French 6

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

170 hours

French 5 or achievement of French 5 standard in the French placement test or as determined by the French Program.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Objectives, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject offers high-level French students a course in advanced conversation structure and analysis. It will build on the linguistic and cultural competences acquired in previous levels to develop greater awareness of how the historical, intercultural, political and social aspects of language impact on oral communication in French.

The program will focus on two main areas of conversation: the refinement of conversation as an expression of elegance, intelligence and “esprit” during the Ancien Régime and the political dimensions of contemporary conversation and debate. It will include material on significant cultural taboos and the historical underpinnings of sensitive topics, as well as politeness and registers. Current affairs and contemporary debates will be analysed with an emphasis on situational contexts to consider factors such as goals, intentions, situational constraints and contextual expectancies.

The aims of this subject are to understand the historical significance of the value placed on conversational skills in French society. It will build on the introduction to argumentation in French 5 in oral communication, while strengthening aural comprehension competences. Reading and writing will be maintained, and students will refine their understanding of the differences between the written and the spoken language and of how to move from one to the other.

On successful completion of this subject, students should:

• have achieved a high level of competency in the art of French conversation in different registers;
• be able to show awareness of the relationship between conversational and argumentative styles in French;

• be able to show awareness of appropriate turn-taking in different social circumstances;

• have developed understanding of the status attributed to the art of conversation in France;

• have developed skills in French argumentative discourse in both oral and written form.

• In-class oral presentations equivalent to 1000 words throughout semester [30%]
• In-class written work - dissertation equivalent to 750 words due mid-seemster [20%]
• Debate on a contemporary aspect of conversation equivalent to 750 words in the final three weeks of semester [20%]
• A research project on a historical aspect of conversation equivalent to 1500 words due in the examination period [30%]

This subject has the following hurdle requirements:

• Regular participation in tutorials is required with a minimum of 75% attendance.
• All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day and in-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked.

• Material prepared by the French Program

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Students who successfully complete this subject should:

• have developed skills in independent learning;
• have developed skills in critical thinking and in the interpretation of texts;
• have an understanding of the social and cultural sensitivity of language use in particular contexts;
• have the ability to appreciate different cultural contexts present in French-speaking communities;
• be able to time manage and plan: through managing and organising workloads for required and recommended reading, essay and assignment completion and revision for examinations.