PBS Language Proficiency Programme (LPP): French levels 1 and 2
Detailed module information
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Modules available
French level 1
Tutor: Dr Danielle Bishop
Class dates: Starting in week commencing 16 October 2023 and finishing week commencing 11 March 2024.
Class times: Wednesdays from 13:00–15:00.
Frequency of class: Two hours of class contact and approximately 1.5 hours self-study a week are recommended in order to make good progress.
Venue: Cookworthy Building, Plymouth Business School.
Course fee: These classes are free of charge for the first 20 interested students.
Number of students: Maximum 20.
Recommended textbook: Foundations French 1, (Palgrave 3rd edition, 2017). ISBN-10:1137579196 ISBN-13:978-1137579195.
Additional resources: These will be provided for you both in class and in the form of weekly private study learning packages (available on the DLE).
Assessment: Assessment is voluntary and will be held at the end of the course. More details on assessment format will be given during semester 2 for those who are interested.
Cancelled classes: any classes that are cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances will be re-arranged by your tutor for a later date.
Description: Level 1 assumes no previous knowledge of the language.
The course introduces some of the basic structures of the language through topics related to social and everyday life in France. The focus is on listening, speaking and reading basic materials that introduce grammatical structures which will facilitate manipulation of the language. By the end of the course students will be able to use both the present and the future tense in French. Elements of French culture will be incorporated into the classes to support the topics listed below in the provisional schedule.
Methodology: Teaching is communicative with class work emphasising listening, speaking and practice of sentence structure. Self-study consists of reviewing the work done in class and practising language skills as advised by the tutor.
Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR): The learning outcomes for Level 1 are equivalent to level A1.1 of the Common European Framework of Reference, guidelines used across Europe to describe achievements of learners of foreign languages.
French level 2
Tutor: Dr Danielle Bishop
Class dates: Starting in week commencing 16 October 2023 and finishing week commencing 11 March 2024.
Class times: Wednesdays from 15:00–17:00.
Frequency of class: Two hours of class contact and approximately 1.5 hours self-study a week are recommended in order to make good progress.
Venue: Cookworthy Building, Plymouth Business School.
Course fee: These classes are free of charge for the first 20 interested students.
Number of students: Maximum 20.
Recommended textbook: Foundations French 2, (Palgrave 2nd edition, 2008). ISBN-10:0230574076 ISBN-13:978-0230574076.
Additional resources: These will be provided for you both in class and in the form of weekly private study learning packages (available on the DLE).
Assessment: Assessment is voluntary and will be held at the end of the course. More details on assessment format will be given during semester 2 for those who are interested.
Cancelled classes: any classes that are cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances will be re-arranged by your tutor for a later date.
Description: Level 2 assumes that you have either completed level 1 or have a pass at GCSE. The course develops communicative competence across a range of situations as may be encountered during daily life and enables you to handle routine writing and reading tasks. Vocabulary, grammar and independent learning activities will help you build a strong foundation for continued French language acquisition beyond this module. By the end of the course, in addition to the present and near future tense (mastered at level1) you will be introduced to the perfect, imperfect, future and conditional tenses. Elements of French culture will be incorporated into the classes to support the topics listed below in the provisional schedule..
Methodology: Teaching is communicative with class work emphasising listening, speaking and practice of sentence structure. Self-study consists of reviewing work done in class and practising language skills as advised by tutor. Resources to support the course include a textbook, online exercises and materials as advised by the tutor.
Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR): The learning outcomes for Level 2 are equivalent to level A2.1 of the Common European Framework of Reference, guidelines used across Europe to describe achievements of learners of foreign languages.
Syllabus 2023/24
The French language – did you know?
- With nearly 80 million native speakers and over 274 million speakers worldwide, French is one of the most popular languages in the world. It is an official language of 29 countries and is the sixth most spoken language in the world.
- Whilst approximately 40% of French speakers reside in Europe, there are significant numbers of speakers in Africa, Canada, United States and many other countries.
- It is also the only language, alongside English, that is taught in every country in the world and boasts over 100 million students and 2 million teachers. About a third of basic English words come from French.
- French is one of the working languages of the United Nations and a number of international organisations like UNESCO, WHO and NATO. It is also, together with German and English, one of three procedural languages of the European Union.
