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FR10070

Academic Year 2024/2025

French Grammar & Expression (FR10070)

Subject:
French
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
Languages, Cultures & Linguis
Level:
1 (Introductory)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Professor Michael Brophy
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This is a level-one non-beginners module in French language (trimester 2).
Students are most welcome to take this module even if they have not taken Level 1 French in the autumn trimester. This module builds on the basic communicative proficiency, language awareness and cultural awareness acquired through the Irish Leaving Certificate programme. We recommend that only students who have attained at least a H4 in Honours Leaving Certificate French (or the equivalent level) take this module.
Focus is on consolidating general linguistic competence and developing the productive skills of speaking and writing French. The syllabus combines grammar revision, essay-writing, and oral work (presentation and conversation) with a range of authentic materials relating to contemporary French and Francophone culture. Online materials and supports will also be used.
Students who have achieved at least a B grade in this module are deemed to have reached the CEFR level B1.
This module is a core French language module: students must pass the module to progress to Level 2 French modules.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:
1) recognize, understand and manipulate a range of basic and intermediate grammatical structures;
2) discuss ideas on a range of prepared francophone civilisation topics in accurate spoken French in an oral presentation or conversation situation;
3) use written and oral French language texts or videos as sources for ideas and vocabulary;
4) write detailed, accurate and fluent short narrative accounts of events arising from specific scenarios and using past tenses;
5) reach CEFR level B1.

Indicative Module Content:

1) Grammar revision: past tenses (passé composé; imparfait; plus-que-parfait); subjunctive; relative pronouns; negation in the past
2) Oral work: students will study a selection of francophone destinations e.g. Tahiti, Le Maroc, in order to be able to discuss these destinations (oral seminars / exam)
3) Rédaction: students will practise writing cohesive short narratives in the past, incorporating the four grammar points revised during the module and responding to a specific scenario

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

11
Seminar (or Webinar)

12
Specified Learning Activities

36
Autonomous Student Learning

51
Total

110

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Weekly lecture that embraces:
A) grammar revision (theory and practice);
B) study of a number of francophone destinations

Weekly seminars that alternate between:
1) grammar revision seminars: with focus on grammar revision and rédaction (short narrative) writing practice
2) oral seminars: with focus on French oral work linked to francophone destinations [active, task-based learning] and oral practice [peer and group work] in preparation for an in-person oral exam

3) Students also complete a number of in-class grammar quizzes as part of their formal assessment

Please note that this module is designated Red in accordance with the College of Arts AI Traffic Light System: you must not use generative AI for any purposes.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Normally Grade C in Leaving Cert. Hons French or equivalent

Learning Recommendations:

This module is a logical follow-on from the French language module FR10060 and complements the French literature modules FR10080 and FR10090.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
FR10020 - French Language I b, LANG10050 - French Gen Purp 4, LANG10170 - French Gen Purp 1, LANG10180 - French Gen Purp 2, LANG20010 - French Gen Purp 3, LANG20040 - French Gen Purp 5, LANG20050 - French for Business 5, LANG20060 - French for Sc & Eng 5, LANG20170 - French Gen Purp 6, LANG20440 - French for General Purposes 4


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Quizzes/Short Exercises: In-class quizzes covering specified grammar points Week 4, Week 7, Week 9, Week 11 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
15
 No
Exam (In-person): End-of-trimester Oral Examination: a conversation relating to the various francophone destinations studied in seminar. Week 12 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
30
 No
Exam (In-person): French Written Exam End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
55
 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Grammar: After each grammar point is studied, students sit an in-class quiz, which is marked, returned and corrected in seminar. Quizzes form a separate assessment component. Students also submit written homework (grammar exercises and translation) as part of formative assessment, with a similar feedback strategy. Homework grades do not contribute to the final module grade, but help students prepare for the final exam. Oral class work: Oral seminars are interactive, non-graded practice spaces, where students are encouraged to talk French and practise more complex arguments in French. Rédaction (short essays): Students are encouraged to submit up to three rédactions during the semester. These are formative assessment, but, like grammar homework, are graded as practice.

Name Role
Professor Michael Brophy Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Douglas Smith Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 32, 33 Mon 12:00 - 12:50
Spring Small Group Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 11:00 - 11:50
Spring Small Group Offering 2 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 10:00 - 10:50
Spring Small Group Offering 3 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 14:00 - 14:50
Spring Small Group Offering 4 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 13:00 - 13:50
Spring Small Group Offering 5 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 14:00 - 14:50
Spring Small Group Offering 7 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 10:00 - 10:50
Spring Small Group Offering 8 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 14:00 - 14:50
Spring Small Group Offering 9 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 11:00 - 11:50
Spring Small Group Offering 10 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 11:00 - 11:50
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