Undergraduate Degrees
BA (Hons) in French and ...
Modules
Module Leader: Jean-Christophe Penet
At the end of the module you should be able to communicate accurately in the foreign language, in both speaking and writing, and to understand the spoken and written language at an appropriate level in a variety of contexts.
Thematic dossiers of texts reflecting contemporary society and modern language use will be used to develop a range of language skills. Linguistic competence will be developed through the use of audio and visual materials. Grammatical structures will be reinforced or taught by instruction, practice and free production. A variety of contexts – social, political, economic and cultural – will be used to encourage the progressive acquisition of language.
Whenever possible, structures and vocabulary will be taught in a communicative
way. Approaches to applied language teaching and learning will include
the following, as appropriate:
aural comprehension, presentation and practice of grammatical structures,
simulation and role play, discussion and problem solving in groups and
pairs, computer-assisted language learning, reading comprehension, directed
self-study, guided writing.
Assessment consists of classroom tests (worth 20%), a 2-hour written exam (40%), a 45-minute listening comprehension (20%), and a 10-minute oral exam (20%).
UPLQ3K-30-1 Introduction à la société française contemporaine
Module Leader : Jean-Christophe Penet
This module will enable you to demonstrate a factual knowledge of key economic, social and literary developments in post-Second World War France; to communicate informed opinion of these developments in French; to demonstrate some appreciation and understanding of French society and culture as products of her specific history; and to analyse selected source materials in French and come to a balanced view on the information they contain.
The syllabus comprises an historical introduction to France in the 20th and 21st centuries, covering such topics as demographic change, immigration, economic growth and recession, regional development, and a key author in the late 20th century.
Teaching is through a combination of lectures and tutorials held in French. Lectures provide the overall framework; tutorials are a forum for discussion of issues touched upon in lectures. Materials include dossiers, texts, indicative bibliographies and video-screenings. Assessment consists of a coursework essay in semester 1 (worth 40%) and a 2-hour written examination in semester 2 (60%).
Module Leader : Dr Nick Startin
This Level 2 module, taught in French, aims at consolidating your language skills and expanding your knowledge of modern French culture and society. Authentic topical material will be used to help you to increase your knowledge of grammar and develop your range of vocabulary.
In all classes, you will be encouraged to communicate effectively and accurately in both spoken and written French. In addition, you will be expected to prepare work and make regular use of the extensive French material in the Language Centre, audio-visual recordings, French videos (documentaries and fiction films), satellite TV and French newspapers.
During the year you will be given the opportunity to develop a new language skill – consecutive liaison interpreting – which will consolidate your listening and oral skills and prepare you to act as an interpreter, if required, when you are on placement in the third year of your course.
This module will also prepare you for your work or study placement in France. You will learn how to write a curriculum vitae and a covering letter. In addition, you will learn to communicate in the professional and academic world; you will learn more about the world of work and aspects of French daily life.
Assessment is by an 800-word coursework essay in semester 1, plus a 2½-hour exam and a 15-minute interpreting exercise in semester 2.
UPLQ6X-30-2 Thèmes socio-politiques de la France contemporaine
Module Leader : Dr Nick Startin
France’s turbulent revolutionary history has ensured that it remains one of the most interesting countries to study in terms of its modern day politics. In Britain while there have been lengthy periods of stability in the modern era (with long-lasting Conservative and then Labour governments), in France no government has managed to win successive elections since 1981. Furthermore, the last twenty years have witnessed the rise of Jean-Marie Le Pen and his far-right Front National, hundreds of cases of political corruption and scandal throughout the political system, and a return to direct political action in certain quarters in response to the anxieties raised by issues such as globalisation. The purpose of this module is to examine some of the key socio-political and global issues that impact on modern French society and to give students a knowledge and understanding of France’s contemporary political system. More specifically, the course is divided into the following four parts:
- The French political system :
(Political culture; the revolutionary tradition; political parties and institutions) - Political issues in contemporary France:
(The rise of the Front National; Abstention; political corruption; social movements) - Socio-political issues in contemporary France:
(Unemployment and the 35-hour week, immigration, security, secularism) - Global Issues and the French state:
(Impact of globalisation; France and Europe, France and the US, the environment)
Lectures and seminars for this module take place once a week and are conducted in French. The module draws on a range of key French language texts and web-site sources, English language book references and audio-visual material. The course will appeal to students interested in learning more about recent developments in contemporary France and about France’s relationship with the outside world.
Assessment consists of one coursework essay, of about 1500 words in French, in semester 1 (40% of the whole module mark), and a 2-hour exam, requiring about 1200 words in French, at the end of semester 2 (worth 60%).
UPLQ9C-30-3 French with Translation
Module Leader: Sarah Blowen
This final year core module will build upon your knowledge of French and French-speaking cultures and society. Over the 4 hours of classes each week, you will work to improve your skills in composition in French, oral presentation and translation of French texts into English.
You will study specialised translation skills, with regular use being made of computer conferencing systems. You will specialise in translating commercial and information technology texts, compiling electronic glossaries for use in the final examination.
Contemporary themes such as immigration & racism, media & new information technology developments, agricultural & environmental issues, Franco-British relations and France on the world stage will be explored, and you will use press and Internet sources to extend your knowledge of these subjects.
