Unit information: Beginners French in 2020/21

Unit name	Beginners French
Unit code	UWLP10001
Credit points	20
Level of study	C/4
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Mrs. Vailes
Open unit status	Open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Modern Languages
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

This unit provides a general introduction to the target language. It is intended:

• To provide students with a solid foundation of the essential structures of the target language thus enabling them to communicate effectively across the four key language skills at an elementary level on a variety of general topics
• To enable participants to give and understand information and to achieve a confident elementary level of communicative competence in everyday situations
• To introduce students to the customs, culture and society of the regions/countries in which the languages are spoken and to develop student awareness of the general social and cultural background of the language
• To enable students to apply their developing language skills into areas related to their field of study

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students will:

1. be able to communicate orally and in writing with a reasonable degree of accuracy and fluency.

2. be able to work at a basic level with authentic material and retrieve necessary information.

3. have acquired knowledge and awareness of the general social and cultural background of the target language

4. be able to understand and interpret written texts at a basic level

5. be able to respond to written texts at a basic level

Overall, students will attain a level comparable to A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Teaching Information

This unit will be taught online only in 2021-22. Learners will be involved in a variety of synchronous activities, mostly interactive with maximum use of the target language, but with attention devoted also to explaining the fundamentals of the target language’s structures. These activities will be supported and amplified by asynchronous e-learning opportunities and self-directed exercises.

Assessment Information

• Examination which includes Reading, Writing and Listening – 75% - assesses ILOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5*In-class presentation / speaking exercise to assess oral – 25% - assesses ILOs 1, 2 and 3

Reading and References

A course book, clearly identified for this level by the Language Director concerned. Reading and reference material will be provided on Blackboard.