Module Code - Title:
FR4243
-
FRENCH LANGUAGE CULTURE AND SOCIETY 3
Year Last Offered:
2026/7
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
FR4242
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
This module is set at B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). (i) To deepen students awareness of major developments and issues in business in contemporary France;
(ii) to provide students with the language skills needed to communicate and work in a French business context;
(iii) to extend students reading and analytical skills in the study of French literature;
(iv) to further students understanding of advanced French syntax;
(iv) to build on students practical language skills acquired in first year.
Syllabus:
This syllabus is set at B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Students are introduced in lectures to the study of social, historical, linguistic and literary aspects of French society and culture.
Themes explored this semester are
(i) the contemporary French world of work and business
(ii) representations of French modernity in film and literature
(iii) French discourse genres. These topics are discussed in depth in the more active setting of weekly tutorials. Oral and aural skills in French are a particular focus, and they are developed through the discussion of a broad selection of oral and written material from diverse media. French grammar is studied at a more advanced level.
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
Display confidence in dealing with key issues arising in a selection of French texts from current press publications;
Produce business related documents in French, such as CVs, letters of applications and business correspondence;
Read and analyse a text chosen from 20th/21st century French literature;
Speak and write in French in a way which demonstrates students heightened grammatical awareness and their building upon competencies achieved in First Year through a study of selected grammatical topics.
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
Articulate in French their individual attitudes and values in relation to contemporary issues raised in class during the Semester.
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
Speak French in an accurate and consistent manner taking into account issues of language register.
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
A weekly one-hour lecture is dedicated to the history of and contemporary issues related to the French language. Each topic is then developed further in a more interactive setting during weekly one-hour tutorials which require a more active involvement on the part of students.
In addition, there is a weekly one-hour tutorial aimed at acquiring the linguistic and analytical tools to produce business correspondence and critique advertisements in French.
Lastly, a weekly one-hour tutorial concentrates on developing studentsÆ grammatical and phonological knowledge of the French language.
Prime Texts:
Ernaux, A. (1993)
Journal du dehors
, Paris: Gallimard.
Renaud, S. and Van Hooff, D. (2007)
En bonne forme (eighth edition)
, Boston: Houghton Mifflin
Laurent Cantet (1999)
Film: Ressources humaines
,
(2001)
Oxford/Hachette French Dictionary
, Oxford: OUP.
Agnes Varda (2000)
Film: Les Glaneurs et la glaneuse
,
Hawkins, R., Towell, R.and Lamy, M-N. (1997)
Practising French Grammar: A Workbook.
, London: Arnold.
Other Relevant Texts:
Rolin, J. (2002)
La Clôture
, Paris: P.O.L.
Augé, M. (1992)
Non-lieux: introduction à une anthropologie de la surmodernité
, Paris: Éditions du Seuil.
Chambers-Le Baron ()
Corpus of Research Articles in French
Corpus Chambers-Le Baron d articles de recherche en français
, Oxford: Oxford Text Archive
http://ota.ahds.ac.uk/headers/2527.xml
Penfornis, J-L. (2003)
Affaires.com: Méthode de français des affaires Niveau avancé
, Paris: CLE international.
Delecourt L. (2000)
Les outils de la communication pour les entreprises, les associations et les collectivités,
, Paris: Editions du Puits Fleuri
Weston, M-T. and Coggle, P. (2003)
Teach yourself French verbs
, New York: McGraw-Hill.
Bulot, T. (2004)
Les Parlers Jeunes: Pratiques urbaines et sociales
, Rennes: P.U.R
SACODEYL European Youth Language ()
French Corpus
, http://www.um.es/sacodeyl/
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN APPLIED LANGUAGES
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN EUROPEAN STUDIES
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN JOURNALISM AND DIGITAL COMMUNICATION
BACHELOR OF EDUCATION IN LANGUAGES
Semester(s) Module is Offered:
Autumn
Module Leader:
Cliona.Hensey@ul.ie