Course Catalogue

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This is an intensive French language course aimed at complete beginners with no prior experience of French. It covers basic grammar structures while simultaneously fostering the development of the four main areas of linguistic competence: listening; reading; writing; speaking.

1 x 1 hour session and 1 x 1.5-hour session per week, over 2 days.
The first weekly session will concentrate on receptive skills - listening and reading,
while the second will concentrate on productive skills - writing and speaking.

The course is open to students with:
- no prior experience of French, OR 
- a Standard Grade/GCSE or equivalent over 3 years old.

1. At the end of semester 1 a class grammar test (5%) (ILO 1)

2. At the end of semester 2 a guided free composition in French (20%) (ILOs 1 and 2)

3. At the end of the course a class oral mark (based on class participation and input) (10%)

4. At the end of semester 2 an oral exam (20%) (ILOs 3 and 4)

5. At the end of semester 2 a written exam (45%), which could include:

5. a) English to French translation (20%) (ILO 5)

5. b) Reading comprehension (10%) (ILO 6)

5. c) Grammar exercises (15%) (ILO 1)

The aims of the course are:
1. To give students the necessary tools to observe and analyse the structures of French, whether in its spoken or written form.

2. To provide students with the basic grounding in French vocabulary, syntax and grammar that will ultimately empower them to comprehend, speak and write French with a reasonable level of competence.
3. To help students develop their own language learning strategies.
4. To prepare students to continue their study of French to a higher level of competence, should they choose.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Analyse and manipulate French language structures at beginners level.

2. Write a descriptive piece illustrating active command of vocabulary and grammar at beginners level.

3. Comprehend spoken French at a normal speed.

4. Speak with confidence in French on a range of topics covered in the course, using appropriate register, intonation and structures.

5. Analyse and translate intermediate texts on a range of topics from English into French.

6. Read and understand a range of simple contemporary French texts from a variety of sources

In addition students should, by the end of the course, have developed:
1. their capacity for independent language learning using a variety of sources, both written and audio-visual
2. their faculty for problem solving and self-evaluation.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.