116-035 French III: Language A

116-016 French II: Language B 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-depth 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 on one of the two novels studied in the semester, communicating effectively and correctly both in presentation and in question time. Students will read two novels in French in the course of the semester. The subject may make use of a range of internet materials.

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

• develop the following particular generic skills:

• research -through frequent and systematic use of the library and other information sources, the definition of areas of inquiry and familiarisation with research methods;

• critical thinking and analysis - through required and recommended reading, essay writing and tutorial discussion, and by assessing the strength of arguments;

• thinking in theoretical and analytical terms - through lectures, tutorial discussion, essay writing and engagement in the methodologies of the humanities and social sciences;

• understanding of social, political, historical and cultural contexts and international awareness/openness to the world - through the contextualisation of judgements and knowledge, developing a critical self-awareness, being open to new ideas and new aspects of French and Italian culture, and by formulating arguments;

• 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;

A 1,000 word journal 20% (completed throughout semester); one 1000 word essay 20% (due mid semester); a 15-minute oral presentation 20% (due during semester); a 2-hour written exam 20% (during semester), and a listening comprehension test 20% (during semester).

• R Hawkins & R Towell, French Grammar and Usage. Arnold London 1996.
• A Begag, Béni ou le paradis privé. Editions du seuil 1989.
• P Modiano, Dora Bruder. Gallimard 1997.