Proficiency Course in French

By Prof. Nirupama Rastogi (Rtd) | The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad

Learners enrolled: 10797

The objectives of the course are :

To familliarise learners with the basic sounds, letters, numbers, grammar and vocabulary of French.
To teach them all these elements through connected speech
Original short texts on themes of interest to young learners serve as a support base for learning French
Illustrations make these texts attractive and easy
Multiple choice questionsat the end of the lesson help the learner to revise and for self-correction purposes
All explanations have been given in English for greater clarity and better comprehension

Summary

Course Status :	Completed
Course Type :	Core
Language for course content :	English
Duration :	12 weeks
Category :	Language
Credit Points :	5
Level :	Undergraduate
Start Date :	06 Jul 2020
End Date :	14 Dec 2020
Enrollment Ends :	14 Oct 2020
Exam Date :

Page Visits

Course layout

Week 1 Objective type assignments at end of the week

1. Lesson 1 – French Alphabet
Recognize the French letters;

Pronounce these letters;

Identify the differences and similarities between the English and French alphabet;

Spell one’s name and other names in French;

Discover simple words that begin with these letters;

2. Lesson 2 – Typical Sounds in French – I
Identify the letter-combinations that are characteristic of the French language;

Pronounce these letter-combinations;

Recognize the different pronunciations of certain letter-combinations;

Learn the various letter-combinations that produce the same sounds;

Discover simple words that are constructed from these letter-combinations;

3. Lesson 3 – Typical Sounds in French – II
Identify the remaining letter-combinations that are characteristic of the French language;

Pronounce these letter-combinations;

Combine various letter-combinations to produce a variety of different sounds;

Recognize the various accents and diacritical marks used in French;

Discover simple words that have these letter-combinations, accents and diacritical marks;

4. Lesson 4 – Liaison and Silent Letters
Understand when to pronounce the final consonant;

Recognize when to connect the first and last letters of two adjacently placed words;

Differentiate between a silent ‘E’ and a pronounced ‘E;

Distinguish the difference between a mute ‘H’ and an aspirated ‘H’;

Discover simple words that begin with ‘H’ and those that have silent letters;

5. Lesson 5 – Numbers
Count the numbers from 0 - 100;

Write the numbers from 0 – 100 in French;

Ask someone his age;

Tell one’s age and phone number in French;

Distinguish between the formal ‘you’ and informal ‘you’;

Week 2 Objective Assignments

1. Lesson 6 – Auxiliary Verbs
Understand the basic concepts of tense and conjugation of French grammar;

Understand the function of auxiliary verbs;

Learn the eight subject pronouns in French

Learn the present tense conjugation of the verb ‘avoir’ and ‘être’;

Learn a few basic idiomatic expressions that are formed using the auxiliary verbs;

2. Lesson 7 – Definite and Indefinite Articles
Understand what articles are;

Learn the three indefinite articles and their uses;

Learn the three definite articles and their uses;

Understand the concept of gender in French;

Distinguish between definite and indefinite articles;

3. Lesson 8 – Adjective Endings

Understand what an adjective is;

Understand the function of an adjective;

Understand the relation between an adjective and the gender and number of the noun it modifies;

Identify the different adjective endings;

Identify four categories of qualifying adjectives and their inflection pattern;

4. Lesson 9 – Demonstrative and Interrogative Adjectives
Understand what adjectives are;

Learn the four inflected forms of the demonstrative adjectives;

Learn how to indicate proximity with demonstrative adjectives;

Learn the four inflected forms of the interrogative adjectives;

Understand the relation between demonstrative / interrogative adjectives and the gender and number of the noun they modify;

5. Lesson 10 – Possessive Adjectives
Understand what possessive adjectives are;

Understand the function of possessive adjectives;

Understand the characteristics features of possessive adjectives in French.

