French Upper Intermediate (part 3)

Part 3, the final module in this course, will push your language skills in new and imaginative ways. Taking part in class discussions, you’ll be asked to express your opinions using arguments and debates. Alongside activities focused on speaking and listening, you’ll also apply practical skills in reading and writing, through drafting letters and emails.

You’ll practice grammar, such as subjunctive and irregular constructions, adverbs and negative sentences. You’ll also learn about current affairs and politics so you can hold complex conversations with native French speakers.

On completion of the 10-weeks, you should be communicating at CEFR B2.

Who is it for?

If you are already working at CEFR B1 level, or have approximately 220 hours of prior formal learning, this is the right course for you. You may have a good A-level in French or completed part 2 of the course. More information is contained in the eligibility section below.

Timetable

This course takes place one evening a week at 18:30 for 10 weeks.

Benefits

• Complete the upper intermediate level and communicate at CEFR B2
• Hone your French speaking and listening skills, developing nuance and sophistication through discussion and debate
• Learn as part of small group, allowing more time for participation and individual tutor feedback
• Delivered by experience and qualified tutors.

Class content can be tailored according to your needs and progress, so the topics below are intended as guidance only.

By the end of this course you will be able to:

• have fun and use creativity when speaking French
• take part in discussions on a range of topics
• write letters and emails expressing disappointment and disagreement
• have a solid grasp of topical issues relating to French society and political affairs
• use vocabulary and expressions when comparing, disagreeing and expressing intention
• be confident when complaining or expressing an opinion
• use argumentation – developing a critical point of view on a topic.

Grammatical structures

• subjunctive use and irregular constructions
• word order with adverbs in negative sentences
• pronouns: en, y, demonstratives, interrogatives
• prepositions after certain verbs
• adverbs: consolidation and adding layers in complex structures such as subjunctive, irregular constructions, and imperative.

You will be awarded an official City St George's, University of London certificate on completion of the course. You must attend over 70 per cent of the classes to be eligible for the certificate.

There is no formal assessment, but you will be expected to prepare in advance of the lesson to participate in debates, discussions and give short presentations.

Your tutor will monitor your progress throughout the course, and assess your performance giving a short presentation, held at the end of term.

Teaching

This course focuses on developing oral, reading and written fluency, as well as developing the skills to think on your feet.

• At this level we use more complicated learning material including French newspaper articles, film and audio clips. French literature also features, allowing you to learn more creative and expressive ways to use the language.

It is the right level if you:

• have completed part 2, or equivalent course elsewhere
• are working at CEFR B1 level, according to the Common European Framework of languages
• Have a French A-level qualification
• Studied French formally for 220 hours.

You should already be able to:

• handle complex tenses such as the pluperfect, past conditional or past historic tense
• explain and justify your choices
• talk in detail about health and the environment
• discuss news and current affairs with a comparative approach
• use advanced composed relative pronouns
• use impersonal forms and passive sentences.

English requirements

You will need a good level of spoken and written English to enrol on this course.