You will be examined by a 20-minute oral presentation and discussion at the end of semester 1, with a core written exam (composition, core translation) and a specialised translation exam at the end of semester 2.
UPLQ9B-30-3 French with Interpreting
Module Leader: Sarah Blowen
This final year core module will build upon your knowledge of French and French-speaking cultures and society. Over the 4 hours of classes each week, you will work to improve your skills in composition in French, oral presentation and translation of French texts into English.
You will specialise in Interpreting, which comprises two main skills:
- consecutive (or ad-hoc) liaison interpreting, that is: acting as interpreter between a British journalist and a French politician or expert;
- simultaneous interpreting, that is: interpreting into English while a text is being read in French.
Contemporary themes such as immigration & racism, media developments, agricultural & environmental issues, Franco-British relations and France on the world stage will be explored, and you will use press and Internet sources to extend your knowledge of these subjects.
You will be examined by a 20-minute oral presentation and discussion at the end of semester 1, with a core written exam (composition, translation) and interpreting exams at the end of the semester 2.
Module Leader: Sarah Blowen
The French project module allows you to pursue the study of a topic relating to the contemporary politics, society, culture or economy of France or a Francophone country. You will be able to draw upon the linguistic skills and area studies interests that you have developed prior to level 3, in order to produce a 7000–8000 word project in French.
This module offers you the opportunity to undertake fieldwork, and so to practise valuable skills such as questionnaire design, interview techniques and data analysis.
You will benefit from group sessions in research skills and one-to-one tutorials with your project supervisor. Recent project topics include studies of the French prison system and its reform, Franco-Algerian relations, poverty, social exclusion and the role of the Restos du Coeur, the laïcité debate, and the French helicopter industry!
UPLQ9M-30-3 Sociolinguistic Variation in Contemporary Spoken French
Module Leader : Kate Beeching
This module examines different varieties of contemporary spoken French from a regional, social and stylistic perspective. Lectures focus on such topics as the difference between speaking and writing, sexism in the French language, French speech sounds (schwa and liaison in contemporary French), French morphology and syntax (to “ne” or not to “ne”; the personal pronouns tu, vous and on), common discourse markers (bon, enfin, genre, hein, quand même, quoi etc.) and slang, youth culture and verlan The lectures will be complemented by practical sessions devoted to analysing spontaneous conversation, television news broadcasts, advertising in the press and on T.V., understanding and transcribing spoken French, French spoken corpora and French on the Internet.
The course will be taught in French and will be assessed by means of a 3,000 word essay, written in French, on an aspect of contemporary spoken French, and a 30 minute oral presentation of the results of an analysis of a spoken French text.
UPUQSA-30-3 La politique culturelle de la France depuis 1981
Module leader: Sarah Blowen
France has a reputation as a country of culture and savoir-faire – but do all sections of French society have access to the arts and media and do they like what they are getting? Over the course of this module, students will explore how the French government, through the policies of the Ministry of Culture, has attempted to widen access to the arts and respond to cultural trends since the arrival as Minister of the charismatic Jack Lang in 1981.
We will spend some time examining the theories and thinking behind the way artists, politicians and the public understand culture. We’ll also be looking at the way the political, social and economic concerns of the day all play their part in shaping the cultural practices of contemporary France. For example:
- What happens when the Front national becomes responsible for the cultural policy of a city the size of Bristol?
- How is France using television, radio new media – and rap – to fight globalisation?
- Why is the Ministère de la Culture sponsoring raves?
Students will research an area of cultural practice that interests them. This could be cinema, television, bande dessinée, rap, hip-hop, heritage, dance, tagging and the graffiti arts, amongst other areas of interest.
The course will be taught in French.
Assessment: A 20 minute presentation in French (50%) and an essay of approx 3000 words in French on a topic studied during the year (50%)
Pre Requisite: Successful completion of a placement in a French speaking country OR students who have successfully completed an academic year abroad on the Erasmus Programme in the relevant country to the subjects they are studying, or students who can for other reasons demonstrate an appropriate level of language competence, can, with academic discretion, undertake this module.
UPUQSB-30-3 Conflits politiques actuels en France
Module Leader : Dr Nick Startin
Since the Revolution in 1789, France’s history has been influenced by violence, protest and conflict. This turbulent past has not only shaped the country’s history, but it has also contributed to the development of modern French society and continues to divide French political debate. Focussing on the three themes of ‘Class and Social conflict’, ‘War and violence in 20th century’ and ‘Race and Immigration in post-war society’, this module examines the legacy of conflict and its impact on contemporary France. More specifically, the three themes address the following:
- Class and social conflict
- The revolutionary tradition
- The role of the crowd in French history
- The legacy of May 68
- New movements, old protest? Conflict and demonstration in contemporary France
- War and Violence in 20th Century France
- The legacy of two world wars
- The role of the resistance
- Decolonisation and the Algerian war
- France's role in a global world
- Race and immigration in post-war France
- Nationalism, anti-Semitism and fascism - an historical perspective
- Race as a source of conflict in post-war society
- The rise of the far-right and its opponents
- Race and the role of the modern state (les sans papiers, le code de la nationalité, la laïcité)
The module aims to bring France’s turbulent past to life and to relate it to the present through a combination of key texts and through the medium of French film. A number of key French language films form the basis of the indicative sources. Assessment for this module consists of a 3 hour exam, a film or book review and a coursework essay.
