MPEN-BFRENCH1-14

2014 - 2015
Terms C and D
Elective: foreign language
Training course
Programme leader: Kaat Biesemans-Hoogewijs

Author: Kaat Biesemans-Hoogewijs

kaat.biesemanshoogewijs@hu.nl, Room 1.106, tel. 088 481 64 97
July 2014

Hogeschool Utrecht: University of

Applied Sciences Utrecht
Utrecht, 2011
This material is subject to copyright.
Copies for own or internal use are permitted.

Business French 1
Propedeuse (EN)

Hogeschool Utrecht: Univer

Utrecht, 2007

This material is subject to cop

Copies for own or internal use

Contents
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Course Description
Course Goals and Learning Objectives
Place in the Curriculum and Related Courses
Study Burden
Pre-requisites
Exemption Possibilities
Competencies
Didactic Forms
Assessment
Course Material and Literature
Course Evaluation

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1 Course Description
French is the official and/ or native language for more than 110 million people in Europe, Africa
and North America. French is a leading language in international fashion, luxury and gastronomy.
Besides, French is an important standard in international public affairs and diplomacy (EU, United
Nations in Geneva, Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, ) When doing business with
companies in French speaking regions, knowledge of the French language is essential since a lot
of people do not speak English fluently. Moreover it is highly appreciated if you understand and
speak French, it is an outstanding way to show respect for your business partners, their culture
and traditions.

This course offers you a basic knowledge of Business French (A2 level), preparing you partially for
an internship or study abroad in a French speaking region. All skills (reading, writing, speaking
and listening) will be practiced on a basic level for day-to-day and business situations, although
during the lectures most of the time is spent on speaking and listening.
Apart from the language, you will learn more about French culture.

2 Course Goals and Learning Objectives

The main objective is to give you enough idiomatic and grammatical knowledge to be able to
participate actively in short, daily conversations and correspondence with French speaking
business partners.
After the course you will be able to:
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introduce yourself and others

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ask and give information about daily activities

talk/write about events in the past (how/ when/ why things happened)
talk/write about company (organization chart, history, activities, )
talk/write about job profiles and professional competences
interpret and give simple explanations about manufacturing process
interpret and write simple rules and regulations
interpret a basic job posting
write a basic CV
talk/ write about your professional experience and skills
interact in a basic job interview
describe and discuss your working environment
make and accept suggestions and recommendations
write short professional notes for internal use
explain how to use common machines (copier, laptop, phone, ..)
name the parts of the body, describe symptoms
tell something basic about distinctive cultural items in the French speaking world
(invitations, excuses, daily routine, spare time, )
express your opinion in a simple way
convince with simple arguments
ask and give information about future activities, future plans
describe people: character and physique

3 Place in the Curriculum and Related Courses

In order to operate successfully in international business, working knowledge of more than one
foreign language is crucial.
The course prepares you partially for an internship or study abroad in a French speaking region. It
shows similarities with other communication courses and is strongly related to Intercultural
Management.

4 Study Burden
5 EC = 5 x 28 hours = 140 hours
Lectures 14 weeks, 180 min per week
Preparation for lectures (reading + word bank + Testezvous)
14 lectures, 1 h per lecture
Workbook exercises (3h per unit, 6 units)
Entranement au DELF PRO A2
2 * 3h
Portfolio professionnel
PF1 mon emploi du temps
PF2 prsentation dun site commercial
PF3 mail : mon nouvel appartement
PF4 prsentation : notre entreprise, notre organigramme,
notre produit
PF5 rgles thiques
PF6 notre site

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PF7 recrutement : annonce + questions + entretien

PF8 salon professionnel : ordre du jour + runion +
compte rendu
PF9 aprs le salon : article + lettre de rclamation

2+1+4
2+4+2

Prepare written exams

Written exams
Total amount

12
2.5
+/- 140

2+2

5 Pre-requisites
You have a basic knowledge of French: master French at at least A1 level of the CEF, for all
language skills: reading, writing, listening, speaking in public and spoken interaction.

6 Exemption Possibilities
All exemptions must go through the Exam Board. Exemption is only possible with
- DFPA2 certificate from CCIP in Paris
- DELF Pro A2 certificate form a certified center (Institut Franais e.g.)

7 Competencies
This course contributes to the development of the following competencies:
I.2 Intercultural competency (level 1)
- The student is aware of cultural differences, can indicate if different behaviour could be
based on difference in cultural background, shows interest in the cultural background of
others and is aware of basic elements of his own cultural background.
IV.2 Co-operation (level 2)
The ability to initiate co-operation with others, to ask for input of team members, to
exchange information/ knowledge and ideas with them and the ability to actively inquire
whether he can be of help for the group.
The ability to elaborate on the input of others and to keep working on achieving a situation
that is profitable both for the group and himself.
IV.3 Business communication
- The ability to express himself at a basic level in a foreign language: A2 of the CEF
V.5 Planning and organising (level 1)
- The ability to make a realistic and effective planning of his own activities.

