Trinity College Dublin


BESS FRENCH LANGUAGE AND CIVILISATION 2

Senior Freshmen

FR2040

French Department

School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies

Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

2009/10

Table of contents

1.  A Note on this Handbook

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2

2.  Introduction

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3

3.  Staff Contacts

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4

4.  General Information

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5

5.  The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)

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7

6.  Description of Module FR2040

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8

7.  General Programme Regulations

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27

8.  Useful Guidelines

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33

9.  Student Supports

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40

1. A Note on this Handbook

This handbook applies to all students taking the French module FR2040 as part of their course. This module is taught by the French department, School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies (SLLCS). The handbook provides a guide to what is expected of you on this programme, and the academic and personal support available to you. Please retain for future reference.

The information provided in this handbook is accurate at time of preparation. Any necessary revisions will be notified to students via e-mail and notices on the notice board. Please note that, in the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the General Regulations published in the University Calendar and information contained in course handbooks, the provisions of the Calendar’s General Regulations will prevail.

2. Introduction

Welcome to the French Department, School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies, in Trinity College.

The module you are about to start is open to students studying BESS, Business Studies and French, Sociology and Social Policy or Social Studies. Law and French students will follow a similar module but only during the first semester (Michaelmas Term or MT).

This module is part of what we often describe as the BESS French programme and has been specifically designed for students following the above courses. For some of you (BESS, Sociology and Social Policy or Social Studies), it is the only French module you will be studying this year. For others (Business Studies and French, Law and French), it is one element of the French component of your course. If you are successful in the examinations at the end of the year, you receive a certificate of proficiency in French for Academic Purposes.

We hope that you will enjoy the module. It aims to provide you with a better understanding of many aspects of political and business life in France, to help you improve your French and develop your language learning skills so that you can become independent learners.

As in the JF course (FR1040), the approach used is based on the principle that the best way to learn a language is to use it. This means that we expect you to participate fully in the range of activities on offer. The module is delivered through French, so as to maximise your contacts with the language. At this stage, you know after a few weeks to get ‘tuned-in’, this is not a major issue.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact the module coordinators or your French class tutor.

Wishing you all the best for your SF year.

Claire Laudet

Paule Salerno

Module coordinators


3. Staff Contacts

Course coordinators

Michaelmas Term

·  Dr Claire Laudet

E-mail: , tel: 01 896 2313, Room 4108, French Department, Arts Building

Office hours: Mondays 3.30 p.m. – 4.30 p.m.; Thursdays 4 – 5 p.m.

Hilary Term

·  Dr. Paule Salerno-O’Shea

Email: , tel: 01 896 1472, Room 4113, French Department, Arts Building

Lectures

Michaelmas Term

·  Dr Claire Laudet

Hilary Term

·  Dr. Paule Salerno-O’Shea

Tutorials

·  Claire Laudet

·  Sarah Legros

·  Séverine de Maleingreau (Michaelmas term only)

BESS French Office

·  Tracy Corbett, e-mail: , tel.: 01 896 1333, room 4089, Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays only. The office is open to students from 9.30 a.m. till 11.30 a.m. and from 2.30 p.m. till 3.30 p.m..


4. General Information

The BESS/BSF French notice board is located next to room 4094 on level 4 of the Arts Building.

Below the notice board, you will find pigeon holes where spare copies of handouts may be found.

The staff pigeon holes are located under the main French Department notice board, near room 4111.

Course materials are either available on WebCT (http://webct.tcd.ie/) or sent to the TCD e-mail account of all students registered for the course.

If you are having problems accessing WebCT or if you do not receive the course materials by e-mail, please contact the relevant course coordinator immediately.

Computers, language laboratories and satellite TV/video workstations: you are entitled to use the facilities of the Centre for Language and Communication Studies (CLCS) located on level 4 of the Arts Building. To use the facilities, you must have a CLCS ID card valid for the current year (available on registration in the CLCS office, Room 4091).

·  Audio Language laboratory
For self-access use: Room 4074.

·  Video/satellite TV
Self-access use only: Room 4074.

