12 UC/14 BA/3
UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY
Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
Template 2: Qualification Change -2014
Proposal Description
R
Purpose of the proposal
To restructure the current four year French language programme as a three-year programme and to restructure the BA
Major in French. The French major is currently suspended, but the restructuring in this proposal allows for the teaching
out of students who had previously enrolled in the French major.
Justification
General Background: Prior to the 1980’s the French Programme, like other New Zealand university language
programmes, was designed to for students who had done four years of the language at secondary school. Such students
would enter the French programme with an advanced level of language skills and experience and be ready to read
French literature in their first year. By the last two decades of the 20th century fewer students were studying language
at secondary school and language programmes added ‘beginners’ courses’ at a 100-level, while retaining the original
100-level courses for ‘traditional’ students who had studied the language at secondary school. This development, in
effect, created two types of programme for students seeking to study French to third year level, a four-year programme
for beginner students, and a three-year programme for those who had studied the language at school. The four-year
programme inside a three-year degree proved problematic. Few students, who came in a beginner level, persisted with
a Major in the language. By the 1990’s language programmes nationwide had re-structured or were re-structuring as
three-year programmes. At Canterbury re-structuring of this sort has taken place in other language programmes –
German, Te Reo, Latin and Greek – and is currently taking place in Japanese. The French programme is one of the last in
the country to follow this path.
This proposal is closely aligned with the University of Canterbury’s graduate profile. The revision and streamlining of the
Major will continue to produce graduates who are critically competent in their core academic discipline and ready to
make use of their language and cultural skills in a multicultural world. Graduates of the French programme are naturally
aware of the global ubiquity of French, which is spoken and read in places as diverse as Canada, Algeria and Tahiti. By
the very nature of their study, French graduates an appreciation of other cultures beside their own and are equipped for
international experience and to engage with one of the major nations of the world. When it comes to trade, politics,
cultural exchange and educational collaboration with the French speaking world, only people with the training a French
major offers can truly consider themselves ready to work effectively and confident to be effectively entrepreneurial.
The 2013 Partial Restructuring and the Suspension of the French Major: In 2013 the Intermediate 100-level Language
Acquisition course, FREN 123 and FREN 124 were re-coded as FREN 221 and FREN 222. This was occasioned by an
urgent need to regularize the French offerings at 100-level and 200-level and align them with the other European
Language programmes, in order for French to become a subject for the Certificate in Languages. At the same time a
decision was taken to suspend the Majors in the European languages, including French. The adoption of the Certificate
in Languages (and the French 100/200-level restructure) was dependent on the Change and Renewal proposal being
adopted by the University Council. It was noted at the time that, should the proposal go ahead, consideration would
need to be given to further re-structuring of the French language programme – either to allow for teaching out or for
the revival of the Major.
Note: This proposal for the reconfiguration of the Major is accompanied by three further course proposals: (i) a
proposal to combine the current 15 point courses, FREN 201 and FREN 202, into a single 30-point first-semester course,
FREN 321 Advanced Language Acquisition A; (ii) a proposal to recode the 30-point, first-semester course FREN 301
Advanced Language Acquisition C as a 30-point, second-semester course, FREN 322 Advanced Language Acquisition B;
and (iii) a proposal to recode the current FREN 322 Introduction to French Linguistics as FREN 323 Introduction to French
Linguistics.
1
12 UC/14 BA/3
The process of adjustment and the eventual shape of the language course sequence are shown in Chart 1.
CHART 1: THE MOVE FROM A FOUR-YEAR SEQUENCE OF LANGUAGE COURSES TO A THREE- YEAR SEQUENCE
OF LANGUAGE COURSES.
Note: (i) This chart assumes the possible revival of the major.
(ii) The current FREN 201 and FREN 201 will be combined into FREN 321. The current FREN 301 will be
recoded as FREN 322.
FREN
121
FREN
122
Four
Year
Major
Language
Acquisitio
n 1 (15
pts)
Language
Acquisition
2 (15 pts)
2014
FREN
121
FREN
122
Language
Acquisitio
n 1 (15
pts)
Language
Acquisition
1 (15 pts))
FREN
121
FREN
122
Language
Acquisitio
n 1 (15
pts)
Language
Acquisition
1 (15 pts))
2013
FREN 123
FREN
124
FREN
201
FREN
202
FREN
301 /FREN 322
Language
Acquisition:
Intermediate B
(15 pts)
Language
Acquisition:
Advanced A
(15 pts)
Language
Acquisition:
Advanced B
(15 pts)
Language
Acquisition:
Advanced C
FREN 221
FREN 222
Language
Acquisition:
Intermediate
A (15 pts)
Language
Acquisition:
Intermediate B
(Co-taught with
FREN 124)
FREN
201
FREN
202
FREN
301/FREN 322
Language
Acquisition:
Advanced A
(15 pts)
Language
Acquisition:
Advanced B
(15 pts)
Language
Acquisition:
Advanced C
(30 pts)
FREN 221
FREN 222
Language
Acquisition:
Intermediate
A (15 pts)
Language
Acquisition:
Intermediate B
(Co-taught with
FREN 124)
Language
Acquisition:
Intermediate
A (15 pts)
(30 pts)
V
2015
2016
Three
Year
Major
FREN
121
FREN
121
Language
Acquisitio
n 1 (15
pts)
Language
Acquisition
1 (15 pts)
FREN 221
FREN 222
Language
Acquisition:
Intermediate
B (15 pts)
Language
Acquisition:
Intermediate B
(15 pts)
FREN
321
FREN
322
Language
Acquisition:
Advanced A
(30pts)
<
Language
Acquisition:
Advanced B
(30pts)
Formerly FREN
301
FREN
322
FREN
321
Language
Acquisition:
Advanced A
<
Language
Acquisition:
Advanced B
(30pts)
The academic pathways for cohorts of students involved in this process are shown in Chart 2.
