FRENCH 269 : French Language and Culture in Film and Literature

Arts

2023 Semester One (1233) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

A linguistic and cultural course taught entirely in French and designed to enhance students' aural, oral and written proficiency through the study of a series of recent films and literary texts that also shed light on important aspects of twentieth-century France. This course is designed for students with 24 credits in Level 3 NCEA French, or who have passed FRENCH 203.

Course Overview

French 269 will enable students to practice and further develop cultural and linguistic competency (aural comprehension, vocabulary and grammar, oral expression and writing skills) in French, through the study of popular film comedies and related written texts. 
 The course will also:
  • provide insights into key issues in contemporary French society and culture, including factors like gender, gender-roles & sexuality, class, race & ethnicity, interculturality, national and supra-national identity, and how these intersect to impact identity formation and relationships;
  • introduce theoretical concepts surrounding humour & comedy genre: eg. stereotyping; parody, satire;
  • introduce students to filmic analysis (e.g. shot scale, angle and editing; lighting and sound; mise en scène; acting styles).
  • NB: Films in this course are designed for mature audiences and contain adult themes, including sexual references, sexual and gender diversity, consumption of soft drugs and alcohol, and coarse language.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 15 points from FRENCH 203, 204, 304, or approval of Academic Head or nominee Restriction: FRENCH 129

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Communicate in French. Develop linguistic skills (speaking, listening, writing and reading) via engagement with the specific content set out in the course overview. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3)
  2. Understand and evaluate specific French films and their cultural and ideological significance. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.3, 3.1 and 6.3)
  3. Evaluate and reflect on own learning, choose and commit to best strategies, identify deficiencies and remedial work necessary to consolidate and improve learning. (Capability 3.1, 5.2 and 6.3)
  4. Relate course content to one's personal and social situation. (Capability 1.2, 1.3 and 6.3)
  5. Work actively together with classmates in discussions and collaborative learning. (Capability 2.1, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 6.1)
  6. Deepen your knowledge and understanding of French culture and society. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3)
  7. Analyse basic aspects of film "language", like shot scale, angle and editing patterns in order to appreciate how film style constructs meaning. (Capability 1.1 and 1.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Coursework 100% Group & Individual Coursework

Module

This course can be taken as part of a Modern Language Module or the Language Teaching and Learning Module.
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/arts/study-with-us/study-options/modules/modern-languages.html
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/arts/study-with-us/study-options/modules/language-teaching-and-learning.html

This course can be taken as part of the CertLang (Certificate of Languages) or DipLang (Diploma of Languages).
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/study/study-options/find-a-study-option/certificate-in-languages-certlang.html
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/study/study-options/find-a-study-option/diploma-in-languages-diplang.html

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend a total of approximately 140 hours, i.e. 10-12 hours per week over the 12 weeks of lectures and Mid-Semester Break, including class time, personal study and assignment preparation.  

During the semester, in addition to three hours of classes, one-two hours reading and/or film viewing per week, you should expect to spend at least two hours per week revising, learning vocab & preparing for classes (homework). Remaining time will be spent working on graded assessments. The more thoroughly you prepare for each class, the less time you will need to spend preparing for assessments.

There is no final exam, however students must  receive a grade above 0 in all graded coursework categories in order to complete and pass the course. 

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

The Lecture-component of classes will be available as recordings. 

The course will not include live online events.

Attendance on campus is required for  tests.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

There is no required text for French 269. Films are available to view via the General Library. An electronic course-pack for each module will be provided.  

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Course assessments have been modified over the past few years to include a greater emphasis on prepared oral work (eg video recording), formative assignments (including Best-of written assignments and quizzes that can be completed several times to improve grades), and opportunities for group work (see Canvas for assessment details).

Other Information

Course Convenor & Lecturer: Associate Professor Deborah Walker-Morrison (d.walker@auckland.ac.nz)

Provisional Syllabus & Films
Part I Weeks 1-6 
Module 1, Gender roles & sexuality: Gazon maudit
Module 2, National vs Supranational Identity & Interculturality: L’auberge espagnole
Part 2 Weeks 7-12 (Intersectionality)
Module 3, Race, Class & Religion: Saint Jacques La Mecque
Module 4, Race, Class & Gender: Les intouchables

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 01/11/2022 07:24 a.m.