·  Computers/DVD playback
Self-access use: Room 4074.
Self-access and occasional class use: Room 4073.

For more information, check http://www.tcd.ie/slscs/clcs/languagecentre/

You may also use the computers in the Public Access Computer rooms but note that you need to have you own headphones if you wish to do listening comprehension work. (See map at http://isservices.tcd.ie/facilities/map.php)


Teaching term dates and timetable

Lectures start on Monday 28th September at 12 noon in room 4050A (Level 4, Arts Building).

Tutorials start during that same week, ie on Thursday 1st or Friday 2nd October.

To find out to which tutorial group you have been assigned, check your individual time-table on the TCD portal http://isservices.tcd.ie/portal/ or the BESS French notice board near room 4094 on level 4 of the Arts Building.

Tutorial attendance is compulsory and will represent 5% of the end-of-year mark for FR2040.

Student Surveys will be conducted at the end of each semester to allow students to give feedback on the course.

Socrates – Erasmus

Successful completion of FR1040 and FR2040 is required to participate in a Socrates/Erasmus exchange in a French-speaking country

BESS Students who have taken FR1040 in first year followed by FR2040 in their second year can apply to participate in a Socrates exchange in order to spend their third year studying business, economics, sociology or politics at a partner university or Business School in France or Belgium. Information on the specific exchanges is available at https://www.tcd.ie/bess/current/languages/studyabroad.php and https://www.tcd.ie/bess/current/languages/destinations.php

The year abroad is a compulsory requirement for BSF students.

Single Honors Politics, Sociology & Social Policy and Social Work students should consult their school to ascertain whether they can participate in a Socrates exchange.

5. The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)

The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is an academic credit system based on the estimated student workload required to achieve the objectives of a module or programme of study. It is designed to enable academic recognition for periods of study, to facilitate student mobility and credit accumulation and transfer. The ECTS is the recommended credit system for higher education in Ireland and across the European Higher Education Area.

The ECTS weighting for a module is a measure of the student input or workload required for that module, based on factors such as the number of contact hours, the number and length of written or verbally presented assessment exercises, class preparation and private study time, laboratory classes, examinations, clinical attendance, professional training placements, and so on as appropriate. There is no intrinsic relationship between the credit volume of a module and its level of difficulty.

The European norm for full-time study over one academic year is 60 credits. 1 ECTS credit represents 20-25 hours estimated student input, so a 10-credit module will be designed to require 200-250 hours of student input including class contact time and assessments.

ECTS credits are awarded to a student only upon successful completion of the course year. Progression from one year to the next is determined by the course regulations. Students who fail a year of their course will not obtain credit for that year even if they have passed certain component courses. Exceptions to this rule are one-year and part-year visiting students, who are awarded credit for individual modules successfully completed.
6. Description of Module FR2040

BESS FRENCH LANGUAGE & CIVILISATION 2 (POLITICS AND BUSINESS AND ECONOMY)

10 ECTS credits (250 student input hours)

This is a year-long module, delivered during both Michaelmas and Hilary terms. It is open to BESS, Sociology 7 Social Policy and Social Studies students who have passed module FR1040. It is compulsory to have passed module FR1040 to progress to FR2040. If you have any queries, please contact the course coordinators.

FR2040 is compulsory for BSF students.

Course overview

The course will introduce students to the French political institutions and political life (Michaelmas Term) and to the world of business in France so that they are aware of the specificity of France in these areas. The program has also been designed to help students identify and develop the language learning skills they will need to study in France and then be able to use on their own.

Michaelmas Term (first semester)

French political institutions and political life

Week 5: Principles and values of the French Republic

Week 6: Origins of the Fifth Republic

Week 7: The President, the Prime minister and the Government

Week 8: The Parliament

Week 9: The Electoral System

Week 10: Political parties 1

Week 11: Study Week (no lectures, no tutorials)

Week 12: Political parties 2

Week 13: Trade Unions

Week 14: Current Issues and Debates 1

Week 15: Current Issues and Debates 2

Week 16: Revisions and MCQ test

Hilary Term (second semester)

Business In France

The following themes will be studied:

