French Proficient 1 (MLT350)

• University credits: 10
• University levels: 1-4
• Pre-requisite: MLT311 (> 65%), A Level + 2 years or long stay abroad, CEF C1
• Co-requisite: N/A.
• Availability: Students, members of staff, members of the public
• Teaching period: Autumn semester (Timetables and course dates)
• Contact times: 3 hours per week over 11 weeks, starting in Week 1 of the semester, and including a two-hour class and a one-hour lab session.
• Group size: Maximum of 20.
• Language Co-ordinator: Dr Karine Zbinden
• Module Leader: Dr Karine Zbinden
• Pathway: MLT351

Assuming a solid, two year post-A-level study of the language and, ideally, a prolonged stay in a country where the language is spoken, this unit aims to provide the linguistic and cultural skills required to operate as a near-native speaker in the target country, whether for professional, academic or recreational purposes, and to develop strategies and techniques to become a fully autonomous, life-long learner of the language and culture.

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

• perform at Level C1+ of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
• understand without too much difficulty any kind of spoken language, whether live or broadcast, when delivered at standard speed
• understand long and complex factual or literary texts, including specialised articles and technical instructions, appreciating distinctions of style and genre
• take part without much effort in a specialised conversation, discussion or presentation relating to their own field of study or interest, expressing themselves fluently and idiomatically according to the context, developing an effective logical structure if necessary and conveying finer shades of meaning precisely
• produce a variety of professional texts (letters, reports, articles, etc.), presenting complex ideas and finer shades of meaning within an effective logical structure and with a good command of the appropriate style
• demonstrate an extended critical understanding of cultural, social and profesional trends and associated behaviours in areas where the language is spoken so as to engage efficiently with native speakers in complex or conflictual communicative situations, whether academic, professional, or other
• study the language and culture fully independently for a variety of purposes, maintaining and enhancing their level of proficiency beyond the institutional framework through a personal routine of exposure to, and practise of, the language
• demonstrate proficiency in a number of transferable skills such as IT skills, researching, presenting and analysing information, defending an argument and negotiating, intercultural and language awareness, autonomous learning, social media communication, etc.

• Textbook(s): Material is provided by the department.
• 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.

French Timetable