Presentation

As part of the dual French-Spanish degree program, and to improve the Spanish students’ linguistic proficiency and support their integration into the French university system in the first year, this seminar has a dual objective. The first is to further develop students' French linguistic skills (written and oral comprehension, written and oral expression) through a comparative approach. The aim to reinforce their command of French through comparative analysis at both linguistic and cultural levels, to identify the specifics of each language, avoid classic errors, express themselves in a more structured and refined manner. The second objective is to consolidate and expand the students’ knowledge of the French-speaking world.   The topics are explored from a multicultural perspective to help the students gain a better understanding of the main political, socio-economic and cultural issues facing French and Spanish societies; they are studied from a comparative cross-cultural perspective, which should enable students to express well informed opinions without resorting to stereotypes.

Recommended Prerequisite(s)

A good command of the basic linguistic components: verb conjugation in all tenses and moods, main syntax and grammatical rules, main linking words used to structure ideas. Knowledge of the key periods of French history.

Bibliography

• http://phonetique.free.fr/indexphoncons.htm 
• https://www.lexilogos.com/francais_langue_dictionnaires.htm
• L’art de conjuguer, Bescherelle (1980)
• Les 50 règles d’or de l’orthographe, Bled (2010)
• https://www.journauxfrancais.net/ 

Educational formula

This is not a language class in the classical sense but is based on the preparation and active participation of students. It aims to develop their understanding of specific knowledge and methodology skills in both oral and written communication.  The exercises proposed are aimed to improve written language skills (translation of documents, synthesis or commentaries, in one language, of documents written in the other), and oral skills (tandem debates/presentations of current issues using an intercultural approach). During the sessions, the emphasis is on oral communication. Preparation prior to the class is mandatory and must be done in writing. Addressing possible deficiencies (knowledge and language) is part of students’ individual work.