French - Upper Intermediate Level (B2) - Pronunciation and speaking techniques

Teacher(s)

Neuenschwander Valérie (coordinator); Renard Christine (coordinator);

Language

French

Main themes

Reading with expression, narrate a story real or imaginary, describe feelings and reactions, give personal views in an informal discussion, lead a debate on a topical subject, participate in a professional meeting.

Focus is put on both contents (selection of relevant examples, articulation of ideas, organization ) and fluency.

Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	According to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, the learner /independent user of the language of level B2 can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics express him/herself on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options. Level B2 describes a developed and relatively confident command of the foreign language

Content

The course deals progressively with different acts of language in French: expressing oneself in a nuanced way, highlighting one's ideas, clearly explaining instructions or facts, defending a point of view, taking part in a debate, collaborating and finding a solution collectively.
This course also allows students to become aware of the different parameters involved in oral communication (language, voice, body, space), to improve their pronunciation in French (sounds, rhythm, articulation, intonation), to work on specific spoken structures, to express themselves in a clear, comprehensible and nuanced manner.

Teaching methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

Each class counts 3 parts :

1. After some relaxation work, the first part consists in a technical warm up (rythm, intonation, phonetics, body language')
2. During the second part, students will discover an oral situation and the vocabulary and linguistic structures related to it
3. During the third part, the students will make several spoken productions related to the situation discovered formerly, or practice his ability to speak in front of an audience

This class requires a regular work at home. Every week, students will prepare a grammatical and/or lexical point. They will also have several oral homework (audio and video recordings posted on the learning platform).

Evaluation methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

The evaluation is based on the training practiced during the semester and on the quality of the student's progress.
During the quadrimester, continuous evaluation (50%)

• Attendance at the course (min. 75% of the sessions), delivery of training assignments, commitment 10%.
• Test on pronunciation and on vocabulary 10%.
• individual or group performance 10%
• audio and video recordings 10%.   
• online self-learning path (pronunciation) +  written assessment.  10%

Final exam (50%)                                
The exam is oral. It consists of three parts:

• non prepared debate on a topical subject 20% 
• A 3-minute prepared presentation 20  
• Recorded interpretation of a literary text (poetry, prose or drama) 10% 

Other information

This course corresponds to B2 level of the common European Framework of reference

Teaching materials

• Plateforme Moodle

Faculty or entity

ILV