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Fall Pre-Session
The fall pre-session is divided in six different sections. Students are tested upon arrival and placed in the appropriate level. Students receive 3 credits for the pre-session.
Levels I and II: Beginning/Elementary levels
• Language review
• 3 hours per day x 20 days = 60 hours
• Writing class: 3 hours per week
• Civilization class: 3 hours per week
Levels III and IV: Intermediate/Proficient levels
• Language review
• 3 hours per day x 20 days = 60 hours
• Writing class: 3 hours per week
• Civilization class: 3 hours per week
Levels V and VI: Advanced levels
• Language review
• 3 hours per day x 20 days = 60 hours
• Writing class: 3 hours per week
• Civilization class: 3 hours per week
Level I: Beginners
Objectives at this level are developing oral comprehension and expression, and introducing students to written comprehension and expression. All Level I groups are provided with constantly updated materials and follow a socio-cultural program of discovery of the economic, cultural, and educational dimensions of Montpellier and its surroundings with a view to developing better cultural understandings and communicative skills.
Level II: Elementary
This is the logical continuation of Level I and can be defined as the first intermediary level. It is designed for students who already attended at least 200 hours of French language courses or who acquired a basic competence through immersion. The general objectives follow up on those of Level I. They aim at reinforcing acquired skills; verbal fluency and grammatical writing are the main objectives of the teaching program, based on a communicative approach adapted to everyday life situations.
A minimum of 15 hours per week is devoted to cultural, communicative, and linguistic skills through various activities: 10 hours of language drills, such as 2 hours of laboratory work, 2 one and a half hour elective courses in cultural studies (choice of civilization, art history, culture and language, or literature).
Level III: Intermediate
This level concerns students who have already attended more than 400 hours of French classes. It offers a French course of 11 hours per week, together with 2 one and a half hour elective courses to be selected among the following:
- Literature
- Dramatic arts
- French in social and economic life
- Cultural history
- French southern civilization
The techniques of oral and written expression are based on the use of literary texts, press articles, videos, French songs, or films. Phonetic drills are conducted in the language laboratory.
Level IV: Proficient
Level IV classes are based on the permanent interaction of communicative, linguistic, and cultural objectives in order to promote the comprehension of the French socio-cultural environment. Different fields of competence are stressed:
- The immediate comprehension of oral communication situations and the ability to adopt speech to different situations.
- Familiarization with French social structures, political life, the media, cultural practices.
- In-depth cultural and linguistic study of special fields such as geography, art history, environmental studies, business, etc.
Level V: Special (1 semester), Advanced (2 semesters)
This level is intended for students who have already completed 750 to 800 hours of French classes. The curriculum consists of:
- A mandatory language course of 10 hours per week
(grammar, phonetics, oral and written university language, oral and written creative composition)
- An elective course of 4 and one half hours per week dealing with special fields to be selected among a) literature: introduction to narratology, study of 19th and 20th century literature, poetry; and b) business French: introduction to economy and business language, communication in a professional environment, French culture.
During the second semester, the elective can be replaced or supplemented by classes at the university under the tutoring of a person teaching Level V classes. The program consists of about 200 hours per semester. Major issues in French civilization are examined. Slides, videos, and newspaper analysis form part of the course.
Last modified on May 20, 2008 |