French

Major/Minor/Specialisation !B-ARTS-MAJ+1015 (2015)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2015.

Year and Campus: 2015
Overview:

French is one of the world's major international languages: it is spoken by over 200 million people in 43 countries, on five continents. A knowledge of French may increase access to careers in international relations, development studies, business, science and the arts.

The overall objective of the French Studies program is to teach students to process information from a wide variety of materials in French, both written and spoken, and to produce accounts and discussions of that information in a variety of forms. In subjects at all levels, you will be guided towards undertaking independent research projects into areas including language, literature, politics, cinema, theatre, travel writing, food and wine, immigration and identity.

The core subjects in French are organised in a progressive sequence from French 1 through to French 7. Entry and exit points are determined by the French Program based on the student’s background in the language, placement testing or prerequisites. Students normally progress through the subjects in consecutive order. Mid-year entry is also possible into subjects with even numbers, subject to appropriate prior experience and approval from the head of the French program. Accelerated progression is possible on advice from the French Program.

Learning Outcomes:

Students who complete this major will:

  • Interpret a range of different genres relevant in French and Francophone social and cultural contexts;
  • Communicate effectively in a variety of oral and written formats, comprehending and producing French discourse with fluency (relative to entry level) and appreciate its cultural contexts;
  • Specialize in at least one of the three core areas of French and Francophone literature, linguistics, cinema and cultural studies;
  • Apply relevant research and analytical skills combined with a strong sense of intellectual integrity and the ethics of scholarship;
  • Appreciate French and Francophone cultures in a differentiated and informed way;
  • Engage critically and to constructively in intercultural dialogue as a bi/multicultural and bi/multilingual person and as a global citizen;
  • Independently apply a wide range of learning techniques (in French and English) as autonomous, motivated, self-directed and well-organised learners;
  • Act confidently in French-speaking milieus and target cultures, and work effectively in a cooperative way using French and English as media.

Structure & Available Subjects:

French

A 100-point major and 75-point minor sequence is available in French Studies. Students complete a sequence of core subjects determined by their background in French and by their level of achievement. Students will have their appropriate entry point determined by the French Program, based on evidence of prior language learning and/or results on a placement test as required. The remaining credit points required for the major are attained by the completion of elective subjects in French Studies.

  • Entry at French 1 is for students who have little or no background in the French language. Students commencing their study of French at this level range from absolute beginners to students who have completed up to four years of French study at secondary level (not including VCE or equivalent).
  • Entry at French 3 is for students who have completed more than four years of French study at secondary level, including those who have achieved a VCE French study score of up to 35 (up to 4 in IB French), or equivalent.
  • Entry at French 5 is for students who have achieved a VCE French study score of 36 or more (5 or more in IB French), or equivalent.

Students will have their appropriate entry point determined by the French Program, based on evidence of prior learning and/or results of a placement test as required. Please refer to the following link for further information: http://languages-linguistics.unimelb.edu.au/french/french-placement-test

Students completing a major in French will usually undertake 25 points at level one, 37.5 points at level two and 37.5 points at level three. Students completing a minor will usually undertake 25 points at level one, 25 points at level two and 25 points at level three.

For an example of a typical French major structure for each of the three entry points, please visit: http://arts.unimelb.edu.au/lcr/

Subject Options:

FRENCH 1 ENTRY POINT:

French 1 entry point - Level 1

Students completing the French major or minor are required to complete the following Level 1 subjects (25 points).


Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1
12.50
Semester 2
12.50

French 1 entry point - Level 2

Students completing the French major with a French 1 entry point are required to complete French 3, French 4 and French Cultural Studies (37.5 points) OR Intensive French 3 and 4 and French Cultural Studies (37.5 points). Students completing the French minor are required to complete only French 3 and French 4 or Intensive French 3 and 4 (25 points).


Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1
12.50
Semester 2
12.50

French 1 entry point - Level 3

Students completing the French major with a French 1 entry point are required to complete the following Level 3 subjects (25 points) plus one Level 3 elective (12.5 points). Students completing the French minor are required to complete only French 5 and French 6 (25 points).

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1
12.50
Semester 2
12.50

FRENCH 3 ENTRY POINT:

French 3 entry point - Level 1

Students completing the French major or minor with a French 3 entry point are required to complete French 3 and French 4 (25 points). Second and third-year students have the option of completing the Summer Intensive French 3 and 4 (25 points) instead of French 3 and French 4.


Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1
12.50
Semester 2
12.50

French 3 entry point - Level 2

Students completing the French major with a French 3 entry point are required to complete the following Level 2 subjects (25 points) plus one Level 2 elective (12.5 points). Students completing the French minor are required to complete only French 5 and French 6 (25 points).

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1
12.50
Semester 2
12.50

French 3 entry point - Level 3

Students completing the French major with a French 3 entry point are required to complete the following Level 3 subject (12.5 points) plus two Level 3 electives (25 points). Students completing the French minor are required to complete the following Level 3 subject (12.5 points) plus one Level 3 elective (12.5 points).

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1
12.50

FRENCH 5 ENTRY POINT:

French 5 entry point - Level 1

Students completing the French major or minor with a French 5 entry point are required to complete the following Level 1 subjects (25 points).


Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1
12.50
Semester 2
12.50

French 5 entry point - Level 2

Students completing the French major with a French 5 entry point are required to complete French 7 (12.5 points) plus two level 2 electives (25 points). Students completing the French minor with a French 5 entry point are required to complete French 7 (12.5 points) plus one level 2 elective (12.5 points).

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1
12.50

French 5 entry point - Level 3

Students completing the French major with a French 5 entry point are requried to complete 37.50 points of electives. Students completing the French minor with a French 5 entry point are required to complete 25 points of electives:

French Electives - Level 2

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 2
12.50
Not offered in 2015
12.50
Not offered in 2015
12.50
Not offered in 2015
12.50
Not offered in 2015
12.50
Not offered in 2015
12.50
Not offered in 2015
12.50
Not offered in 2015
12.50
Not offered in 2015
12.50

French Electives - Level 3

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 2
12.50
Not offered in 2015
12.50
Not offered in 2015
12.50
Not offered in 2015
12.50
Not offered in 2015
12.50
Not offered in 2015
12.50
Not offered in 2015
12.50
Not offered in 2015
12.50
Not offered in 2015
12.50
Not offered in 2015
12.50
Links to further information: http://languages-linguistics.unimelb.edu.au
Related Course(s): Bachelor of Arts

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