What you will study
All of the materials for this module are delivered online via the module website.
Each of the six units studied covers different aspects of language and culture of the French-speaking world.
The units in detail are:
Unit 1: The first unit deals with linguistic diversity and identity. You'll begin by looking at the concept of ‘la Francophonie’, and the status of the French language in a world where English is still predominant. You will then explore how regional identities are expressed in metropolitan France and Corsica and how language plays a significant role in feelings of belonging. You'll then take a look at Quebec and French Polynesia, where French language and culture play very different roles.
Unit 2: Unit 2 is about economy and society. Starting with the industrial revolution in the textile sector in northern France, you'll explore how the industrial revolution shaped society as we know it today. You will then examine the status and role of French women in the professional world in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries before looking at alternative economic models, including the move to a greener and more sustainable economy and society.
Unit 3: Unit 3 takes you on a voyage around the written word and its adaptations. You will start by exploring the main artistic movements in France through a thematic panorama from the 18th century to the present day and through a selection of internationally renowned French and Francophone authors. Then you will look at two traditionally highly popular genres in France: the crime novel and the ‘bande dessinée’ (comics).
Unit 4: Unit 4 is about migration and identity. You will look at where and why migration happens and how it affects identities, not only in mainland France but also on the African continent. You will explore how identities are constructed through political media coverage of migration and how sensitive and complex the issues surrounding migration and identity are. During this unit you will also engage in a cross-languages interactive task with students of German and Spanish.
Unit 5: This unit deals with science and technology and starts by introducing you to the status and the importance of science in France, both from an educational and political point of view. You will then explore scientific and technological advances in the areas of space, biology, climatology and artificial intelligence. Science and technology will be examined from a critical point of view, raising questions on their applications for the future of society.
Unit 6: Finally, Unit 6 will cover history and politics through the prism of key historical events such as the French Revolution, the Dreyfus affair and mai 68. Throughout this unit you will see how significant events have shaped 20th and 21st century French society and identities and how these events still resonate deeply in today’s France and overseas countries and territories.
Throughout these units, you will be working on text and audio-visual material through completing a wide range of online activities, which are designed to deepen your understanding of the module topics and develop your confidence in communicating in French. Throughout the module you will progressively develop your academic skills, leading up to a small-scale project at the end. All materials are interactive and encourage your participation; they also allow you to evaluate your progress regularly and provide you with strategies to further develop your skills as an independent language learner. With your fellow students, you can engage jointly in forums and, in Unit 4, you will take part in an interactive cross-languages discussion task.
This module is designed to enable you to achieve a level of language proficiency equivalent to level C1 of the Council of Europe Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.