Ateneo - UPO

The course is designed for students with diversified French language levels (beginners and non-beginners) who wish to explore the language further to reach intermediate level (B1) with an emphasis on the tourism sector.

Reference materials:

1) Le Français en contexte - Tourisme A1/A2 (Livre de l ́élève + CD), Maison des Langues. ISBN: 9788415640226
https://www.ilpiacerediapprendere.it/le-francais-en-contexte-tourisme.html

2) Tourisme en action - Gruppo Editoriale ELI / Elilaspiga Edizioni. ISBN: 978-8853620811
https://www.libreriauniversitaria.it/tourisme-en-action-prove-esame/libro/9788853620811?srsltid=AfmBOopFiq8OLEhC-nqQauN34bFBtDA3ztxvlFvLe9Q-ZJKF_XjJ3zm2

3) Fiches de Grammaire, Giuseppe Vietri, Edisco.

4) Materials on the DIR platform.

It is recommended to wait until the course begins before purchasing any materials.
Non-attending students: no additional material is required for exam preparation.

The main objectives of the course are:

- Achievement of level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
- Deepening of some cultural aspects.
- Preparation to pass the “Diplôme de français du Tourisme - Hôtellerie - Restauration” test ( This test is not included in the official curriculum; however, the materials provided during the course may serve as a useful foundation for preparing for and subsequently taking the examination)

No prerequisites are needed to take part in the course.

Classes will be devoted to learning and practice that will be refined in the self-study phase. During the lessons, students will develop the four language skills outlined in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR): listening comprehension, reading comprehension, spoken production, and written production. Particular space will also be devoted during the lectures to exploring cultural issues.

To practise and enhance your evaluation, you will be able to take part (optionally) to three oral presentations which will be agreed during the lectures. Each presentation will be given a maximum of 1 point, and each will be added to the final grade (maximum 3 points).

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.

Students who make use of compensatory and exemption measures must send any outlines and/or concept maps to the lecturer by email at least 5 days before the examination date. This will allow the lecturer sufficient time to review them and give the student the opportunity to make any further modifications, if required.

The assessment will be structured into two separate components (For students who will attend classes):
- in itinere examination at the end of the first term (approximately mid-December), covering the grammar topics from September to the end of November, one listening comprehension exercise, one or two reading comprehension exercises, and a written production task based on the topics covered in class. The overall level of the class will be taken into consideration; therefore, if the level prove to be too low, the written production component may be omitted and administered at a later stage.

- in itinere examination at the end of the course (approximately mid-May), covering the grammar topics from February to the end of April, one listening comprehension exercise, one reading comprehension exercise, and a written production task based on the topics covered in class during the second period.
The final grade will be calculated as the average of the grades obtained in the two components. If a student won’t be able to attend the second part of the examination, they may take it on one of the examination dates scheduled from June 2027 onwards. The same is applied to students who do not pass the second component.

Students who do not attend classes or who are unable to take the first examination will be required to take a single examination from June 2027 onwards. This examination will include mixed grammar exercises, reading comprehension, listening comprehension, and written production.

Each lesson will involve the introduction of new grammar topics, together with related exercises. These will provide the starting point for further developing vocabulary acquisition and language skills, including listening, reading, speaking, and writing.
The course will be structured as follows:

September–December
GRAMMAR: articles; subject personal pronouns; the verbs être, avoir, aller, and venir, as well as -er verbs and their particularities; feminine and plural forms of nouns and adjectives; simple prepositions; contracted articles; prepositions of place and expressions of time; interrogative and negative forms; possessive adjectives and pronouns; demonstrative adjectives; passé composé, including past participle agreement and common French constructions (gallicismes).
VOCABULARY: greetings; numbers; telling the time; expressing the date and the months; talking about one's interests; parts of the house; types of rooms and facilities/services; parts of the city, with particular emphasis on hotel-related areas and facilities; second-group verbs and selected irregular verbs (pouvoir, vouloir, faire, prendre, etc.); means of transport.
WRITTEN PRODUCTION: how to write an email and a letter of motivation (lettre de motivation).

February–May
GRAMMAR: review of previously covered material and introduction of additional irregular verbs; imparfait; present conditional (conditionnel présent); simple future (futur simple); simple relative pronouns; the most useful conjunctions for written communication.
VOCABULARY: detailed check-in and check-out procedures, including document verification, payment methods, and invoicing; handling customer requests (e.g. additional pillows, laundry service, wake-up calls); taking reservations by telephone or email; presenting a tourist package or excursion (circuit touristique, formule tout compris); describing the basic geographical or historical features of a place.
WRITTEN PRODUCTION: requesting information (to hotels or to travel agencies) ; writing a direct-mail letter (lettre de publipostage); modifying a reservation.

1) Knowledge and Comprehension.
The course aims to develop language skills in several areas, including vocabulary and morpho-syntax applied to the field of tourism. It is expected that after the course students will be able to handle texts and audio material of B1-level complexity with relative ease.

2) Learning skills.
Students will be guided in exploring learning strategies in order to successfully apply those corresponding to their needs and abilities.

3) Communication skills.
It is expected that at the end of the course, students will be able to manage oral and written expression at the B1 level.

4) Cultural insight.
Students, also according to their interests, will be helped in the deepening of some cultural issues concerning France and the Francophone world.