Studying at York
French Language & Cultures: Proficient - LAN00008H
Module summary
This module combines an in-depth study of French with analysis of cultural and social phenomena. Students will develop knowledge, skills and strategies necessary to communicate in French at proficient level through engagement with topics such as the (recent) debates surrounding the legacy of the colonial past(s), and its impact on contemporary societies and culture(s) (especially France and Belgium).
Related modules
Pre-requisite module
French Language and Cultures: Advanced (or equivalent level of language proficiency).
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 1 2024-25 |
Module aims
This module aims at refining students’ knowledge, skills and strategies necessary to communicate in French, and to develop a plurilingual and pluricultural communicative competence at proficient level.
The module covers a variety of sources in French and English about contemporary cultural and social issues in French-speaking countries, and related diasporic communities.
Particular emphasis will be given to developing students' ability to research, analyse, present, and synthesise sources from critical perspectives using a range of sophisticated language structures accurately. Students will also receive training in presentation skills.
The module is taught and assessed in French.
Students will engage, individually and in groups, in communicative activities focussing on three modes of communication:
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reception activities (oral, audio-video and reading comprehension);
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production activities (oral and written production);
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interaction (oral, written and online interaction).
Module learning outcomes
Upon satisfactory completion of the course, students should be able to:
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understand a wide range of long and complex written, audiovisual and digital texts, and media, appreciating subtle distinctions of style and implicit as well as explicit meaning;
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produce clear, eloquent, smoothly flowing, complex texts in an appropriate and effective style and a logical structure, demonstrating a good command of idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms;
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set out multiple perspectives on complex topics, clearly distinguishing their own ideas and opinions from those in the sources;
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present complex information concisely to a live audience for a variety of purposes;
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be aware of cultural differences and make subtle adjustments in order to navigate diverse cultural contexts.
Module content
Decolonisation was not over with the independence of former colonies.
After decades in which difficult colonial memories were either interiorised or swept under official carpets (official amnesia), historians, journalists and academics in many countries have pointed to the past (but also ongoing) dismal records of former imperial rulers. The resulting debate has led to an altered public and official engagement with the imperial past.
Thus, the content of the module focuses on the legacy of the colonial past(s), such as the (ongoing) process of decolonising history, memories, the curriculum, cultural/public space(s) and minds (especially France and Belgium).
As a result, the module will explore the evolving, related notions of identity/ identities.
Hence, students will be introduced to questions such as:
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colonial exhibitions in Europe (posters and human zoos)
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the Algerian war (1954-62) (including the Harkis and the 17 October 1961)
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La Réunion's stolen children (1962-1984)
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Guadeloupe’s colonial past and its legacy
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Belgium’s colonial past and its legacy
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France & Belgium: a successful decolonising process?
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled) | 50 |
| Oral presentation/seminar/exam | 50 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled) | 50 |
| Oral presentation/seminar/exam | 50 |
Module feedback
Formative assessment and feedback
Formative tasks completed individually and/or in groups throughout the module.
Feedback will include
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written comments (feedback as well as feed-forward);
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oral feedback/feed-forward during class discussions.
Summative assessment and feedback
Students will be given written feedback and marks for their work within the University mandated schedule.
Indicative reading
Course materials and guided readings will be provided by the module convenor via the VLE.