French 5 for Global Engagement (LL250)
Summary
Level: Advanced
Prerequisite: prior knowledge of French
- Successful completion of Language Centre level 4 equivalent module
- B2 of CEFR (to be finalised at diagnostic interview)
- or a high grade at A-level
- or equivalent in International Baccalaureate
- or equivalent
Main Objectives
This module will strengthen reading and writing skills and reinforce the communicative skills acquired during previous study of the French language. It will focus on understanding French social, economic and political issues to enable students to engage with native speakers when visiting a French-speaking country and/or in a French speaking work environment. Students will be working towards B2+ (depending on skill area) standard of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference).
Credits
30 CREDITS, also available for 24 CREDITS.
Teaching and Learning
One weekly blended session for 21 weeks, organised as:
- Two-hour face-to-face class on campus
- Some independent study will also be set
Students will take part in an online exchange with the Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
If health & safety restrictions are required, teaching may move online.
Students are reminded that 1 credit = 10 hours of study, therefore for a 30 credit module, the minimum expected amount of study is 300 hours, which averages over 10 hours per week. A substantial amount of independent study is therefore required. Students can make use of Moodle to facilitate this.
Assessment
Term 2: portfolio (20%)
Term 3: one reading/writing test (40%) + one speaking test (40%)
Main Tutors
Pierre Botcherby pierre.botcherby@warwick.ac.uk
Magali Toscan magali.toscan@warwick.ac.uk
Course Texts (must be bought by student)
- P. Shannon, P. Turk & G. Garcia Vandaele (2018), Action Grammaire - Fourth edition, Hodder Education, ISBN-13: 978-1-5104-3486-8
- Selected texts and resources will be provided by the tutor.
Course Description
The emphasis of the module will be on improving the following skills:
- Communicating effectively in situations ranging from informal conversation to a formal interview or presentation
- Writing essays and formal, transactional, non personal emails in French
- Reading and understanding business-related texts
- Self-awareness of strengths and weaknesses in order to improve learning skills.
Successful completion of French 5 for Global Engagement qualifies students to progress to French 6 for Global Engagement and French 6 through Films and/or French 6 through Translation.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module, students will have:
- Consolidated and expanded grammatical and syntactical competence
- Expanded their use of business terminology
- Gained experience in interacting with fluency and spontaneity to be able to take part in discussions
- Written formal, transactional and analytical texts on business topics
- Read and understood a variety of articles and business-related texts
- Developed further awareness and appreciation of French economic activity, social issues, history and culture
- Developed strategies to work independently on an open-ended project
- Developed strategies to communicate some information coherently and effectively to a specific audience within an open-ended project
By the end of the module, students should be able to perform at Level B2+ Independent user (vantage) of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).
Syllabus
The module is delivered in French and the syllabus will include the following:
Topics
Activities will be centred on non-literary texts and audio-visual material focusing on the following themes:
- l'éducation supérieure
- le monde du travail
- les 30 glorieuses et les 40 désastreuses
- politique économique
- la France dans le monde
- révolution du capitalisme
- politique et institutions
- les nouvelles technologies dans l'entreprise
- films et documentaires à dimension sociale
Grammar
Consolidation of major elements, such as: gender; all tenses; hypotheses; passive voice; direct & indirect object pronouns; relative pronouns; conjunctions.
Subject-specific and transferable skills
- Strategies for understanding gist and specific information
- Strategies to communicate effectively both in writing and orally in French
- Communication skills: writing and oral presentation, defending one’s point of view
- Intercultural Awareness, Professionalism, Digital Literacy, Teamwork, Problem-Solving, Critical Thinking
Can count towards the Warwick Award:
