French Beginner 1 (MLT101A/B)

• University credits: 10
• University levels: 1-4
• Pre-requisite: No previous knowledge of the language.
• Co-requisite: N/A.
• Availability: Students, members of staff, members of the public
• Teaching period: MLT101A: Autumn semester, MLT101B: Spring semester (Timetables and course dates)
• Contact times: 3 hours per week over 11 weeks, starting in Week 1 of the Autumn semester and week 2 in the Spring semester, and including a two-hour class and a one-hour lab session.
• Language Co-ordinator: Dr Karine Zbinden
• Module Leader: Harsh Trivedi (Autumn), Aurore Sansinena (Spring)
• Pathway: MLT102 the same year or in the Spring of the following year, MLT151 in the Autumn of the following year.

Assuming no prior knowledge of the language, this unit aims to provide a general foundation in the language and culture in order to cope with a range of predictable, everyday communicative situations encountered when interacting at a basic level, orally and in writing, with sympathetic native speakers during, for instance, a brief visit abroad.

Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

• perform at Level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
• recognise familiar words and very basic phrases concerning themselves, their family and immediate concrete surroundings when people speak slowly and clearly
• read and extract key information from short, very simple texts and written documents (messages, notices, instructions, brochures, etc.)
• interact in a basic way with a sympathetic native speaker in simple, routine, predictable situations, requesting or providing factual information, and coping with unfamiliar language or unexpected responses by asking for repetition or clarification
• write very simple notes, messages and short personal letters or emails providing essential information about themselves
• demonstrate an initial insight into very basic aspects of the culture and everyday life in areas where the language is spoken so as to respond appropriately when interacting with native speakers in elementary situations
• demonstrate a practical understanding of essential grammar terminology and a basic ability to study the language by themselves, using essential tools such as the World Wide Web or a dictionary and developing techniques for the acquisition and retention of new language
• demonstrate awareness in a number of transferable skills such as IT skills, presenting information, handling unexpected communicative situations, taking intercultural differences and language barriers into account, learning independently, etc.

• Textbook(s)*:
  • Set: Foundations French 1, Bissar, D. et al (Palgrave: 2016), ISBN : 9781137579195. 3rd edition. 
  • Recommended: English Grammar for students of French, Morton. J. (Olivia & Hill Press: 2013), ISBN: 0934034427.

• Virtual Learning Environment (Blackboard):
  • Weekly scheme of work
  • Summary of activities done in class, with slides and corrections
  • Follow-up and preparatory homework
  • Additonal resources, inc. free-view film selection and grammar exercises
• French Society

• Validation - This module can be validated as part of the following schemes:
  • Undergraduate degree
  • MLTC Confirmation of Attendance or Completion
  • Higher Education Achievement Record
  • Doctoral Development Programme & Research Training Programme
• Assessment:

Important: the method of assessment to be used in 2023-24 is subject to change and the below is for the 2022-23 academic year. This page will be updated with further information in due course.

• Oral Assessment: 50%
• Written Examination (in the examination period): 50%  
• Feedback: In addition to on-going individual and collective feedback during class-activities, learners will receive individual written feedback on the three pieces of assessment above.

MLTC Timetables