Learn the various inflected forms of the possessive adjectives;

Understand the relation between possessive adjectives and the gender and number of the noun they modify;

Week 3 Objective Assignments

1. Lesson 11 – Present Tense of 1st Group Verbs

Understand the basic concept of verb conjugation in French;

Learn about the various types of verbs that exist in the French language;

Learn a few basic and commonly used 1st group verbs;

Learn the present tense conjugation of all 1st group verbs;

Learn the irregular conjugation pattern of certain 1st group verbs;

2. Lesson 12 – Prepositions of Position
Understand what prepositions are;

Understand the functions of prepositions;

Understand the distinct features of French prepositions;

Distinguish the different types of prepositions;

Learn a few frequently used prepositions of location;

3. Lesson 13 – Contracted Articles
Understand contracted articles;

Learn about the various forms of contracted articles;

Learn the uses of contracted articles with prepositions of locations;
Learn the uses of contracted articles with food and drink;
Learn the uses of contracted articles with phrasal verbs;

4. Lesson 14 – Tonic Pronouns
Understand what tonic pronouns are;

Distinguish the difference between subject pronouns and tonic pronouns;

Identify the various contexts where tonic pronouns are used;

Emphasize the subject of a sentence;

Realise the singularity of tonic pronouns in the French language;

5. Lesson 15 – Prepositions of Geographical Names
Identify the gender of geographical locations;

Learn the prepositions associated with different geographical locations;

Learn the different prepositions associated with the gender of countries;

Recognise the different inflected forms associated with the gender of countries;

Learn a few geographical names in French;

Week 4 Objective Assignments

1. Lesson 16 – Negation

Learn the concept of negation;

Learn the different structures used to express the negation;

Distinguish the different nuances of negation;

Learn how two verbs can be placed adjacently;

Learn the concept of infinitive form of a verb;

2. Lesson 17 – The Pronoun ‘ON’
Learn a new subject pronoun;

Distinguish between on and nous;

Learn the different meanings of on;

Learn the distinct features of on;

Learn about indefinite pronouns;

3. Lesson 18 - Closed Questions
Understand what closed questions are;

Learn the three distinct interrogative structures associated with closed questions;

Learn how to answer a closed question in French;

Learn the structure of est-ce-que;

Understand what inversion is;

4. Lesson 19 – Why … because Understand what open ended questions are;
Learn the various structures associated with various open ended questions;
Understand pourquoi.. parce que
Learn how to use this pair in French
Formulate questions using pourquoi.. parce que

5. Lesson 20 – Different Structures of Interrogation
Understand what open-ended questions are;

Learn the various structures associated with open-ended questions;

Distinguish between a formal and an informal interrogative structure;

Learn what interrogative adverbs are;

Learn how to answer open-ended questions;

Week 5 Objective Assignments

1. Lesson 21 – Present Tense of ‘-ir’ ending Verbs
Learn a few basic and commonly used 2nd group verbs;

Understand the peculiarities of certain regular ‘-ir’ ending verbs;

Distinguish between regular and irregular ‘-ir’ ending verbs;

Learn the present tense conjugation of all regular 2nd group verbs;

Learn the irregular conjugation pattern of certain 2nd group verbs;

2. Lesson 22 – Pouvoir, Vouloir, Devoir
Understand the concept of French ‘modal verb’;

Understand the rule regarding two adjacently placed verbs;

Learn the irregular conjugation pattern of pouvoir;

Learn the irregular conjugation pattern of vouloir;

Learn the irregular conjugation pattern of devoir;

3. Lesson 23 – Present Tense of ‘-re’ ending Verbs
Learn a few basic and commonly used 3rd group verbs;

Learn a few commonly used ‘-oir’ ending verbs that belong to the 3rd group;

Identify the irregular ‘-er’ and ‘-ir’ ending verbs that belong to the 3rd group;

Distinguish the different subgroups of verbs in the 3rd group;

Learn the conjugation pattern of a few of these subgroups;

4. Lesson 24 – Reflexive Verbs
Learn what reflexive verbs are;

Distinguish the different types of pronominal verbs;

Distinguish between pronominal verbs and their corresponding verb;

Learn how to conjugate reflexive verbs in the present tense;

Learn how to conjugate reflexive verbs in the negative form;

