This module aims to refine students’ linguistic and cultural competencies acquired in French at previous levels. By fortifying productive (written and oral), receptive (aural and reading) and interpretative (translation, précis, textual analysis) skills, students will achieve capacity for graduate employment or higher degrees of specialisation. To accomplish this, they will work with a variety of oral, aural and textual materials, primarily aimed at consolidating communicational skills in the target language. Students will use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes, while also fine-tuning their transferable skills.

• Express him/herself fluently and spontaneously in formal contexts without much obvious searching for expressions.
• Collect, select, evaluate and present information or interpretations of material on a specific topic for oral presentation.
• Collect, select, evaluate and present information or interpretations of material on a specific topic in writing.
• Show an ability to mediate between source and target language by means of translating and/or interpreting across a wide range of topics.
• Evidence knowledge of aspects of the cultures, communities and societies where the language is used.
• Refine knowledge and understanding of language varieties, register, genre, nuances of meaning and language use.
• Make effective use of language reference materials such as grammars, standard and specialised dictionaries.

This module will be delivered in French. It will be taught over two semesters (Autumn and Spring), with three contact hours per week. Each week, one of the three contact hours will be dedicated to further developing oral communication and expression. Electronic learning materials will be available for students at any time in order to facilitate participation and reinforce face-to-face sessions.

This final year French language module will equip students with a semi-specialised vocabulary and new insights on a selection of the following domains: Media, Politics and International Relations, Business and Administration, Business and trade, Education, Culture and Heritage.

Various forms of expression will be practised. This could include orally, through interviews, presentations and discussions; and in writing, through reports, press releases, summaries, abstracts, blogs and emails.

The student's preparatory work and participation will be paramount in view of getting well prepared for future work experience.

Language skills

• Express him/herself fluently and spontaneously in the French on a wide range of topics and registers.
• Understand a wide range of longer texts and recognise nuances in meaning and use.
• Write clear, well-structured, detailed texts in French on complex subjects.
• Use the French language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes.

Intercultural awareness, understanding and competence

• Critically understand other cultures and practices other than student’s own.
• Articulate to others the contribution that the French culture has made at a regional and global level.
• Appreciate and evaluate critically student’s own culture.

Language-related skills

• Develop awareness and understanding of student’s own approaches for learning French language.
• Develop awareness and understanding of student’s own learning style and learning opportunities of French language.

Generic skills

• Use French language creatively and precisely for a range of purposes and audiences.
• Extract and synthesise key information from written, spoken and other sources.
• Organise and present ideas within the framework of a structured and reasoned argument.
• Develop digital literacy.
• Develop problem-solving skills.
• Use French language source materials appropriately.
• Write and think under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Manage own learning.
• Effective communication, presentation and interaction.
• Ability to work creatively and flexibly with others as part of a team.
• Linguistic mediation skills.

Oral: 30%

Aural assessment: 10%

Written assignment (Autumn Semester): 10%

Written assignment (Autumn Semester): 10%

Exam: 2-hour written exam (Spring Semester Exam Period): 40%

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR REASSESSMENT IN THIS MODULE:

By failed component (oral 30%; portfolio 30%; written exam 40%).

Les deux mots-clés à retenir pour ce cours de langue sont consolidation et professionnalisation. Consolidation parce que, les premiers mois, nous insisterons beaucoup sur la précision de votre expression en revenant sur certains points de langue et en étudiant quelques textes littéraires. Cela vous aidera à vous exprimer avec plus d’aisance et de précision. Professionnalisation parce que nous mettrons également l’accent sur votre préparation au monde du travail tel qu’il est aujourd’hui, c’est-à-dire en mutation. Les tâches à effectuer varieront de manière à développer différents aspects de votre expression orale et écrite.

A travers les thèmes étudiés, tous à partir d’une sélection de documents authentiques écrits et /ou audio-visuels, et récemment publiés, nous allons progressivement nous familiariser aux tendances récentes de la vie professionnelle en France. L’objectif est de mieux les connaître, afin de pouvoir en traiter, oralement et par écrit, et d’être préparé à vos débuts dans la vie professionnelle.

The core materials will be provided and uploaded on Learning Central.

Bourmayan, A. et al. (2017) Grammaire Essentielle du Français Niveau B2. Paris : Didier FLE

Gusdorf, F. (2009) Words Today. Les Mots d’Aujourd’hui. Paris: Ellipses

Hervey, S. et al. (2002) Thinking French Translation: A Course in Translation Method: French to English, Second Edition. London: Routledge

Kamoun, C. & Ripaud, D. (2017) Phonétique Essentielle du Français : Livre B1/B2. Paris : Didier FLE

Leroy-Miquel, C. (2013) Grammaire en Dialogues. Niveau Avancé, B2-C1. Paris : CLE International

Price, G. (2013) A Comprehensive French Grammar, 6^th Edition. New Jersey: Wiley-Blackwell

Please consult the corresponding module information for each language.

INSEE (2018) Tableaux de l’Economie Française, Edition 2018. Paris: INSEE (free to download from https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/3353488)

INSEE (2017) France, Portrait Social, Edition 2017. Paris: INSEE (free to download from https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/3197289)