Ateneo - UPO

FRENCH LANGUAGE EXERCISES II (group 1)

For non-attending students: continuation of the textbook used in the French Language Exercises I course: Françoise Bidaud, La nouvelle grammaire du français pour italophones; Turin, Utet, 2008.

In accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), attainment of Level B2 in the various skills, as specified on the relevant webpage (Common European Framework of Reference for Language Skills): https://europass.europa.eu/it/common-european-framework-reference-language-skills.

For students enrolled in the second year of the Modern Foreign Languages degree programme: successful completion of the French 1 exam, level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR): for students on the Master’s degree programme in Languages, Cultures and Tourism (LM49): level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (the language proficiency of first-year students enrolled on the LCT programme will be assessed during the preliminary interview scheduled after enrolment). For students on the Master’s degree programme in Philology and Cultural Heritage: level A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (the language proficiency of first-year students will be assessed during the preliminary interview scheduled after enrolment).

Lectures supported by audiovisual aids (lecture-based teaching: approximately 50 per cent). Interaction between students, and between students and lecturers; in-class marking of exercises (interactive teaching: approximately 50 per cent). The course’s DIR page features exercises to be completed independently, as well as supplementary and in-depth teaching materials, which form an essential complement to the activities carried out in class.

The DIR service will provide a detailed programme, instructions for compulsory work, examples of written exam papers, exercise sheets and dictations to be completed. Students with disabilities, Specific Learning Difficulties (SLD) or Special Educational Needs (SEN) may request specific services and resources designed for them by contacting the Career Development and Coordination and Student Services Team and consulting the dedicated page on the University website: https://uniupo.it/it/servizi/servizi-studenti-disabili-e-dsa. Students with disabilities, SLDs or SEN, once they have made contact with the University staff, may contact the course lecturer regarding the arrangements for the examination and any teaching-related matters.

A written examination and an oral examination. The written examination (total duration: 3 hours) consists of a grammar test (60 questions; marked out of 30) and a reading comprehension and written production test (marked out of 30). Passing both tests with a minimum mark of 18/30 is essential to pass the entire examination. Please note that if the grammar test is passed but the reading
comprehension and written production test is not, the mark for the grammar test will be retained for the entire academic year, meaning that only the reading comprehension and written production test will need to be retaken in subsequent examination sessions. The overall mark for the written examination corresponds to the average of the marks for the two tests that make it up. Marks will be categorised into 5 bands: (1) Excellent (30 with distinction/30): excellent knowledge of all course content and full mastery of all expected skills; precise, correct and effective expression. (2) Very good (30–28/30): very good knowledge of all course content and achievement of all expected skills; expression without significant errors. (3) Good (27–24/30): good knowledge of the course content and satisfactory achievement of all expected competences; generally correct expression. (4) Pass (23–18/30): acceptable knowledge of the course content and sufficient achievement of the expected competences; some errors in expression. (5) Unsatisfactory (less than 18): partial and superficial knowledge of the course contentand failure to achieve the expected learning outcomes; the written work contains numerous errors. Once the written examination has been passed, students may sit the oral examination, which consists of the presentation of the compulsory assignment monitored throughout the academic year. Students will be given the opportunity to sit an early session of the summer oral examination during the final classes of the course, provided they submit the compulsory assignment by May 2027 (please ensure you follow the instructions on the DIR platform carefully and meet the deadlines). Those who do not submit the compulsory assignment on time will under no circumstances be permitted to sit the early session. The oral examination is worth a maximum of 3 marks (1 for fluency of expression, 1 for grammatical accuracy, and 1 for phonological accuracy in accordance with the objectives set out for CEFR Level B2): the overall mark for the French Language I course is calculated by adding the mark obtained in the written examination to the marks obtained in the oral examination. The ability to apply grammatical rules is assessed in both the first test of the written examination and the oral examination; the ability to understand and produce texts is assessed in the second test of the written examination; the ability to express personal opinions is assessed in both the second test of the written examination and the oral examination. The ability to study is assessed in both the written and oral examinations, in which the learner must apply all the skills developed during the course.

Study of French grammar (CEFR Level B2); practice in pronunciation and dictation; development of written and oral production and comprehension skills at Level B2; learning of idiomatic expressions; translation of sentences from Italian into French. Throughout the course, the teacher will monitor a compulsory individual assignment, which is necessary to sit the oral exam and is described in detail on the course’s DIR page.

Achievement of level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) across the various skills.
The learner will be able to:
- understand longer speeches and lectures; follow even complex lines of argument provided the topic is relatively familiar; follow most news programmes and TV broadcasts covering current affairs, and most films in standard language.
- read articles and reports on current affairs in which the author takes a stance and expresses a specific point of view; understand a contemporary narrative text; communicate with sufficient spontaneity and fluency to interact normally with native speakers.
- Take an active part in a discussion in familiar contexts, putting forward and supporting one’s own opinions.
- Express oneself clearly and articulately on a wide range of topics; give an opinion on a topical issue,
pointing out the advantages and disadvantages of the various options.
- Write clear and well-structured texts on a wide range of topics of personal interest; write essays and reports, providing information and reasons for or against a particular opinion; write letters highlighting the significance attributed to events and experiences.