French: Language and Culture

Recommended Prerequisites

Bachelor’s with at least 60 ECTS in French. Recommended level of French B2.

Teaching Methods

The teaching methods will be predominantly interactive and will include:

- Customized grammar instruction and exercises to address potential language gaps;

- Interactive written and oral expression and comprehension;

- Comparative translation;

- Exploration and discussion of current issues based on media sources;

- Study of short stories by French and Francophone authors; 

- Writing and reading comprehension exercises.

Learning Outcomes

This seminar is designed for future teachers. By the end of the semester, it is expected that students will be able to:

- express themselves fluently and accurately in French on any topic;

- discuss current social, political, and cultural issues in France with fluency and correctness;

- justify their choice of subject content to effectively contextualize their lessons;

- describe the basic processes involved in using the French language.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

This course aims to deepen students’ linguistic competence while reviewing some of the more complex grammar points. The syllabus will be adapted to the students’ individual needs. However, certain fundamental topics will always be covered, such as: l'accord du participe passé; les pronoms relatifs; les modes et les temps dans les subordonnées. Comparative translation will be used to address native-language interference (les lusismes), false friends and prepositions. Additionally, students will study texts on current political, social, and cultural issues in French-speaking countries, and Francophone short stories, with the aim of developing their speaking and writing skills as well as their knowledge of relevant cultural aspects.

Head Lecturer(s)

Professor a Definir - Faculdade de Letras

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Synthesis work: 30.0%
Oral presentations: 30.0%
Frequency: 40.0%

Bibliography

Cotentin Rey, G. (1991). Les grandes étapes de la civilisation française. Bordas.

Defrance, Ch. (2021). Ma Grammaire. Pour apprendre le Français. CLE International.

Grevisse, M., & Goosse, A. (2011). Le bon usage. Grammaire française. Éditions duculot.

Mahéo-Le Coadic, M., Reine, M., & Poisson-Quinton, S. (2008). Grammaire expliquée du français, niveau intermédiaire. CLE International.

Noutchié Njikjé, J. (2003). Civilisation progressive de la Francophonie. CLE International.

Pécheur, J. (2010). Civilisation Progressive du Français (niveau avancé). CLE International.

Site Centre National de Ressources Textuelles et Lexicales: www.cnrtl.fr

Taliano-Des Garets, F. (2019). Un siècle d'Histoire culturelle en France. De 1914 à nos jours. Armand Colin.