99022 - FRENCH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will gain a comprehension of the fundamental elements of French language and culture and will be able to understand and produce written and oral texts at an intermediate level. Students will be guided in the development and knowledge of contemporary French language and culture through an intensive and extensive reading programme on the subject, as well as through similar activities involving aural texts (videos, radio broadcasts, etc.). The reading and listening activities will provide the basis for the production of written and oral texts by the students. By focusing on a variety of texts and genres, students will learn to critically analyze discourses and cultural practices which inform and characterize the current French debate on national and cultural identity with a view to its current role in Europe and globally.

Course contents

The 40-hour French I language module – comprising practical written and oral exercises and forming part of the integrated French I course (C.I.) – takes place in the first semester of the first year.

The course involves the study of the French language, starting from a basic level covering grammar, verb conjugation and vocabulary.

Furthermore, the four language skills (reading comprehension, listening comprehension, written expression and spoken expression) will be developed through a communicative and action-oriented approach. Drawing on authentic texts, the course aims to introduce students to the French-speaking world.

The course is complemented by the French Language Tutorial held by Dr Marie-Line Zucchiatti (https://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/marieline.zucchiatti), with a compulsory attendance rate of 70 per cent.

Readings/Bibliography

- F. BIDAUD, Grammaire du français pour italophones, Utet Università, Torino, 2021 (quatrième édition)

- F. BIDAUD, Exercices de grammaire française pour italophones, Utet Università, Torino, 2016 (troisième édition)

- Materiale on-line disponibile sulla piattaforma Virtuale

Teaching methods

The module ‘French Language with Practical Written and Oral Exercises I (Second Language)’ involves the study of grammatical concepts, including in-depth analysis, reflection using a contrastive approach, and practical exercises.
The use of audiovisual materials and the internet during lessons is also included.
It is strongly recommended that students supplement the grammar work covered in the course and the language centre with independent, individual study.

Assessment methods

The final assessment for the module ‘French Language with Practical Written and Oral Exercises I (Second Language)’ comprises
- a written test on grammar/conjugation and vocabulary
- a written test on reading comprehension
- the oral assessment will consist of the presentation of a dossier comprising authentic written and audiovisual documents on one of the topics studied during the lessons, followed by a question-and-answer session.
The procedure for compiling and presenting the dossier orally will be explained in detail in class.
You must have passed the written examination with a mark of 18/30 in order to sit the oral examination. The use of a dictionary is not permitted during the written examination.

The French I Language module with written and oral practical exercises – which takes place in the first semester – forms part, together with the French II Language module with written and oral practical exercises – which will take place in the second semester – of the integrated French Language I course (C.I.). The overall mark for the integrated course will be expressed out of 30 and is calculated as the average of the marks obtained in the two modules comprising the course. The final mark will therefore be recorded once the examinations for both modules of the integrated course have been passed.

Teaching tools

Students with specific learning difficulties (SLDs) or temporary or permanent disabilities (including serious health problems that interfere with their normal studies) are asked to contact the relevant university office without delay (Service for Students with Disabilities and Specific Learning Difficulties: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it), preferably before the start of the course. Please note: it will be the responsibility of the relevant office to propose any necessary adjustments to the students concerned; these must, however, be submitted for approval by the lecturer at least 15 days before the exam date, and the lecturer will assess their appropriateness, taking into account the course’s learning objectives.

Office hours

See the website of Claudia Farini