5. Lesson 25 – Present Continuous and Gerund
Learn the usage of Present Continous;
Learn how to construct the tense;
Distinguish between mood and tense;
Learn the usage of Gerund;
Learn how to construct Gerund;

Week 6 Objective Assignments

1. Lesson 26 – Compound Past Tense – avoir

Understand the function of avoir as an auxiliary verb;

Learn the uses of the compound past tense;

Distinguish between past participle and present participle;

Learn the past participle form of verbs;

Identify the different past participle endings associated with the three groups of verbs;

2. Lesson 27 – Compound Past Tense – Negative
Learn how to make negative sentences in the compound past tense;

Learn how to use the various negative word-pairs in the compound past tense;

Learn the irregular past participle of certain commonly used verbs;

Understand the position of adverbs in the compound past tense;

Learn a new phrase associated with French negation;

3. Lesson 28 – Pronoun ‘Y’
Understand the two functions of ‘y’;

Distinguish between a preposition phrase and an idiomatic expression associated with a preposition;

Identify the prepositional phrases that are associated with ‘y’;

Identify idiomatic expressions associated with the preposition à;

Learn the various positions of the pronoun ‘y’ within a sentence;

4. Lesson 29 – Pronoun ‘EN’
Understand the three situations associated with ‘en’;

Distinguish between divisible and indivisible nouns;

Identify different expressions of quantity;

Identify phrasal verbs associated with the preposition de;

Learn the various positions of the pronoun ‘en’ within a sentence;

5. Lesson 30 – Compound Past Tense – être
Understand the function of être as an auxiliary verb;

Identify the difference between the auxiliary avoir and être;

Learn which verbs required être as their auxiliary;

Identify the verbs that use both auxiliary verbs;

Understand how the meanings change depending on the auxiliary verb;

Week 7 Objective Assignments

1. Lesson 31 – Imperative
Use the imperative in the affirmative form;

Use the imperative in the negative form;

Identify the verbs that have an irregular conjugation pattern in the imperative;

Use reflexive verbs in the imperative;

Learn the different order of words when a reflexive verb is used;

2. Lesson 32 – Time
Say the time in French;

Learn how to say the time in numerals;

Learn how to say the time in fractions;

Learn how to write the time in French;

Learn a few prepositions associated with time;

3. Lesson 33 – Weather
Talk about the weather in French;

Use different phrases to express different types of weather conditions;

Describe a weather condition in different ways;

Learn the various words and phrases related to weather;

Learn the different prepositions used with weather and seasons;

4. Lesson 34 – Recent Past and Near Future

Talk about actions that just happened;

Identify and compare the differences between the other past tenses and recent past;

Talk about actions that are about to happen;

Review the conjugation of the verb aller;

Review the conjugation of the verb venir;

5. Lesson 35 – Simple Future
Speak about actions that are yet to happen;

Identify and compare the differences between the near future and simple future;

Learn how to convert an order into a polite request;

Learn how to express the future using the present tense;

Identify which conjunctions require the simple future;

Week 8 Objective Assignments

1. Lesson 36 – Structures used in a restaurant
Place an order in a restaurant;

Take an order from a client at a restaurant;

Identify the different courses of a meal;

Identify basic expressions and structures associated with French gastronomy;

Review partitive articles and expressions of quantity;

2. Lesson 37 – Imperfect Tense
Learn a third past tense;

Learn the various uses of the imperfect tense;

Learn the conjugation of all verbs in the imperfect tense;

Learn the conjugation of être;

Learn how stem-changing verbs are conjugated;

3. Lesson 38 – COD

Identify a direct object;

Distinguish between transitive and intransitive verbs;

Distinguish between definite articles and COD;

Learn the different positions of the COD;

Learn how the past participle of verbs with avoir agree with the COD;

4. Lesson 39 – COI

Identify an indirect object;

Learn about the different types of object;

Identify which prepositions are associated with indirect objects;

Learn the different positions of the indirect object pronouns;

Learn which pronoun to use when the indirect object is an inanimate object;

5. Lesson 40 – COD and COI
Use direct and indirect objects pronouns in a single sentence;

Learn the various positions of the object pronouns;

Use object pronouns in the negative imperative;

