UCL - French - Upper intermediate

[FRAN1401]

[60h] 5 credits

Teacher(s): Geneviève Briet, Françoise Masuy, Jacqueline Pairon(coord.)

Language: French

Level: First

Aims
Main themes
Content and teaching methods
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Aims

The entity responsible for the course description defines the skills and the knowledge which the student must have acquired at the end of the activity of training (maximum 10 lines).
At the end of this course, the students are supposed to be able to do in:

Listening
- Can understand the main ideas of propositionally and linguistically complex speech on both concrete and abstract topics delivered in a standard dialect, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialization.
- Can follow the essentials of lectures, talks and reports and other forms of academic/professional presentation which are propositionally and linguistically complex.
- Can understand most TV news and current affairs programs.
- Can understand documentaries, live interviews, talk shows, plays and the majority of films in standard dialect.

Reading
- Can read with a large degree of independence, adapting style and speed of reading to different texts and
purposes, and using appropriate reference sources selectively. Has a broad active reading vocabulary.
- Can understand articles and reports concerned with contemporary problems in which the writers adopt particular stances or viewpoints.

Speaking
- Can keep up with an animated discussion, identifying accurately arguments supporting and opposing points of view.
- Can express his/her ideas and opinions with precision, present and respond to complex lines of argument convincingly.
- Can participate actively in routine and non-routine formal discussion.
- Can contribute, account for and sustain his/her opinion, evaluate alternative proposals and make and respond to hypotheses.

Writing
- Can write an essay or report which develops an argument, giving reasons in support of or against a particular point of view and explaining the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
- Can synthesis information and arguments from a number of sources.
- Can write clear, detailed descriptions on a variety of subjects related to his/her field of interest.
- Can write a review of a film, book or play.

Main themes

A visit to the office of the newspaper ¿Le Soir¿ stimulates the discussion about medias in the various countries. Debates focus on: bullfight (corrida), the sustainable development, the protection of wild animals, to join the army or not, " leaving home? ", the relocation of museums, etc. News is approached once a week with the " students' news " . Idiomatic expressions are explained by two students once a week, every week). Finally, a cultural visit more is organized in Brussels (ex: a film about the photographer Cartier-Bresson), Depending on years, students may have to work on a specific project concerning an artist invited at UCL.

Grammar
Revision of the basic grammar and study of the complex sentence (cause, purpose, consequence, condition, opposition, comparison, etc.)

Content and teaching methods

This course covers linguistic, sociolinguistic and pragmatic competences. Every week students develop their skills in reading, listening, writing and speaking. An important place is given to students' personal expression and opinions.
The didactic approach puts the students at the centre and alternates traditional cognitive aspects with emotional, physical, ethical and imaginative dimensions. Students discover French literature with Edmond Rostand, Boris Vian, Georges Simenon. Besides, students improve their skills through a presentation, several debates, visits, and broadcast programs. This course invites each student to express his personal self on the various themes (10 subjects). The intercultural dimension of the group is certainly a plus.
In this course, the teacher is the partner of the students with whom he signs, individually, a ¿PEDAGOGICAL CONTRACT ¿. In this contract , both parts express their rights and duties as well as the personalized objectives to achieve by the student.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Prerequisites ( Ideally in terms of skills)
To master intermediate skills (level B1) as described in the common European Framework of reference of the Council of Europe during an oral placement test.

Assessment
During the semester:
The 5 written productions completed during the semester count for the final evaluation (10%).
The several oral exercises (debate, presentation¿) presented to the class count for 20% of the final evaluation.
A language test counts for 10% of the final evaluation.

The examination program (60%): listening: 2 documents , reading: 2documents, writing: one essay (support point of view).speaking: review of a book.

Course material : syllabus, Intranet (Moodle platform)

References
Several books to read

Training staff
A group of about 20 students
The teacher is available during his reception time and can be contacted by email.
Guidance in the self-learning center (C.A.A.) and in the multi-media room

Other
This course corresponds to B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference

Equivalent courses given in the other UCL curricula:-