Lancaster University

FREN 200: French Language: Oral Skills (half-unit)

FREN 201: French Language: Written Skills (half-unit)

These two integrated half-unit courses make up the second-year language course for Major and Combined Major students. Together, they have two main aims. Firstly, to enhance students linguistics proficiency in (a) understanding spoken and written French in a variety of registers and dealing with a range of contemporary issues; (b) speaking French (prepared and spontaneous) in a range of formal and semi-formal settings; (c) the writing of French (notes, reports, summaries, essays, projects, etc.) including from and into French; and (d) the systematic study of French lexis, grammar and syntax. Secondly, the courses aim to increase students awareness, knowledge and understanding of contemporary France and to prepare them for residence abroad. Combined major students in French Studies and Management subjects follow a commercial language strand from the Michaelmas term of their second year.

The FREN200 element comprises of oral and aural skills and is taken with the FREN201 element, the writing and reading skills. The units cannot be taken separately.  FREN200/201 consists of 3 hours/week covering oral and listening skills as well as grammar, translation and writing skills.

The general aim of FREN200 is to consolidate and build on the linguistic skills acquired in the first year and to equip students with the level of competence and confidence they will require in order to familiarize themselves with the culture and the society of countries where their studied language is spoken.

The course aims to enhance students' linguistic proficiency, with particular emphasis on speaking and listening (prepared and spontaneous) in a range of formal and semi-formal settings.

A systematic study of the vocabulary, grammar and syntax of the language forms a specific component of the course. Contemporary written and audio-visual materials in the L2 language are used throughout the course.

The course also aims to broaden and deepen students' knowledge and understanding of different aspects of modern society, politics and culture, and contemporary issues and institutions and to prepare them for residence abroad.

It is expected that students studying on the FREN200/201 courses wishing to attain a good (2.i/first) level will have elements of B2 (Independent User/Vantage) of the Common European Framework (CEF).

FREN101

Erasmus students:  entry at high B1/B2 of CEF

FREN 200 aims:

a)       to enhance students' comprehension of the spoken language, as it is used both in relatively formal speech, and in everyday "real-life" situations of the kind that one will encounter in French-speaking countries

b)       to develop both general and accurate listening comprehension skills, especially via exposure to radio or television programmes, to introduce computer-based aids and resources for language learning

c)       to develop good, accurate pronunciation and intonation as well as fluency, accuracy of grammar and vocabulary when speaking the language

d)       to encourage expression of views, articulate arguments and foster confident conversational work

e)       to equip students with vocabulary, phrases and appropriate structures

f)        to familiarise students with current topics

g)       to enhance awareness of certain key aspects of contemporary society and culture in French-speaking countries, both at the broad institutional level (e.g. political structures, citizenship rights, etc.) and in terms of the culture of day-to-day encounters and exchanges (with friends, neighbours, passers-by, officialdom, and also in the business context).

On successful completion of this module students will:

a)       have gained the confidence to communicate and project themselves individually via the foreign language

b)       display sensitivity to a greater range of linguistic styles and stimuli

c)       have learned the value of teamwork through group presentations

d)       be able to study with greater autonomy and effectiveness

e)       be equipped with the  intercultural knowledge to cope confidently with the demands which the studen might encounter in French-speaking countries.

f)        enhance students' understanding and awareness of some of the current issues in French-speaking countries

g)       prepare students for the social, cultural and linguistic experiences of visiting French-speaking countries and increase their awareness and knowledge of key aspects of their contemporary societies.

Assessment is by means of a variety of pieces of continuous coursework done over the academic year plus the end of year oral examination.

Dictionaries

Collins-Robert French-English/English-French Dictionary. 8th Ed. Glasgow: HarperCollins. 2006.

Dictionnaire de la langue française. Paris: Larousse. 1998.

The Oxford-Hachette French-English/English-French Dictionary. 4th ed. Oxford/Paris: OUP/Hachette. 2007.

Le Petit Robert. New ed. Paris: Le Robert. 2008.

Batchelor, R.E. & M.H. Offord. Using French Synonyms. Cambridge: CUP. 1993.

Lamy, M-N. The Cambridge French-English Thesaurus. Cambridge: CUP. 1998.

Grammar

Abbadie, C., B. Chovelon, M-H. Morsel. L'expression française écrite et orale. Presse Universitaire de Grenoble. PUG. 2008.

Ball, R. Colloquial French Grammar. Oxford: Blackwell. 2000.

Batchelor, R.E. & M.H. Offord. Using French: A guide to contemporary French usage.  3rd ed. Cambridge: CUP. 2000.

Delatour, Y. Grammaire du français. Paris: Hachette. 1991.

Ferrar, H. A French Reference Grammar. Oxford: OUP. 1982.

Foster, D. & Sweeney, B. A Sound Approach to French Grammar. London: Harrap. 2007.

Grevisse, M. & Goosse, A. Le bon usage. 13th ed.  Paris: Duculot. 1997.

Hawkins, R. & R. Towell. French Grammar and Usage. 3rd ed. London: Arnold. 2010.

Morton, J. English Grammar for Students of French. Olivia & Hill Press. 6th rev. ed. 2008.

Nott, D.O. French Grammar Explained. London: Hodder & Stoughton. 1998.

Offord, M.H. A Student Grammar of French. Cambridge: CUP. 2006.

Price, G. A Comprehensive French Grammar. 6th ed. Oxford: Blackwell. 2008.

Language

Battye, A., M-A. Hintze & P. Rowlett. The French Language Today. 2nd ed. London: Routledge. 2000.

Blanche-Benveniste, C.  Approches de la langue parlé en français. Paris: Editions Ophrys. 1997.

Hagège, C. Le français et les siècles. Paris: Odile Jacob. 1987.

Lodge, R. A. et al. Exploring the French Language. London: Arnold. 1997.

Sanders, C. (ed.) French Today: language in its social context. Cambridge: CUP. 1993.

Tranel, B. The Sounds of French. Cambridge: CUP. 1987.

Walter, H. Le français dans tous les sens. Paris: Robert Laffont. 1988.

Wise, H. Vocabulary of Modern French: Origins, Structure and Function. London: Routledge. 1997.

French Society

Ardagh, J. France Today. 3rd ed. Penguin. 1995.

Mermet, G. Francoscopie 2010.  Paris: Larousse. 2010.