Use object pronouns in the affirmative imperative;

Learn the word order specific to the indirect object pronouns associated with the 3rd person singular and plural;

Week 9 Objective Assignments

1. Lesson 41 – Temporal Expressions

Distinguish between an adverb and a preposition;

Learn the various adverbs of time;

Learn the various prepositions of time;

Use different adverbs and preposition for conveying the same meaning;

Learn new meanings of the prepositions à and en;

2. Lesson 42 – Structures of Advice
Learn various ways of giving an advice;

Learn various ways of advising against something;

Learn a different use of the imperative;

Learn a different use of the future tense;

Identify impersonal verbs;

3. Lesson 43 – Relative Pronouns

Learn about clauses – main clause and subordinate clause;

Identify an antecedent;

Understand the different types of antecedents;

Learn how to avoid repetition by using qui and que;

Understand when the past participle agrees with the antecedent;

4. Lesson 44 – Structures of Comparison
Understand what the comparative is in French;

Learn the structures of comparison;

Understand the superlative in French;

Learn the structures of the superlative;

Identify the irregular comparative and superlative forms of certain adjectives;

5. Lesson 45 – Servir and Interrogative and Demonstrative Adjective
Understand the uses of the verb ‘servir’;

Distinguish the different meanings of servir à and servir de;

Review interrogative adjectives in French;

Review demonstrative adjectives in French

Week 10 Objective Assignments

1. Lesson 46 – Alphabet, Numbers, Qualifying and Possessive Adjectives

Review the French alphabet;

Review the numbers in French;

Review how to read a phone number in French;

Review qualifying adjectives;

Review possessive adjectives;

2. Lesson 47 – Auxiliary and ‘-er’ Verbs
Review ‘avoir’ and ‘être’;

Review the function ofthe auxiliary verbs;

Review the ‘-er’ ending verbs;

Review a few basic and commonly used 1st verbs;

Review the irregular conjugation pattern of certain 1st group verbs;

3. Lesson 48 – Definite, Indefinite, Contracted and Partitive Articles
Review the definite articles;

Review the indefinite articles;

Review the contracted articles;

Review the partitive articles;

Review the distinction between these various articles;

4. Lesson 49 – Tonic Pronouns and Prepositions of Position
Review the tonic pronouns;

Identify the various contexts where tonic pronouns are used;

Review the different types of prepositions in French;

Review the prepositions of position;

Understand the distinct features of French prepositions;

5. Lesson 50 – Prepositions of Geographical Names
Review the prepositions used with geographical locations;

Identify the gender of geographical locations;

Review the different prepositions associated with the gender of countries;

Review the different inflected forms associated with the gender of countries;

Review a few geographical names;

Books and references

Alter Ego - Méthode de Français, A1 (2006): Berthet, Hugot et al., Hachette
Alter Ego – Cahier d’activités, A1 (2006): Berthet, Hugot et al., Hachette
Écho - Méthode de Français, A1 (2013): Girardet, Pecheur, CLE International
Écho - Cahier personnel d’apprentissage, A1 (2013): Girardet, Pecheur, CLE International
A votre service – 1, A1 (2011): Chanderasekar, Hanga et al., Hachette

Instructor bio

Prof. Nirupama Rastogi (Rtd)

The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad

Prof. Nirupama Rastogi has served in the CIEFL/EFL University for 40 years before retiring as Professor and Dean. She has guided research at the M.Litt, M.Phil and Ph D levels and has abourt 40 publications including translations.She has a doctorate from the University of Paris III and degrees in Phonetics, Teaching of French as a Foreign Language and Translation also from various Schools in Paris III.She has gone to France for higher studies on French Government Scholarships and for Post-Doctoral Research to Montreal University, Canada.The French Government has bestowed the award of “Officierdansl’ordre des PalmesAcademiques” on her for her contribution to French language and culture in India.

Course certificate

30 percent marks for in course Assessments and 70 Percent marks for end term proctored exam. Learner should acquire atleast 40 percent marks in the internal assessment and end term exam. If the learner pass the exams and assessments he/she will receive the certificate.

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