FR10070 French Grammar & Expression

Academic Year 2021/2022

This is a level-one non-beginners module in French language (trimester 2).
Students are most welcome to take this module even if they have not taken Level 1 French in the autumn trimester. This module builds on the basic communicative proficiency, language awareness and cultural awareness acquired through the Irish Leaving Certificate programme. We recommend that only students who have attained at least a H3/H4 (or a C grade) in Honours Leaving Certificate French (or the equivalent level) take this module.
Focus is on consolidating general linguistic competence and developing the productive skills of speaking and writing French. The syllabus combines grammar revision, essay-writing, and oral work (presentation and conversation) with a range of authentic materials relating to contemporary French and Francophone culture. Online materials and supports will also be used.
Students who have achieved at least a B grade in this module are deemed to have reached the CEFR level B1.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:
1) recognize, understand and manipulate a range of basic and intermediate grammatical structures;
2) discuss ideas on a range of prepared francophone civilisation topics in accurate spoken French in an oral presentation or conversation situation;
3) prepare and present a live oral presentation video/podcast on a francophone civilisation topic;
4) use written and oral French language texts or videos as sources for ideas and vocabulary;
5) write detailed, accurate and fluent short narrative accounts of events arising from specific scenarious and using past tenses;
6) reach CEFR level B1.

Indicative Module Content:

1) Grammar revision: past tenses (passé composé; imparfait; plus-que-parfait); subjunctive; relative pronouns; negation in the past
2) Oral work: students will study a selection of francophone destinations e.g. Tahiti, Le Maroc, in order to be able to discuss these destinations (oral seminars / exam) and to present a 'live' video recording (podcast oral presentation)
3) Rédaction: students will practise writing cohesive short narratives in the past, incorporating the four grammar points revised during the module and responding to a specific scenario

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

11
Seminar (or Webinar)

12
Specified Learning Activities

36
Autonomous Student Learning

51
Total

110
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Weekly lecture that embraces:
A) grammar revision (theory and practice);
B) quick grammar quizzes (grammar tests e.g. Kahoot!)
C) study of a number of francophone destinations

Weekly seminars that alternate between:
1) grammar revision seminars: with focus on grammar revision and rédaction (short narrative) writing practice
2) oral seminars: with focus on French oral work linked to francophone destinations [active, task-based learning] and oral practice [peer and group work] in preparation for delivering a live video presentation and conversation in a live oral exam 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Normally Grade C in Leaving Cert. Hons French or equivalent

Learning Recommendations:

This module is a logical follow-on from the French language module FR10060 and complements the French literature modules FR10080 and FR10090.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
FR10020 - French Language I b, LANG10050 - French Gen Purp 4, LANG10170 - French Gen Purp 1, LANG10180 - French Gen Purp 2, LANG20010 - French Gen Purp 3, LANG20040 - French Gen Purp 5, LANG20050 - French for Business 5, LANG20060 - French for Sc & Eng 5, LANG20170 - French Gen Purp 6, LANG20440 - French for General Purposes 4


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Presentation: Oral Video Presentation (Francophonie destination) Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

30
Continuous Assessment: Online Grammar Tests Varies over the Trimester n/a Graded No

15
Examination: French Written Exam 2 hour End of Trimester Exam No Graded No

55

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Grammar: After each grammar point is studied, students are invited to trial Kahoot! exercises or to work on BrightSpace QUIZ exercises (formative assessment- does not always 'count' for final grade) before they sit grammar assessments on each grammar point. Translation (if covered - not a focus in 21/22): Students are welcome to submit individual translation sentences and get automated feedback on their work (formative assessment - does not 'count' for final grade). Oral class work: Oral seminars are interactive, non-graded practice spaces, where students are encouraged to talk French and practise more complex arguments in French. Video Presentation (Oral Work): Students practise speaking, using accurate French, in fortnightly Oral seminars. Students may make practice video presentations (podcast/vlog) online by uploading their practise video before submitting their graded recording on the francophone destinations studied during this module Rédaction (short essays): Students are encouraged to submit up to three rédactions during the semester. These are formative assessment, but are graded as practise for the final written exam.

Name Role
Professor Michael Brophy Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Douglas Smith Lecturer / Co-Lecturer