B0101 - FRENCH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE 2

Learning outcomes

The course aims to consolidate the students’ communicative language skills acquired so far and to deepen their linguistic knowledge. Special attention will be given to the analysis and production of different types of texts and to the development of reformulation and paraphrase skills, in order to enrich their oral and written production. At the end of the course, students should • Understand and produces a wide range of written texts and oral discourses in French, expressing themselves spontaneously; • Communicate correctly in different registers (colloquial, neutral, formal, academic); • Make oral presentations on complex topics; • Use idiomatic and colloquial expressions and distinguishes connotative levels of meaning.

Course contents

The 30-hour course will be devoted to enhancing students' reading, listening and analyzing skills by exposing them to a wide range of authentic oral and written text types intended for the general public on topics related to the disciplines of the degree course and specific to francophone culture. Texts will focus in particular on francophone civilization and political structures in order to develop a basic socio-political vocabulary in French and to provide an overview of francophone politics and socio-cultural lives.

The course wills also be devoted to oral analysis and discussion of the topics addressed in the written texts (2nd semester). The course is composed of 15 lectures (2 hours each):

WEEK 1: The French and francophone press; the lexicon of the press and the media

WEEK 2: French politics: the parties

WEEK 3: French politics: the presidents of the republic

WEEK 4: Societal laws in France: abortion, divorce, PACS, Mariage pour Tous

WEEK 5: Secularism: cultural evolution of the concept and laws on secularism in France and Canada

WEEK 6: Linguistic Francophonie

WEEK 7: Francophonie from a cultural point of view

WEEK 8: Inclusive language in France and Quebec

Readings/Bibliography

Maia Grégoire, Odile Thievenaz, Grammaire progressive du français, niveau intermédiaire A2/B1, Paris, Clé International, 2017.

Le petit Robert : dictionnaire alphabétique et analogique de la langue française, Paris, Dictionnaires Le Robert, 2020.

Guillaume Bernard, Bernard de Gunten, Arlette Martin, Mauricette Niogret, Les Institutions de la France, Paris, Nathan, coll. « Repères pratiques », éd. 2015.

Denis C. Meyer, Clés pour la France en 80 icônes culturelles, Paris, Hachette, 2010.

Civilisation progressive de la francophonie - Niveau intermédiaire (A2/B1), Paris, Clé International, 2019.

Magali Lafourcade, Les Droits de l’homme, Paris, PUF, collection «Que sais-je ? », 2018.

Teaching methods

The course will be offered online. A communicative, interactive approach integrating all of the skills will be followed. Students are expected to demonstrate active participation during contact hours, do classroom and home activities, and prepare oral presentations.

Assessment methods

Overall assessment will be based on two written mid-term tests and a final oral exam. Both mid-term tests include a reading comprehension with multiple choice and open questions, and a grammar test. The oral exam will consist in a presentation on a selected topic.

Office hours

See the website of Michele Morselli