UCL CENTRE FOR LANGUAGES
& INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
Course Units 2015-2016
French for Business and Current Affairs
Prerequisite for entry
Successful completion of French Syllabus D at the UCL CLIE, a high ‘A’ level grade or if you have a very good grasp of the
language and are able to conduct a conversation without difficulty
Course duration
20 x 2-hour classes.
Self-Study
80 hours in total.
Course codes
LCFR6005, LCFRG005, LCFRM005, LCFR6045, LCFRG045, LCFRM045 (together with French syllabus D), LCFR6056,
LCFRG056 and LCFRM056 (together with French Current Affairs and Culture).
Aims and Objectives
The course is designed for advanced level students. It teaches specialised vocabulary to enable participants to use their
language skills in a professional environment, such as meetings and conferences, as well as covering related topics such
as current affairs and the latest trends in French society. The course will enhance knowledge of French life, society and
business culture using 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 in a fluent manner;
debating, commenting, explaining, describing at an advanced level;
suggesting, accepting, refusing, doubting, hoping, convincing, disagreeing;
ability to interact in a critical debate, presenting one's ideas clearly and efficiently in a more conceptual way;
ability to master all the above in an increasingly complex spoken and written register.
Course Content
Main topics/themes to be covered

French companies: human resources and employment (e.g. job applications), job market;

Europe and globalisation;

the French state: politics and policies; media and new technologies;

evolution of French society: multiculturalism; men/women; social trends: arts, fashion, gastronomy; science;

current affairs;

sustainable development; ecotourism.
Skills
Reading

newspapers (economic and political): reading for gist, scanning for specific information;

in-depth analysis of economic topics in major newspapers/magazines;

texts on company profiles (organisation, management, strategy, marketing and advertising, statistics, product or
service descriptions etc).
Writing
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essays;

formal business letters;

analysis and review of articles;

note-taking from presentations;

writing up presentations;

CVs and covering letters.
Listening
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news: radio, TV, audio and DVDs (regular listening skills exercises);

presentations;
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listening exercises on corporate affairs, economics and social issues.
Speaking

formal and informal discussions, debates, round table;

presentations;

role-plays.
Transferable

personal introductions;

research for, and presentation of, a project;

how to prepare and conduct a meeting.
Linguistic Structures
Discourse Strategies

analysing/comparing texts from various sources (wide range of text types);

preparing spoken contributions in different situations.
Main aspects of these strategies

structuring (logical structures);

logical connections (lexical, grammatical);

stylistic levels, various registers and their usage;

format.
Repetition of various grammatical features (mainly syntax)
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pronouns;

all tenses and modes;
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passive voice;

complex sentences (conditional, cause and effect, concession, complex negations, reported speech etc.).
Learning Resources
Business and Current Affairs

Le Nouvel Edito B2 – Textbook, (red and yellow cover), (Didier) – ISBN: 9788484436959
Syllabus D+ Business and Current Affairs

Nouveau Rond-Point 3 – Textbook (orange cover) (Difusíon & PUG) – ISBN: 9788484439851
Syllabus D+ Business and Current Affairs; Business and Current Affairs; Business, Current Affairs & Culture

Bilingual Dictionary (Collins/Robert)

Monolingual Dictionary – Micro Petit Robert
Authentic material from various sources
In addition there is a wide range of language learning materials available for self-study in the Self-Access Centre.