39973 - French Language (Course and Laboratory) II (Gr. B)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student must demonstrate the ability to read, report and discuss essays or university texts relating to the social sciences and political science in French, using vocabulary and syntax not inferior to level B1 and, ideally, equal to at least B2, according to the Council of Europe's reference framework; he/she must also be able to write and organise a short text, using vocabulary and syntax corresponding to at least level B2.

Course contents

The course adopts a teaching method of organisation that envisages the division into two different sections. One section consists of a monographic course of 30 hours in presence (without prejudice to any other ministerial indications), and is aimed at consolidating and improving the skills of written and oral comprehension and expression, deepening cultural competences within the French-speaking context.

Another section, consisting of a 40-hour workshop and organised in seminar mode, is aimed at applying the knowledge acquired during the 30-hour course through practical exercises, in particular with regard to the grammar and morphosyntactic structures of the French language.

The division into lectures and seminars is specified in the programme below.

For the section organised in seminar mode, groups will be organised according to previous language level. There will therefore be GA workshops (dedicated to those who already have a B1 level), and GB workshops (dedicated to those with an A2 level).

A total of 70 classroom hours are planned (30 monographic course + 40 laboratory hours).

More specifically, the lessons of the monographic course will be divided into two parts

- active reading and analysis of written texts on topics relevant to the degree course. The texts will focus on current international and socio-cultural issues, with a focus on the Francophone context. The genres of international discourse will be explored in order to familiarise the student with the morphosyntactic and discursive characteristics of international French, while also fostering the acquisition of specialised vocabulary relating to relevant socio-political topics.

- Exposition and discussion of the themes addressed in the texts examined and composition of texts in French.

The following topics in particular will be covered in the workshop

la situation dans l'espace (suite)
l'accord du participe passé (difficultés)
le comparatif, le superlatif, l'analogie
l'impératif
l'infinitif passé
les pronoms personnels compléments
la double pronominalisation
le conditionnel présent et passé
la forme hypothétique
la place de l'adjectif
the nominal phrase
la phrase passive
le subjonctif présent et passé
the indicaf / subjonctif
le gérondif / participe présent
le discours indirect au présent et au passé
le futur dans le passé
les pronoms relatifs composés
les adjectifs et les pronoms indéfinis
l'expression de la cause
l'expression de la conséquence
l'expression du but
l'expression de l'opposition et de la concession
Objectifs lexicaux et fonctionnels de niveau B1+/B2

Readings/Bibliography

For the course, the reference textbook for in-class exercises and independent revision of what was done during the lectures is:

Rachele Raus, FESP: le français pour les étudiants de Sciences politiques, Naples, Simone, 2021 (3rd edition).

Please note: this volume has been updated from the 2nd edition. It is therefore necessary to retrieve the 3rd edition, which is only available in the paper edition.

Those not attending the course will have to study the following chapters of the book and all the exercises at the end of them independently: 2, 3 (except 3.6), 4 (except 4.3.4), 6, 7 (except 7.3), 9 and 11.

In addition to the chapters, you will need to retrieve the corrigés file available free online at the publisher's website by using the QR code inserted at the back of the book or by following the instructions in the ebook. The corrigés will be used to check how the exercises should be carried out and are part of the examination programme.

Please note: the two images in exercise 6 (B) p. 152 of the FESP are illegible. They can be retrieved from the text file available in the IRIS catalogue in Bologna by retrieving the text tab and clicking on the available file at the bottom. In case of difficulty, please write to the lecturer.

For the workshop, the basic textbook is:
Grammaire progressive du français, niveau avancé (B1/B2), 3ème édition, Clé International

Vocabulary : Le petit Robert : dictionnaire alphabétique et analogique de la langue française, Paris, Dictionnaires Le Robert, 2021 (or previous editions).

Teaching methods

The course is aimed at the acquisition of the ability to understand and interpret specialised texts in written and oral language, and to produce written texts. The course will be conducted in French.

Starting from a specific grammar and carrying out practical exercises based on ‘communicative’ methods, the workshop aims to enable students to reach a level of communicative skills appropriate to the content of the texts analysed.

Assessment methods

At present, the mode of examinations is scheduled in presence, unless otherwise indicated by the University following ministerial indications.

Written examinations (midterm and written non-attendance examinations) will be held on paper if in presence or on EOL (https://eol.unibo.it/eol.unibo.it) if at a distance.

Oral examinations will be held in presence or, following ministerial instructions, on Microsoft TEAMS in virtual classrooms.

Examination for those attending
The course comprises two written intermediate tests (compulsory), plus a final oral test. The two intermediate tests consist of a short written composition of active analysis of a text, similar to those analysed in class, and a written grammar/production test.

During the semester, students will also be asked to perform 2 oral ‘tâches’ (video format) of their choice from those proposed by the teaching staff. Thus, the workshop includes a grammar/written production part to be taken on the day of the midterm test and an oral expression part carried out during the course of the semester.

In the event that one of the intermediate tests is insufficient, the final total test reserved for non-attending students must be passed. In the event that you only pass the text analysis part, you will only be able to retry grammar and vice versa.

The oral examination will focus on the discussion of the contents of the intermediate or final examinations passed.

In order to calculate the final grade, a weighted, non-mathematical average will be made between the marks obtained during the course, the marks obtained in the tests passed during the workshop and the final oral test. That is, it will be essential to have a valid level of written and oral comprehension and expression in French (at least 24-26) in order to possibly achieve an above-average final grade (27-29). The final 30-30L presupposes excellent preparation in language and content.

The grade will be expressed in thirtieths on the basis of the following table:

30-30L excellent proof, demonstrating excellent acquisition of the expected knowledge as well as linguistic performance skills demonstrating complete mastery of the target language (level B2)

27-29 proof above average, with minimal errors or in any case compensated for by more than sufficient demonstration of the knowledge and/or skills acquired

24-26 valid test, but with some evident errors denoting partial acquisition of the knowledge and/or skills required

21-23 sufficient proof but with evident limitations in the knowledge and/or skills to be acquired

18-20 evidence that only meets the minimum criteria of knowledge and/or skills to be acquired

Less than 18 insufficient, the examination must be repeated

Non-attending examination

For those who do not attend, there is a written test consisting of a grammar test and a written composition of active analysis of a text, similar to the exercises in the volume indicated in the bibliography.

In addition, you are required to take 2 oral ‘tâches’ (video format) of your choice from those proposed by the teaching staff and to be handed in no later than one week before the written test.

The oral test will cover the contents of the written test as well as the exercises, chapters and corrigés of the textbook indicated in the bibliography.

To calculate the final mark, a weighted average will be taken between the skills

- of written and oral comprehension in French;

- of written and oral expression in French;

- of active reading of speeches.

That is, it will be essential to have a valid level of written and oral comprehension and expression in French (at least 24-26) in order to possibly achieve an above-average final grade (27-29). The final 30-30L presupposes excellent preparation in language and content.

The grade will be expressed in thirtieths:

30-30L excellent proof, demonstrating excellent acquisition of the expected knowledge as well as language rendering skills demonstrating complete mastery of the target language (level B2)

27-29 above-average test, with minimal errors or in any case compensated for by more than sufficient demonstration of the knowledge and skills acquired

24-26 valid test, but with some evident errors denoting partial acquisition of the required knowledge and skills

21-23 sufficient proof but with evident limitations in the knowledge and skills to be acquired

18-20 evidence that only meets the minimum criteria of knowledge and skills to be acquired

Less than 18 insufficient, the examination must be repeated.

Teaching tools

PC with video projector and Internet connection.

Office hours

See the website of Fabien Marc Michel Gibault