116-131 French I: Contemporary French A

Formerly available as 116-114. Students who have completed 116-114 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

VCE French or equivalent.

116-132 French I: Language in Context I.

This subject involves various exercises and activities designed to consolidate Year 12 linguistic skills, enhancing both fluency and accuracy. These will include role plays and class discussions on topics of social, cultural and political significance. Aural comprehension will include understanding authentic audio-visual materials including films and developing listening accuracy. Writing will include grammar revision and development, composition and translation. Reading skills are enhanced primarily in a textual studies seminar introducing students to the work of some major 20th century French writers: Prévert, Aymé, Camus, Le Clézio. By studying a range of genres (poetry, drama, short stories, extracts of novels), students should develop their reading comprehension, and begin to develop skills in critical analysis.

• be capable of communicating knowledge intelligibly and economically through essay and assignment writing, tutorial discussion and class presentations;

• develop skills in written communication through essay and assignment preparation and writing;

• develop skills in public speaking and confidence in self-expression through tutorial participation and class presentations;

• develop attention to detail through close reading and textual analysis, essay preparation and writing, and examination revision;

• develop skills in time management and planning through managing and organizing workloads for required and recommended reading, essay and assignment completion and revision for examinations.

Three 15-minute grammar tests 25% (in weeks 3, 6 and 9), a 400 word assignment 20% (due in week 4), two 5-minute literature mini-tests 5% (in weeks 4 and 8), a 50-minute listening comprehension test and phonetics test 20% (in week 10), a 50-minute literature test 10% (in week 12) and a 1-hour language test 20% (during the examination period).

• Livret de l'étudiant I. prepared by the Department.
• J Ollivier & M Beaudoin, Grammaire française. (3rd ed) Thomson Nelson, 2004.