French IV (Foreign Languages IV)

This course is intended for students with French language skills approximately corresponding to level B1.1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Students are expected to understand and produce simple spoken and written messages in common communication situations and to possess basic knowledge of general French grammar and vocabulary, particularly regarding main verb tenses, interrogative structures and the comprehension of short texts.
These competencies provide the necessary foundation for developing communication skills in academic and professional contexts, particularly in preparation for academic mobility in France.

Teaching prioritizes a communicative and action-oriented approach, encouraging the use of French in situations close to academic and professional reality.

Teaching activities include:
     • listening and reading comprehension
     • guided writing tasks
     • oral interactions
     • simulations of real-life situations
     • pair and small group work
     • oral presentations

These activities aim to develop students’ communicative autonomy in academic and intercultural contexts.

Course Objectives

General objective
The course French IV aims to develop and consolidate students’ linguistic and communicative skills in French, with a view to their academic mobility in France and their future integration into an international professional environment.
Teaching starts from a level approximately corresponding to B1.1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and aims to progressively strengthen the mastery of the five language activities — listening comprehension, reading comprehension, spoken production, spoken interaction and written production — as well as intercultural competence.

Specific objectives
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
     1. understand the main points of oral communication in standard French related to everyday or academic situations;
     2. understand short informative texts related to academic and social life;
     3. participate in simple interactions in different communication contexts;
     4. express themselves clearly in order to describe a situation, explain how something works or present an academic topic;
     5. write short and structured texts appropriate for academic or administrative communication;
     6. use a broader range of general and academic vocabulary;
     7. develop intercultural awareness within a European and francophone context.

Skills to be Developed (CEFR)
According to the CEFR descriptors (B1.1), students will develop the following skills.

Listening comprehension: understand the main points of clear standard speech on familiar, academic or simple professional topics.

Reading comprehension: understand short and informative texts related to university, social or professional life.

Spoken production: express themselves in a simple but structured way to describe a situation, explain a process or present an academic topic.

Spoken interaction: participate in simple exchanges by expressing opinions, asking questions and requesting clarification.

Written production: write short, coherent and structured texts appropriate for academic or professional communication.

Intercultural competence: recognize certain cultural aspects of the francophone world and adapt communication to different sociocultural contexts.

Course Contents

The contents follow a progression from everyday life to academic and professional contexts, preparing students for mobility in France.

MODULE 1 – Arrival in France and mobility
(airport and transport)

Communicative contents
     • communication situations at the airport
     • asking for and understanding information
     • understanding announcements
     • buying a ticket
     • asking for directions
     • using public transport

Vocabulary
     • transport and mobility
     • spatial orientation
     • public services

Grammar contents
     • revision of the present tense
     • formation of interrogative sentences
     • use of quand in temporal clauses
     • prepositions of place
     • prepositions of time (dans / à / sur)
     • introduction to real condition (si + present)
     • restrictive structure ne… que

MODULE 2 – Everyday life in France

Situations
     • restaurant and café
     • supermarket
     • student accommodation
     • library

Communicative functions
     • ordering food
     • asking for a price
     • understanding a bill
     • asking for help
     • booking a service

Grammar contents
     • definite and indefinite articles
     • partitive articles
     • expressions of quantity
     • comparative and superlative
     • structures of intensity (tellement / tant)
     • expressing obligation (il faut, devoir)
     • use of the verb manquer

MODULE 3 – Student life

Contents
     • university registration
     • timetable
     • student card
     • university library
     • student services (CROUS)

Communicative functions
     • asking for administrative information
     • understanding regulations
     • writing a simple administrative email

Grammar contents
     • direct and indirect object pronouns
     • possessive pronouns
     • demonstrative pronouns
     • ceci / cela
     • complex negation
     • introduction to reported speech in the past

MODULE 4 – Academic life

Contents
     • understanding a lecture
     • understanding instructions
     • taking notes
     • presenting academic work

Grammar contents
     • passé composé and imparfait
     • future simple and future anterior
     • present conditional
     • si + imperfect → conditional
     • present participle and gerund
     • structures expressing purpose

MODULE 5 – Academic communication in engineering

Contents
     • presenting a simple technical project
     • explaining how a system works
     • describing a computing tool
     • participating in academic discussions

Grammar contents
     • past conditional
     • si + pluperfect → past conditional
     • present subjunctive
     • past subjunctive
     • subjunctive vs indicative
     • conjunctions followed by the subjunctive

Assessment is based on continuous assessment.

Assessment distribution:
     • 2 written tests: 60%
     • attendance and participation: 15%
     • oral presentation: 25%

Attendance of at least 75% of classes is mandatory.

NAO