City University of Hong Kong
Department of English
EN2868 FRENCH 1
Aims and Objectives
This course aims at bringing you a first contact with the French language and culture
with the method “Campus 1”.
French language and culture are present all around the world as more than 40
countries (especially in Africa, in Canada and in Europe) have French as an official
language or used as an administrative or second language.
In Asia French used to be spoken in Viet Nam, Cambodia and Laos (these countries
were ex-colony of France). Nowadays the French presence in Asia is quite strong. In
Hong Kong there are about 500 French companies and 7,000 French people.
Through the semester you will receive basic French language through the fours skills:
listening, speaking, reading and writing.
Please fell free to ask as much as you need as this is an essential part of the learning
process. You may even want to give me your suggestions regarding the course
contents.
You can contact me by telephone (2788 9517) or by e-mail (bbouvard@cityu.edu.hk)
I hope you will enjoy French this semester!
Course content
French language:
You will receive basics French language through listening, grammar and reading
exercises. We will practice oral in French as much as we can supported by English if
needed. By the end of the course you should be able to have and make simple
conversation in French and understand some basics grammatical features of the
language.
ILOs
As the end of the course you should be able to:
- greet somebody, say goodbye
- ask and answer simple questions about your age, name, where you live,
profession/studies, what you like/dislike, etc.
- fill in a simple form with simple information about yourself
- count from 0 to 100
- understand and express (French) telephone numbers
- understand the difference between “tu” and “vous” and the other subject pronouns
- know the present tense of the verbs “to be, to have, to call, to go” and the verbs of
the first group
- express what you like or you dislike
- express the date
- interact in class (asking questions or using expressions such as “can you repeat
please?”, “I don’t understand”, “I don’t know”, “what does it mean?”, “how do you
spell?” etc.)
- know the basic negative sentence
- know the difference between the definite/indefinite articles
- know some question words
- know the main sounds and the basic pronunciation of French language
Teaching materials
No textbook is needed. Material will be given during the semester. Material is also
available on Blackboard.
Reading List
Methods
Jacky Girardet, Jacques Pécheur (2002). Campus 1. Méthode de Français.
Cahier d’exercices. Paris : Clé International
Massia Kaneman-Pougatch, Marcella Beacco di Giura, Sandra Trevisi,
Dominique Jennepin (1997). Café Crème 1. Méthode de Français. Paris :
Hachette Livre
Evelyne Bérard, Yves Canier, Christian Lavenne (1996). Tempo 1. Méthode
de Français. Paris : Didier/Hatier
Grammar
Maia Grégoire (1998). Grammaire Progressive du Français. Niveau
Débutants. Paris : Clé International
Maia Gregoire, Odile Thievenaz (2003). Grammaire Progressive du Français.
Niveau Intermédiaire. Paris : Clé International
Michèle Boulares, Jean-Louis Frerot (1997). Grammaire Progressive du
Français. Niveau Avancé. Paris : Clé International
Phonetics
Lucile Charliac, Jean-Thierry Le Bougnec, Bernard Loreil, AnnieClaude Motron (2003). Phonétique Progressive du Français. Paris : Clé
International
Vocabulary
Claire Miquel (2001). Vocabulaire Progressif du Français. Niveau Débutant.
Paris : Clé International
Anne Lete, Claire Miquel (1997). Vocabulaire Progressif du Français. Niveau
Intermédiaire. Paris : Clé International
Claire Miquel (1999). Vocabulaire Progressif du Français. Niveau Avancé.
Paris : Clé International
A French Bookstore in Hong Kong called “Parenthèses” is located on 2/F, Duke of
Wellington House, 14 Wellington Street, Central. You can find a lot of materials there,
especially methods for learning French and dictionaries but also novels, tourists guide,
comics, books for children, magazines as well as video tape, DVD, CD, etc.
Teaching Pattern
Duration of course: 13 weeks
Current tutorial: 3 hours tutorial
Assessment Pattern
Examination duration: Nil
Percentage distribution of marks for coursework, examination, other: 100%
coursework:
1. End-of –course ORAL TEST: 50 %
2. End-of-course WRITTEN TEST (grammar, vocabulary, listening, reading and
writing comprehension) : 50%
Grading pattern: Standard (A+AA-...F)
Schedule for Tutorials
WEEK
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
TOPIC
- Introduction to the course
- Greetings (hello, my name is…)
- Pronunciation (alphabet, accent and syllable…)
- Introducing yourself
- Difference between tu and vous
- Verbs to be (être), to call (s’appeler)
- Phonetic
Asking and answer how are you?
- Useful questions for the class (can you repeat please, how do you
spell…)
- Verbs to go (aller)
- First approach of the negative sentence
- Phonetic
- Talking / asking about someone (who is he/she?)
- Nationalities, countries (I live/ I come from…) and professions
- Difference between masculine/feminine (gender: un / une)
- Phonetic
- Talking about someone: introducing/asking about someone (2)
- Asking about an object (what is it? This/That is…)
- Indefinite / definite articles : un, une des, le, la, les, l’
- This / that / these / those is / are
- possessive adjectives : mon, ton, sa
- Phonetic
- Asking about an object (what is it? This/That is…) (2)
- Making of a short dialogue: use of formal / informal sentences
- Phonetic
- Revisions
- Expressing like / dislike
- Vocabulary: liking and activities
- Phonetic
- Expressing like / dislike (2)
- Verbs in –ER (aimer, adorer…)
- Asking/giving information about people: simple questions (what is
your address, how old are you…)
- Phonetic
- Asking/giving information about people (2)
- Difference between the questions words : qu’est-ce que / est-ce que
/ quel…
10
- Phonetic
- Numbers from 0 to 100
- Verb to have (avoir)
- Negative sentence
11
- Phonetic
- Numbers (2) and telephone numbers
- Date: days, months, seasons
- Writing a postcard
12
13
- Phonetic
- Revisions
End-of-term Oral test
End-of-term Written Test
Note: the schedule proposed above is tentative. It may be modified according to student
progress and time available. Suggestions for the French tutorials are welcome!
Bertrand Bouvard
200-2010