pp.12-23. See also 2014 edition

M Danilo & B Tauzin     Le français de l'entreprise (Clé, 1990)

M Danilo et al                Le français de l’entreprise: livret complémentaire (Clé, 1991)