French Language, Written and Oral (MLF2001)

Staff	Dr Clementine Force - Lecturer Dr Damien Gaucher - Lecturer
Credit Value	30
ECTS Value	15
NQF Level	5
Pre-requisites	MLF1001
Co-requisites	None
Duration of Module	Term 1: 11 weeks; Term 2: 11 weeks;

Module aims

The aim of the module is to:

extend your command of reading, speaking and writing French
consolidate your understanding of French grammar, and facilitate your application of this to written and oral tasks
enhance your ability to communicate in accurate French, in a clear and structured manner
increase your understanding of the nuances of the French language
expand your vocabulary in French

ILO: Module-specific skills

1. Write and speak French with increased accuracy and fluency; understand written and spoken French with increased accuracy
2. Use French in a wide range of linguistic exercises
3. Apply a knowledge of a broad range of grammatical features of French, including some complex or advanced structures, to a range of linguistic exercises
4. Tackle complex translation passages out of the French language based on a wide range of topics in a variety of written styles
5. Engage in structured discussions and debates on issues raised in class
6. Argue a case in written French in answer to challenging questions on a broad range of abstract and contemporary issues
7. Use bilingual and monolingual dictionaries to research conventions of usage, find synonyms, and explore nuances of meaning

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

8. Understand and employ in oral and written work a broad range of linguistic terminology, using this terminology to a certain extent to conceptualise your mistakes in the French language and to identify strategies for improving your linguistic accuracy
9. Engage critically with the French-language media

ILO: Personal and key skills

10. Communicate information and arguments of some complexity in a foreign language
11. Express and defend opinions on a wide range of current and abstract issues

Syllabus plan

Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:

Weekly classes for Translation and Grammar, Oral and Listening, and Reading Comprehension and Essay work.
In Translation, the texts relate to a range of topics, including aspects of modern and contemporary France.
In the Essay/Reading and Oral/Listening components, work is focused on a small number of broad themes, relating to France and the contemporary world

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
66	234	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching	22	22 x 1-hour translation and grammar classes
Scheduled Learning and Teaching	22	22 x 1-hour oral and listening classes
Scheduled Learning and Teaching	22	22 x 1-hour reading comprehension and essay writing classes
Guided Independent Study	234	Private study

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
6 formative tasks covering some or all of the following areas: grammar, writing, listening, reading, speaking, translation.	Variable	1-11	Written and oral feedback

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
50	25	25

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Portfolio	50	As described on the ELE page	1-11	Written feedback
Written exam	25	1 hour	1-4,7-8,10	Written feedback
Oral exam	25	One paired conversation: 10 minutes	1-3, 5-6, 8-11	Written and oral feedback

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Portfolio	Portfolio	1-11	Referral/Deferral period
Written exam	Written exam	1-4,7-8,10	Referral/Deferral period
Oral exam	Oral exam	1-3, 5-6, 8-11	Referral/Deferral period

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Basic reading:

Roger Hawkins and Richard Towell, French Grammar and Usage
Glanville Price, A Comprehensive French Grammar [Blackwell, latest edition]
Major French and French-English dictionaries.

Module has an active ELE page?

Yes

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ELE: https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=1356
As indicated by staff teaching Essay and Oral elements, including web sites of major newspapers and news periodicals.

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

Major newspapers/periodicals, especially Le Monde, le Nouvel Observateur, Le Point

Available as distance learning?

Origin date

23/01/2019

Last revision date

30/07/2020

Key words search

French, language, written, oral, second, year