This course unit trains students in the techniques of writing coherently structured and grammatically correct argumentative texts in French, including (optionally) in business contexts, and in translating texts from French to English and English into French. This course is designed to develop further the students’ ability to understand spoken French and to express coherent ideas and arguments in spoken French.

Pre-requisites:  FREN51040 / FREN51050

To improve students' overall linguistic competence in standard, modern French, by:

• reinforcing acquisition and production of grammatical and idiomatic French at a level appropriate to final-year undergraduates in a British university;
• increasing awareness of current French usage, particularly with regard to correct idiomatic construction and formal linguistic register;
• increasing awareness of the points at which current English usage, expression and sentence structure differ from French, with a view to promoting better understanding of the two languages as distinct conceptual systems
• reinforcing acquisition of vocabulary in French and its use in appropriate contexts.
• help students develop their competencies in spoken French

By the end of this course students will be able to perform at Level C1+/C2 of the Common European Framework (CEF).  Assuming that all classes have been attended, coursework completed and a considerable amount of private study undertaken students will be able to:

On successful completion of this course unit, students will be able to:

• Manipulate the linguistic resources of both French and English texts, acquiring a range of skills including translation and essay writing in French;
• Demonstrate an understanding of a wide variety of both written and spoken French stimulus materials.

On successful completion of this course unit, students will be able to:

• Achieve a good level of grammatical knowledge and enhance their level of correctness through independent study;
• Demonstrate an understanding of a range of social, cultural, intellectual and professional issues in France and the French speaking world, as reflected in the materials studied.

On successful completion of this course unit, students will be able to:

• Express their ideas and arguments coherently and convincingly using an appropriate level of academic writing and spoken French
• Speak with a degree of fluency and spontaneity appropriate for Level 6 study, and take an active part in discussion on a range of topics;

On successful completion of this course unit, students will be able to:

• A high level of idiomatic correctness in the writing of French and English, which can be implemented in the workplace
• Manage time effectively when writing in exam conditions; write essays that are well structured and well argued.
• Take responsibility for their own learning of French through independent learning and self-reflection as well as through the use of available resources via the Language Centre, the Internet and the Blackboard virtual learning environment.

• Written feedback on written assignments submitted throughout the year               
• Oral feedback in class
• Additional one-to-one feedback if desired (during weekly consultation hours or by making an appointment)

Roger D. Hawkins, Richard Towell, French Grammar and Usage (Routledge, 2013)

Roger D. Hawkins, Richard Towell, Marie-Noëlle Lamy, Practising French Grammar (NTC Publishing Group,  1997)

Maj-Britt Mosegaard-Hansen, The Structure of Modern French, A Student Grammar (Oxford: OUP, 2016)