UCL CENTRE FOR LANGUAGES
& INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
Course Units 2015-2016
French Syllabus D
Prerequisite for entry
Successful completion of French Syllabus C at the UCL CLIE or if you are reasonably fluent in the language and are able
to discuss a range of issues (low ‘A’ level grade).
Course duration
20 x 2-hour classes.
Self-Study
80 hours in total.
Course codes
LCFR6004, LCFRG004, LCFRM004, LCFR6034, LCFRG034, LCFRM034 (together with French syllabus C), LCFR6045,
LCFRG045 and LCFRM045 (together with French for Business and Current Affairs).
Aims and Objectives
The aim of the course is to enable students who already have a reasonably advanced knowledge of French to acquire a
better fluency in the language. Students should then be able to communicate in all situations within French speaking
countries.
On completion of the course students will be able to converse with native speakers, follow debates and give
presentations relating to their degree as well as discussing current issues (local and worldwide) using more complex and
linguistically accurate structures (different types of discourse, register).
Cultural awareness will be further developed and raised within a European/global context. Language learning skills,
including autonomous learning and how to approach authentic material, will be further enhanced. Various transferable
skills will also be covered.
Functions
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expressing a wide range of opinions and reactions;
debating, commenting, explaining, describing;
suggesting, accepting, refusing, doubting, hoping, convincing, disagreeing;
ability to interact in a critical debate, presenting one's ideas clearly and efficiently;
ability to master all the above in an appropriate spoken and written register.
Course Content
Main topics/themes to be covered
The contents of this syllabus will be based around a reflection on the nature of contemporary society and current affairs
including an analysis of their cultural dimension.
Topics may include the following (as appropriate depending on students’ interests and current affairs):
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new technologies;
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regions and languages;
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press and media;
education;
work and employment;
nature and environment;
health and health risks;
immigration; Europe; globalisation.
Skills
Reading
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Newspapers – reading for gist, scanning for specific information;
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Websites;
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Texts on targeted topics.
Writing
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Reaction to texts;
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Note-taking;
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Summaries;
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Letter writing;
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CV and covering letter.
Listening
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Targeted material;
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News TV, Radio, Internet (regular listening exercises);
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Note-taking.
Speaking
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Formal and informal discussion / debates / presentation / role-play;
Transferable skills
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Personal introductions / presentation of a project.
Linguistic Structures
Discourse Strategies
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analysing/comparing texts from various sources;
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improving reading skills of analytical and critical discourse;
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improving listening skills of a more speculative forms of discourse;
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introducing academic writing in French;
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preparing of oral debating, story-telling.
Main aspects of these Strategies
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structuring (logical structures);
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linking devices (lexical, grammatical);
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stylistic levels, formal registers and their usage;
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Format of presentation (oral and written).
Acquisition and Consolidation of Various Grammatical Features
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all tenses of the indicative mode; use of all pronouns;
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passive form; verbal structures (e.g. impersonal experiences, passive form);
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the expression of modality (subjunctive and conditional); complex sentences (discourse markers, syntax, link
words).
Learning Resources
Syllabus D Course Books
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Le Nouvel Edito B1 – Textbook (green and yellow cover), (Didier) ISBN 9782278072699
Bilingual Dictionary (Collins/Robert)
Syllabus C/D Course Books
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Nouveau Rond-Point 2 (B1) – Textbook (Editions Maison des Langues, Paris, 2011) - ISBN 9788484436959
Le Nouvel Edito B1 – Textbook (green and yellow cover), (Didier) – ISBN: 9782278072699
Bilingual Dictionary (Collins/Robert)
Syllabus D+ Business and Current Affairs Course Books
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Nouveau Rond-Point 3 – Textbook (orange cover) (Difusíon & PUG) – ISBN: 9788484439851
Bilingual Dictionary (Collins/Robert)
Monolingual Dictionary – Micro Petit Robert
A wide selection of authentic material will also be used. In addition there is a wide range of language learning materials
available for self-study, also online, in the Self-Access Centre.