Module Information
Course Delivery
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Continuous assessment 30%: 4 written assignments, 2 of them under exam conditions (those taken under exam conditions counting twice as much as the others); 10%: listening comprehension (2 tests); 10%: oral (based on active contribution and performance in small oral groups). | 50% |
| Semester Exam | 2 Hours 2 Hours Written examination in semester 2 (40%) + one oral examination (10%). The oral examination takes the form of a 15-minute interview with one member of staff. During this interview the candidate will be asked: (a) to offer a brief presentation (maximum 5-7 minutes) in the target language on a selected topic and (b) to engage in a general conversation arising in the first instance from the presentation itself. Some weeks before the oral exam, students will be provided with four topics taken from the topics covered during the oral classes throughout the year. They will need to prepare all four of these topics as only one of them will be given to the student in the exam. The final exam topic will be provided to the candidate at the beginning of the examination. There will be no period of preparation time immediately beforehand. No supporting notes can be brought into the examination. | 50% |
| Supplementary Exam | 2 Hours If the module has been failed, the supplementary exam will consist of a 2-hour written examination which will count for 100%. If the student has failed the oral exam but has a passing average without the oral exam being taken into consideration, the supplementary exam will consist of an oral examination only (same format as in May/June). The mark of this supplementary oral exam will be integrated into the final mark. | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate personal relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local area, employment).
2. Recognise the main point in short, clear, simple texts, messages and announcements.
3. Read very short, simple texts and find specific, predictable information in simple everyday material such as advertisements, prospectuses, menus and timetables.
4. Read and understand short simple personal letters.
5. Communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar topics, activities and routine matters.
6. Handle very short social exchanges, even though not always able to understand enough to keep the conversation going themselves.
7. Use a series of phrases and sentences to describe in simple terms aspects of their family, other people, living conditions, background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.
8. Use a series of phrases and sentences to describe in simple terms aspects of their educational / professional background and their present or most recent job.
9. Write short, simple notes and messages relating to matters in areas of immediate needs.
10. Write simple personal / informal letters, for example thanking someone for something.
11. Translate short texts from French into English and from English into French.
12. Display proficiency in basic French grammar and syntax, appropriate to level A2 of the ECFR.
13. Make both supervised and independent use of the facilities available in the Department and Library, including the language laboratory.
Brief description
This course is an intensive introduction to the French language. It is aimed at students with little or no previous knowledge of French and will cover material from level A2 of the European Common Framework of Reference for Languages (ECFR). Students will achieve A2 proficiency by the end of the module.
Content
Students will cover material appropriate to level A2 of the ECFR. This will include being able to express information about: What you did and what you used to do in the past; what things are made of; expressing desires; how you feel; health issues; descriptions in the past; then and now; recounting memories; telling stories and anecdotes; what happened in a recent book / play / film you have read / seen; formulating questions and wants; choosing options; commanding, suggesting, and inviting people to do something; refusing and accepting orders, suggestions, and invitations; what you and others have done today / recently; reported speech / indirect speech; talking about things that have happened; expressing possibility, uncertainty and doubt; expressing emotion (surprise, fear, hope, pity, etc…); talking about the future; talking about abstract and hypothetical situations; IT and the media; talking about work; the working environment.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | Using numbers in target language. |
| Communication | Conversation, listening and language classes and coursework. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Continuous assessment in all 4 language skills. |
| Information Technology | Use of video and audio in LRC. Use of web-based material as part of course material. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Development of communication, problem-solving and presentation skills. Development of intercultural awareness. Writing tasks focused on self-presentation. |
| Problem solving | Language work in class and at home. |
| Research skills | Use of BB and other websites. |
| Subject Specific Skills | All 4 language skills. |
| Team work | Pair and group work. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 4