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The Language Centre

French beginners accelerated (LL262)


Summary

Level:

Absolute Beginners only. This module is offered to students with no prior knowledge of French. Due to the 'accelerated' aspect of the module, evidence of prior linguistic achievement (e.g. a GCSE A* grade in another European language) is essential.

Main Objectives:

To develop competence in a range of predictable everyday tasks acquiring essential listening, speaking, reading and writing skills and insight into French society.

Credits:

This is a 24 or 30 CREDIT module.

Teaching:

3 hours language class each week for 21 weeks. Students are reminded that 1 credit = 10 hours of study, therefore the minimum expected amount of study is 240 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.

Students will take part in the online exchange with the Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France.

Tutors:

Teresa Mackinnon

Course Text

  • Bissar et al., French 1 (3rd edition) Palgrave. ISBN: 978.1.137.57919.5 (must be bought by student)
  • Tutor created/curated open resources available cost free online

Course Description

A general foundation in language, extending across the four main skills areas (speaking, writing, listening and reading), with an emphasis upon the acquisition of an essential grammatical basis and development of both receptive and productive skills.

Successful completion of 'French beginners accelerated' qualifies students to progress to French 3.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • understand the essentials of grammar and syntax;
  • demonstrate a competence in basic writing
  • understand short texts in the target language
  • demonstrate a reasonable standard of pronunciation and be able to communicate orally in basic situations
  • understand spoken language
  • show a range of vocabulary and strategies for dealing with unknown vocabulary

By the end of the course, students should be able to perform at Level A2 Basic user (waystage) of the Common European Framework.

Syllabus

Communicative skills 
  • including introductions;
  • describing places and people;
  • asking and ordering;
  • giving and understanding directions;
  • telling the time;
  • describing pastimes;
  • making appointments;
  • simple phone messages;
  • likes and dislikes;
  • expressing choices;
  • comparing;
  • talking about the past;
  • sports and leisure activities;
  • giving advice.
Topics may include:
  • the environment;
  • employment;
  • tourism and travelling;
  • housing;
  • different aspects of French life; etc.
Grammar:
  • simple sentence construction;
  • gender/plurals of nouns;
  • definite and indefinite articles;
  • numbers,
  • dates and times;
  • adjectives;
  • affirmatives;
  • negatives and interrogatives;
  • demonstratives;
  • possessives;
  • adverbs;
  • pronouns (personal, object, direct and indirect, relative);
  • comparatives;
  • verbs in the present, perfect, imperfect, future, conditional and imperative;
  • pronominal verbs;
  • modal verbs;
  • expressing time and place;
  • expressing wishes and wants; etc.

Assessment Scheme:

1 interim test (term 1), 1 oral examination and 1 final examination (term 3)

Assessment summary and skills weighting: Assessment

Marking criteria (written): Marking criteria written (levels 1 and 2)

Marking criteria (oral): Marking criteria (oral) levels 1 and 2