Mr Francois Simon CMK.C802

This is a HIGHER INTERMEDIATE course. Regarding what students should have previously learnt, please see the description of "Communicative content" and "Structural Content" of Level 4 standard (LN729). Students should have done 250 hours including selfstudy (16+), AS-level or six/seven years at school level. Low pass mark at A-level. Candidates to this course should be able to: Read articles and reports concerned with contemporary problems in which the writers adopt particular stances or viewpoints. Understand texts of a more generalist nature relating to relevant areas of the Social Sciences. Understand extended speech and lectures and follow even complex lines of argument provided the topic is reasonably familiar. Understand most TV news, business and current affairs programmes. Understand the majority of films in standard dialect. Present clear, detailed descriptions on a wide range of subjects related to their field of interest. They can explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options. Interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible. They can take an active part in discussion in familiar contexts, accounting for and sustaining their views. Write clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects related to their interests. Write an essay or report, passing on information or giving reasons in support or against a particular point of view. Writing letters highlighting the relevance of events and experience relating to business or other relevant Social Science topics. Admission to the course upon completion of online level test and tutor's approval during needs analysis. Students should: Demonstrate commitment to regular attendance, completion of homework, completion of portfolio and all assessments. Dedicate at least two hours per week for coursework (including watching a film per week) and in addition to classes.

Course Aim: To develop the ability to use French effectively for purposes of dealing with complex work tasks. Including the following: Understanding long and complex factual texts and films. Understanding with few serious problems other texts relating to social issues (Identity, Race, Gender, Power...) and other associated areas. Understanding extended speech at conferences or lectures, and interactive speech during meetings or seminars. Following film documentaries about film making and directing and recorded material without great effort in a wide range of both general and subject specific areas. Presenting clear, detailed descriptions of a wide range of subjects in the field of cinema and social issues, integrating sub-themes, developing particular points and rounding off with an appropriate conclusion. Expressing themselves fluently and spontaneously without much need for obvious searching. During presentations they will be able to argue, counter-argue and interact effectively. Relate to other speakers and link various strands of discussion. Expressing themselves in a clear, well structured text, expressing points of view at some length. Writing detailed expositions of complex subjects in an essay or report, underlining what they consider to be the salient issues. Writing different kinds of texts in an assured, personal style, appropriate to the reader in mind. To bring students to Level B2- C1 of CEFR. Communicative Content: Develop understanding and critical analysis of French cinema. The main focus is on "auteur" directors in the French cinema of the post-World War II years. The film-makers include Clouzot, et al.; the revolutionary New Wave (late 1950s on) Godard, Truffaut, Chabrol, Resnais, Malle, Varda, et al.; post-New Wave (or Second or Third Wave) directors such as Tavernier, Blier et al. down to the present day such as Klapisch, Ozon, Jaoui, et al. Study of historical, social, political, aesthetic, literary, technical aspects. In-depth analysis (decoupage and deconstruction) of selected films. Comparisons of trends, genres. Comparative study of several genres such as the poetic, documentary, dramatic, comic, political, thrillers, romantic films... Stuctural Content: Major grammatical points ( direct, indirect pronouns, express cause, consequence, obligation, aim...). Perfect, past tenses, conditional. Present tense irregular verbs. Question words. Adjectives, place, agreement. Express duration.

12 hours of classes in the MT. 20 hours of classes in the LT. 8 hours of classes in the ST.
This is a 40 hour-course. Please refer to the LSE timetable for course teaching arrangements.

Simon François, Le Cinéma Français, Compilation de documents, LSE Language Centre, 2008 (Course pack distributed in class). Beltrando, Stéphanie, La Grammaire du Français, Compilation de documents, LSE Language Centre, 2008. Suggested readings: Crisp, Colin, The Classic French Cinema, 1930-1960, 1997. Pinel, Vincent, Techniques du cinéma, 1994.

Continuous assessment (50%) in the MT, LT and ST.
Oral examination (30%) in the LT and ST.
In class assessment (20%) in the LT.