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French Language for Beginners

Module description

Spoken by more than 270 million people globally, French is a crucial asset: it is one of the most common languages in many domains (business, the Internet, media, international organisations), and the second most learned language in the world. The MLF1052 module will help you become part of this community, as it covers the essentials of the French language and culture. You will follow a structured programme and dynamic classes, and will develop a better awareness of the range of strategies available to learn a language. The sessions are conducted in the target language, so you become familiarised with the language and immerse yourself in the learning process.

This module can be taken even if you have no prior knowledge of French, but it is also available for those who have learned French up to an appropriate level.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This intensive language module aims to provide you with a practical working knowledge of the language, enabling you to acquire the skills to communicate effectively in writing and verbally, so that you can express opinions, and compare and contrast viewpoints. The module aims to train you in all four language skills (reading, writing, speaking, listening comprehension) as well as to equip you with the required grammatical knowledge and vocabulary to deal with a range of topics and situations. It aims to bring beginners and GCSE entrants to the equivalent A-level standard (B1 of the CEFR).

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate a sound grasp of the basic grammatical structures of French
• 2. Understand texts written in French
• 3. Express ideas and opinions orally and in writing in French
• 4. Give short oral presentations in the target language on a defined topic to a small group of listeners and engage in group discussion of the topic presented.
• 5. Write letters and other short texts in French on a limited range of practical and descriptive themes.
• 6. Attempt straightforward translation exercises out of French

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 7. Understand the principles of learning a new language intensively, and organise your own learning with guidance from the tutor.
• 8. Use available learning aids to consolidate your own learning.
• 9. Use reference grammar books and bilingual and monolingual dictionaries to check the structural and lexical accuracy of your writing and expression in the target language.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 10. Communicate at a basic level with French
• 11. Express and discuss views individually and/or as part of a group

Syllabus plan

You will work through a course book, which covers all essential points of grammar, vocabulary, and cultural awareness, and consolidates skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. You will also work from a variety of media (e.g. TV, radio, newspapers, weblogs), and develop your understanding and production of authentic French Language.

You will follow the equivalent of 5 hours per week, in which grammatical structures as well as vocabulary will be introduced in context. You will have the opportunity to practice language skills in class and in set homework in an integrated manner.

Among other skills, you will learn to:

• Provide information about yourself and about other people.
• Make practical requests, such as asking your way or ordering food, drink, etc.
• Interact and socialise with other people, e.g. inviting someone for a drink.
• Talk about past events; express your feelings and emotions about an event.
• Express your opinion on events, or abstract but simple topics.

You will also learn to develop several linguistic skills such as:

• Writing formal and informal documents.
• Speaking in simple contexts.
• Reading and listening to authentic but simple documents.
• Translating simple documents from French to English and English to French.

You will receive feedback on their work in class and individually.

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

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

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

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%.

You will only be required to retake any failed assessments. Marks for any passed assessments will be carried forward. If you have failed any assessments but managed to pass the module overall, you will not be allowed to retake the failed assessments.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Nouveau Rond-Point 1 : Livre de l’élève (2011). ISBN: 9788484436614
• Nouveau Rond Point 2 : Livre de l’élève (2011). ISBN : 9788484436959
• J. Rey-Debove, Dictionnaire du français. Le Robert & Cle International. ISBN : 978-2090339994
• Collins Robert French Dictionary Complete and Unabridged edition: 500,000 translations (Collins Dictionaries). ISBN : 978-0007556526

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• Links to exercises to be available via module ELE site.
• ELE: https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/search.php?search=MLF1052

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

• A wide range of language learning materials is available in the Foreign Language Centre, the Library as well as online. As part of the module, your tutors will provide guidance on the materials best suited for guided independent language learning.

Key words search

Beginners' French language, ab-initio French language, French language.