COHORTS OF STUDENTS IN THE LANGUAGE-LEARNING SEQUENCE
2012
2013
2014
2015
Cohort A
FREN 121
FREN 122
FREN 123
FREN 124
FREN 201
FREN 202
FREN 322
(previously
FREN 301)
Cohort B
FREN 123
FREN 124
FREN 201
FREN 202
FREN 301
(First
Semester)
Cohort C
FREN 121
FREN 122
FREN 221
FREN 222
Cohort D
FREN 221
FREN 222
FREN 301
Beginners in
2012
Direct entry
from high school
French in 2012
Beginners in
2013
Direct entry
from high school
French in 2013
Cohort E
FREN 121
2
FREN 321
FREN 322
FREN 221
12 UC/14 BA/3
Beginners in
2014 (Only
eligible for the
Minor)
FREN 122
FREN 222
Cohort F
FREN 221
FREN 222
FREN 321
FREN 322
Direct entry
from high school
French in 2014.
Would be able
to complete a
Major if desired.
The Overall Shape of the Major: inclusion of auxiliary courses:
In the current format for the Major students are required to include an auxiliary non-language course at 200-level and
an auxiliary non-language course at 300-level. These are supplied by three cross-coded pairs of courses, at least one of
which is taught each year.
 FREN 211/311 French Culture and French Language
 FREN 212/312 French Culture in English
 FREN 223/322 Introduction to French Linguistics
In addition students who enter with advanced levels of language are able to ‘back fill’ their Major with EULC 101
European Society in Film, EULC 104 European Languages in Europe and Beyond.
In the new configuration of the Major students will continue to do at least one non-language course with a significant
French component at 200-level. It is envisioned that two cross-coded pairs of courses will be taught, with each pair
being offered in alternate years.
 FREN 211/311 French Culture and French Language
 FREN 223/322 Introduction to French Linguistics
In addition students who enter with advanced levels of language will able to ‘back fill’ their Major with the same 100level courses as previously – although these courses will now be offered from the European and European Union Studies
under the EURA code: EURA 103 European Society in Film, EURA 104 European Languages in Europe and Beyond.
Alternatively students may choose to complete their Major with a 30-point 300-level course from whichever of the
cross-coded pairs they did not do at 200-level.
Prescriptions for courses
FREN121 French Language Acquisition Beginners A
15 points/ 0.125 EFTS
This is an introductory course for students who have no previous knowledge of French. It is the first in a sequence of six
French language acquisition courses offered by the Programme.
FREN122 French Language Acquisition Beginners A
15 points/ 0.125 EFTS
This is an introductory course for students who have no previous knowledge of French. It is the second in a sequence of
six French language acquisition courses offered by the Programme. Students who have some previous knowledge of
French, should consult the Programme Director to determine which course is the most appropriate.
P. FREN 121 or a level of French acceptable to the Programme Director.
FREN 221 French Language Acquisition Intermediate A
15 points/ 0.125 EFTS
This is the third course in a sequence of French language acquisition courses offered by the Programme. Students
without the formal prerequisite, but with some previous knowledge of French, should consult the Programme Director
to determine which course is the most appropriate.
P. FREN 122 or a level of French acceptable to the Programme Director.
R. FREN 123
3
12 UC/14 BA/3
FREN222 French Language Acquisition Intermediate B
15 points/ 0.125 EFTS
This is the fourth course in a sequence of French language acquisition courses offered by the Programme. Students
without the formal prerequisite, but with some previous knowledge of French, should consult the Programme Director
to determine which course is the most appropriate.
P. FREN 221 or FREN 123 or a level in French acceptable to the Programme Director.
R. FREN 124
FREN321 French Language Acquisition Advanced A
30 points/ 0.25 EFTS
This is the fifth course in a sequence of six French language acquisition courses.
P: FREN 222 or FREN 124 or a level in French acceptable to the Programme Director.
R: FREN 201, FREN 202
FREN322 French Language Acquisition Advanced B
30 points/ 0.25 EFTS
This is the sixth course in a sequence of six French language acquisition courses.
P: FREN 321 or FREN 202 or a level in French acceptable to the Programme Director.
R: FREN 301
Resources
This proposal reconfigures the Major but does not require additional teaching resources. Library resources are well
established for the teaching of French at this level.
Calendar Form
Qualification Regulations
UC Calendar 2014 Page 220 Schedule B to the Regulations for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts
DELETE
Major
Students intending to complete the BA with a major in French must be credited with at least 135 points in
French (not including ARTS 395) of which at least 105 points must be at 200-level or above, including the
following:
100-level
Recommended: 30 points of 100-level French, excluding FREN 121 and FREN 122.
200-level
Recommended: 45 points of 200-level French.
300-level
Required: At least 60 points of 300-level French, including FREN 301 (but not including ARTS 395).
Required for Honours: B average at 300-level.
INSERT
Major
4
12 UC/14 BA/3
Students intending to complete the BA with a major in French must be credited with at least 135 points in
French (not including ARTS 395) of which at least 105 points must be at 200-level or above, including the
following:
100-level
Recommended: FREN 121 and FREN 122.
200-level
Recommended: 45 points of 200-level French, including FREN 221 and FREN 222.
300-level
Required: FREN 321 and FREN 322.
Required for Honours: B average at 300-level.
5