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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 and written French and to express coherent ideas and arguments in spoken and written French.

Pre-requisites: FREN51040 / FREN51050

Medium of language: French and English

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)

Hawkins, Roger and Towell, Richard, French Grammar and Usage (Oxon: Routledge, 2015 for the fourth edition). ISBN: 9 781138 851108  

Hawkins, Roger, Lamy Marie-Noëlle, and Towell, Richard, Practising French Grammar (Oxon: Routledge, 2015 for the fourth edition). ISBN: 9 781138 851191  

Jubb, Margaret and Rouxeville, Annie, French Grammar in Context (London: Routledge, 2021) 

Jubb, Margaret, Upgrade Your French (London : Routledge, 2020) 

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

This module must be passed with a minimum overall mark of 40% in order to progress.

Following successful completion of the first part of this course, it is strongly recommended that students continue working on their independent learning dossier over the Christmas vacation and the January examination period.