116-035 French III:Language I

Formerly available as 116-314. Students who have completed 116-314 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

116-016 French II:Language II or equivalent.

This subject strongly focuses on written expression through regular compositions, textual analysis and various grammatical exercises. Attention will also be paid to both literary and informal usages of spoken and written French. In addition, the course involves advanced spoken communication and comprehension based on audio-visual materials and in-dept readings of a wide range of texts. The subject will enable students to perform in French a range of communicative activities, both fluently and accurately, and strengthen language skills that are useful or transferable in employment contexts. Various styles and registers are studied. In oral/aural French, students make a formal presentation based in part on understanding of audio or video recorded material, communicating effectively and correctly both in presentation and in question time; they will demonstrate listening comprehension of both gist and detail. Students will read four novels in French in the course of the year, two per semester, with more or less the same degree of facility as reading a comparable work in English. They will give an oral and a written account of their reading (summary, interpretation and appreciation). The subject may make use of a range of internet materials.

Regular attendance and participation in tutorials, written work totalling 1600 words or equivalent, oral/aural work equivalent to 1400 words, a 1-hour aural comprehension test, a 20-minute oral test, and a 2-hour written test.

Materials prepared by the department.

• R Hawkins & R Towell, French Grammar and Usage. Arnold London, 1996.
• A Hébert, Kamouraska. Éditions du Seuil, 1970.
• P Modiano, La petite bijou. Gallimard, 2001.