French - Advanced level (C1) - "Professional Communication Strategies"

Teacher(s)

Rassart Emmanuelle (coordinator);

Language

French

Main themes

Students will

• Observe, understand and experience various oral or written professional situations of communication based on authentic or pseudo-authentic documents (movies, documentaries, interviews with managers)
• write 4 texts in professional language
• make a professional presentation
• perform job interviews both as a candidate and as a recruiter
• take part in oral negotiations, playing different roles
• manage complicated oral situations
• experience group e-working situations using the Moodle platform
• use professional vocabulary
• progressively compile  a communication profile

Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	At the end of this C1-level class, students will: understand oral and written discourse in a French speaking professional context without too much difficulty; develop, using professional language, communication strategies appropriate to the situation; write professional texts (emails, reports, letters of complaint, CV) using the appropriate register, complex sentences and specific vocabulary; be able to express themselves precisely and with a certain ease in professional situations requiring oral communication (presentations, job interviews, negotiations, meetings) and cope with unpredictable situations; know and use vocabulary specific to the French professional world ; formulate precisely some of their skills and weaknesses in oral professional communication ; use collaborative e-tools (forums, web platform) efficiently.

Content

Oral and written situations of communication will be studied using authentic  and semi-authentic documents (extracts from movies and documentaries about the business world, interviews, lectures given by specialists, articles from the specialized press...).
By means of regular exercises in class and on Moodle, students will improve their language skills in professional situations analysed in class, and develop their professional vocabulary.
Students will undertake a group project leading to a professional-style oral presentation.
Each oral or written production will be assessed (with or without a grade), based on criteria specified in advance.

NB : This is not a grammar class. However, grammar and spelling will be assessed in oral and written productions. Students are expected to work by themselves using reference material to improve their morpho-syntaxic skills.

Teaching methods

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

The course alternates between distance learning and classroom or Webconference (depending on the changing health situation). The distance work, to be carried out autonomously on Moodle, takes three different forms:

•   Before course sessions: viewing a document, participating in a forum ;
•   After course sessions: lexical and notional reinforcement;
•   Entirely remote units (between 2 and 3 hours of work).

Evaluation methods

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

Students will be evaluated on their work during the course and on a final exam.
Continuous assessment: 40% :

• Active participation in a minimum of 75 % of classes
• Regular and active participation in on-line exercises
• Written work

Final exam (60%)

•  Vocabulary test
•  Group oral exam + communication profile sheet
•  Written exam: writing a professional text

Teaching materials

• Notes de cours (photocopies distribuées par le professeur)

Faculty or entity

ILV