Ateneo - UPO

The course is designed to develop advanced language skills in French, with a specific focus on Political and Social Sciences.

For the written part: Samira Zaouya, Cristina Nobili, Allié de grammaire. Grammaire graduelle du français, Turin, Loescher, 2025
ISBN 9788858356609
For the oral section: Martine Pélon, Décoder la France, Mondadori-Minerva, 2023 ISBN 9788829863655; Bianca Maria San Pietro, Frédéric Simon, Savoir-faire dans les affaires, Milan, Utet Universitaria, 2025 – ISBN 9788860089885; Rachele Raus, FESP: French for Political Science Students. French for Political Science and International Relations Degree Programmes, 3rd ed., Naples, Edizioni Giuridiche Simone, 2021 – ISBN 9788891429643; - Carmen Saggiomo, Legal and Political Terminology. A Course in Legal and Political French, 3rd edition, Naples, Edizioni Giuridiche Simone, 2022 – ISBN 9788891433626;

• To improve language skills to level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). • To become familiar with the language used in administration, institutions and social services, with a particular focus on the terminology and structures typical of professional contexts.

There are no prerequisites, although a knowledge of the language at least at A2 level is desirable

Lectures, language exercises

Non-attending students should make contact with the lecturer at the beginning of the course for guidance and individualized study paths.
Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/servicesstudents-physical-or-learning-disabilities Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

The examination will be divided into two parts: the first will be in written form and will focus mainly on the grammatical and morphosyntactic topics covered during the language classes. Passing the written part is an essential requirement for progression to the second part (the oral examination), which will cover topics relating to political and social sciences. The written examination remains valid for one year from the date it is taken. Once this period has elapsed, candidates must retake the written examination in order to sit the oral examination.
The final mark is expressed out of 30 and is calculated as the weighted average of the marks obtained in the written and oral parts.
For the oral examination, the required skills and knowledge are assessed as follows:
- Pass mark (18 to 23/30): basic/acceptable knowledge of the content covered during the course; limited ability to express oneself in French, with some uncertainty.
- Intermediate pass (24 to 27/30): fair to good knowledge of the content covered during the course; ability to express oneself in French appropriate to the topics.
- Very good / excellent (28 to 30/30 with distinction): extensive / in-depth knowledge of the content covered during the course; articulate / excellent ability to present ideas in French.

The main grammatical topics at CEFR Level B2 (agreement of the past participle; expressing time and duration; the present and past subjunctive; the past conditional; expressing hypotheses; the passive voice; complex relative pronouns, etc.)
Reading, viewing and analysing authentic documents (articles, essays, videos, etc.) with a view to developing autonomy in reading and interpreting texts relating to the political and social sciences.
The course will also cover aspects of intercultural pragmatic competence (words with shared cultural connotations, idiomatic verb phrases, paraverbal elements, kinesic gestures, etc.)

At the end of the course, students must demonstrate:
1) that they have mastered the structures of the French language (CEFR level B2)
2) that they are able to understand and use, through the tools provided, the linguistic structures associated with specialist vocabulary (administrative, institutional and social services language)