Theme 1: Consumer: definition and protection

Theme 2: Product: Patents and Brands

Theme 3: Competition: Legal framework

Theme 4: Marketing

Theme 5: Employees and employer: contracts and power

Theme 6: Employees: individual protection

Theme 7: Companies: legal status and consequences

Theme 8: Employees: collective protection (Guided self-study during week 27 {Study week})

Theme 9: Conflicts in the workplace

In addition, there will be 3 sessions in the Computer lab (weeks 28, 30 and 31) on the theme ‘looking for a summer job/work placement’

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

-  Demonstrate you can make links between events and facts from French current affairs and the wider French political and business framework outlined during the course;

-  Follow lectures on these topics in French and take notes using an outline of the lecture;

-  Read, identify and understand the structure and main points of French textbooks and articles from specialized periodicals and newspapers on the above topics;

-  Read the same materials to locate and retrieve specific information;

-  Understand a French native speaker presenting and discussing information on these topics;

-  Discuss these topics with a French native speaker;

-  Make short and structured oral presentations on aspects of French political life and institutions and business life in France;

-  Use authentic sources and course materials to develop your vocabulary and other language competencies;

-  Describe, compare and contrast the situation in France and Ireland in the context of a discussion with French native speakers;

-  Write texts in French (business letters, short essays, etc) in the appropriate register, in reasonably accurate French.

Teaching Information:

The module is delivered through a number of structured components. We advise you to follow the order below as each component builds on the skills, knowledge and vocabulary learnt in the previous component.

Every week you are expected to do the following:

1. Attend the weekly lecture, at 12 noon on Mondays, room AB4050A. Handouts are available for downloading and printing on WebCT (MT, see (http://webct.tcd.ie/) and page 39) or will be sent to you by e-mail (HT). Please print (for example select option handout, 6 slides per page) and bring them to the lecture. Alternatively, you can bring your laptop to the lecture. The lectures are delivered in French and will include grammar and vocabulary components as well as presentations on essay writing skills in the French style.

(Lecture: 1 hour/week; reviewing and updating notes: 1 hour/week)

Lecture 1

2. A listening comprehension activity, usually web-based. See the ‘Compréhension Orale’ dossiers in WebCT. In Hilary term, worksheets will be sent to you by e-mail. You can use the CLCS computer facilities (see page 5), any public access computer room (see map at http://isservices.tcd.ie/facilities/map.php) if you have your own headphones or you can do this at home (but you may need to download additional software or up-dates to be able to view some documents). Please ensure you bring your worksheet to your tutorial every week.

(1 hour/week)

3. Attend second lecture/session

MT weeks 5 to 10: A second weekly lecture, at 11 a.m. on Thursdays in room 2037 (Robert Emmett Theatre)

MT weeks 12 to 16: a Computer-lab based session, at 10 a.m. on Thursdays in room 1013 (Samuel Beckett Computer Lab, level 1, Arts Building).

HT in weeks 28, 30 and 31 only: a Computer-lab based session at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays, room 1013.

Handouts will be available for downloading and printing on WebCT (MT) or will be sent by e-mail (HT).

(Attendance: 1 hour/week; reviewing and updating notes: 1 hour/week)

4. A reading comprehension or writing task to be completed before your tutorial. See the file ‘Travail personnel’ on WebCT. (In Hilary term, it will be sent to you by e-mail.) Print the document, do the various tasks and bring it to your tutorial class every week.

(1 hour/week)

5. Attend your weekly tutorial, starting in week 1 of Michaelmas term and Hilary term. Check your individual timetable at http://isservices.tcd.ie/portal/ or the BESS/BSF French notice board next to room 4094. The relevant handouts will be distributed during the tutorials. The tutorials aim to give you the opportunity to apply and practice with your fellow students what you have learnt during the week, under the guidance of a French native speaker.

(1 hour/week)

6. Personal work: review your notes, organise and learn new vocabulary, learn the grammar/language points, check the answers for the listening, reading and writing activities, do some additional reading, listening and writing, practice French conversation with a friend. In MT, additional resources are available on WebCT (See folder ‘Ressources supplémentaires’).