Unit information: French for Medical Studies Level 1 Grade 2 (post GCSE) in 2016/17

Unit name	French for Medical Studies Level 1 Grade 2 (post GCSE)
Unit code	LANG12302
Credit points	10
Level of study	C/4
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Mrs. Duranton
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	GCSE (grade C minimum), or equivalent, in French
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of French
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

A optional language unit for students taking a degree in Medicine. This unit is taken as a student selected component (SSC) in the second year and is available to students in Stream B. It is highly recommended that those wishing to take part in a SOCRATES exchange in the third year register for this unit. It aims to consolidate and develop general language structures and functions and introduces the practice of basic specialist concepts and terminology to enable students to develop their existing language skills into areas related to their field of studies. The unit includes practice in the four skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing), grammar review, vocabulary development (general and specialist), cultural and social aspects of the language, with particular emphasis on the skills necessary for studying in the academic environment of the target language.

Intended Learning Outcomes

The unit aims to consolidate and develop general language structures and functions, and to introduce basic specialist concepts and terminology. This will enable students to develop their existing knowledge of the language into areas related to professional life, with particular emphasis on the skills necessary for working in an international environment. The unit includes: practice in the four skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing), grammar and vocabulary development, cultural and social aspects of the language, presentation skills and academic writing.

The unit will include:

• General communication skills
• Academic listening and note-taking skills
• Academic and sub-technical language
• Academic reading and writing skills
• Subject specific language
• Oral presentation skills
• Cultural and social aspects of the language
• E-learning opportunities

Teaching Information

3 hours of teaching per week covering all four topics of Reading writing speaking and listening. Classroom based learning is supplemented by online access to resources delivered via Blackboard. Regular formative homework is set.

Assessment Information

The four skills – listening, speaking, reading and writing – are assigned equal weighting for the purposes of assessment (25% each).

For reading and writing there is a formal mid-sessional examination at the end of TB1and a formal examination in the summer examination period.

• The mid-sessional reading examination comprises 12.5% of the overall mark. The summer reading examination comprises 12.5% of the mark. Both assess ILOs 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

• The mid-sessional writing examination comprises 12.5% of the overall mark. The summer writing examination comprises 12.5% of the mark. Both assess ILOs 1, 2, 3 and 5

• Listening is assessed by both continuous assessment, consisting of a listening assignment which comprises 12.5% of the total mark, and by a final class test, which comprises 12.5% of the total mark. Both assess ILOs 1 and 2.

• Speaking is tested by continuous assessment, consisting of marked coursework (oral presentation, which comprises 12.5% of the total mark - assessing ILOs 1, 2 and 3) and an oral exam which comprises 12.5% of the total mark (assessing ILOs 1, 2 and 3).

Reading and References

Reading and reference material will be provided on Blackboard.