116-133 French I: Contemporary French B

116-131 French I: Contemporary French A and 116-132 French I: Language in Context I or equivalent.

This subject involves written and oral exercises and activities designed to consolidate and develop the linguistic and communicative skills gained in first semester, further enhancing both fluency and accuracy. These will include discussions on topics of social, cultural and political significance. Aural comprehension activities will further develop listening accuracy, and will also involve authentic audio-visual materials including films, songs, news reports and other media. Written work will include grammar exercises involving more sophisticated structures, analysis of more complex authentic texts, and compositions demonstrating enhanced argumentative skills. The Textual Studies component of the course will introduce students to other major 20th-century writers including Sartre, Ernaux and Robbe-Grillet. By broadening the range of genres and styles studied, including theatre and the nouveau roman, students should continue to improve their reading comprehension, and to build on skills in critical analysis acquired in first semester.

• This subject encompasses particular generic skills. Communicating knowledge intelligibly and economically: through essay and assignment writing, tutorial discussion and class presentations; Written communication: through essay and assignment preparation and writing; Public speaking and confidence in self-expression: through tutorial participation and class presentations; Attention to detail: through close reading and textual analysis, essay preparation and writing, and examination revision; Time management and planning: through managing and organizing workloads for required and recommended reading, essay and assignment completion and revision for examinations.

Two 30-minute grammar tests (30%, in semester), a 750-word assignment (20%, due in semester), a 50-minute textual studies test (15%, in semester), a one-hour language test (20%, during the examination period) and a 750-word textual studies essay (15%, due during the examination period).

• Livret de l'étudiant. prepared by the Department.
• J Ollivier & M Beaudoin, Grammaire française. (3rd ed) Thomson Nelson, 2004.
• A Ernaux, La Place. Folio Edition.
• Jean-Paul Sartre, Huis clos. Folio Edition.