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8 Didactic Forms
Learning a language is not easy, it takes effort and time and most of all perseverance. You might
remember it took you several years of ups and downs to master your mother tongue? It will cost
you a similar amount of effort and time to master a second (or third/ fourth/ ) language. But the
good thing is it will also provide you a lot of fun and satisfaction. So do not give up too easily!
For this course YOU WILL DO THE HARD WORK.
You will have to:
- look up the words you dont understand or might have forgotten, this way you construct your own
word bank
- study and actively use new words and expressions
- do your homework, prepare each lecture thoroughly: practice listening, writing and reading skills
with the help of the workbook Objectif Express 1 cahier dactivits
- open your mouth and dare speak French during the lectures
- be active during the role plays and conversations in class
- ask for clarification if you need it
- invest time (a lot: 140 hours or more!) in this new language.
But your lecturer will be there to help you:
- to explain things (several times if needed)
- to motivate and encourage you
- to give you feedback on your progress
- to recommend extra exercises
- to draw your attention to specific (cultural) conventions
- to provide you with sample solutions
- to guide you through the book and the exercises
- to improve your pronunciation
- to make you aware of (repetitive) mistakes
- to give clear instructions
- to assess your speaking and writing skills

9 Assessment
Type of Assessment
Written exam 1
Written exam 2

Weighing
50%
50%

Min. Mark
5,5
5,5

Written exam 1
In the exam period of term C you will do a written test about Units 5-6-7 of Objectif Express 1
nouvelle dition A1- A2
You will be tested on the following competencies:
- ask and give information about daily activities
- talk/write about events in the past (how/ when/ why things happened)
- write about company (organization chart, history, activities, )
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give simple explanations about manufacturing process

write about job profiles and professional competences
describe and discuss working conditions
write short professional notes and e-mails for internal use
express your opinion in a simple way

The resit for the written exam 1 is in term D.

Written exam 2
In the exam period of term D you will do a written test about Units 8-9-10 of Objectif Express 1
nouvelle dition A1- A2
You will be tested on the following competencies:
- write about events in the past (how/ when/ why things happened)
- describe and discuss your working environment
- explain how to use common machines (copier, laptop, phone, ..) and describe technical
problems with common machines
- express your opinion in a simple way
- ask and give information about future activities, future plans
- describe people: character and physique
- name the parts of the body, describe symptoms
- write short professional notes and e-mails
The resit for the written exam 2 is in term E.
Portfolio professionnel
All along terms C and D you will be working on a portfolio. This portfolio contains in total 9
professional tasks, some of them individual, most of them teamwork. Examples of these tasks you
will perform: write a job posting, hold a meeting with your colleagues, write small texts for the
company website, present your company and product, hold an interview, You can find detailed
instructions, also about the deadlines and the evaluation criteria, on the course site (under
assignments).
Through the portfolio professionnel the following competencies will be tested:
- introduce yourself and others
- talk/ write about events in the past (how/ when/ why things happened)
- talk about company (organization chart, history, activities, )
- talk/write about job profiles and professional competences
- give simple explanations about manufacturing process
- write simple rules and regulations
- write a basic job posting
- talk/ write about your professional experience and skills
- interact in a basic job interview
- write short professional notes for internal use
- express your opinion in a simple way
- ask and give information about future activities, future plans
- write a basic letter of complaints
Your professional tasks will be scored on the following scale: insufficient good excellent.
If you score good or excellent you can skip several parts (40%) of the written exam.
If you score insufficient you will have the opportunity to upgrade your score with some extra
exercises on the written exam.
MIND: The score for your portfolio professionnel is only valid through one academic year.
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Course Material and Literature

BOOK ( Required )
Title:

Author(s):
ISBN:

Objectif Express 1 Le monde professionnel en franais, livre de l'lve + dvd-rom

Anne-Lyse Dubois, Batrice Tauzin
9782011560070

Edition:

Nouvelle dition

Publisher:

Hachette

WORKBOOK ( Required )
Title:
Author(s):
ISBN:

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Objectif Express 1 Le monde professionnel en franais, cahier d'activits

Anne-Lyse Dubois, Batrice Tauzin
9782011560087

Edition:

Nouvelle dition

Publisher:

Hachette

Course Evaluation

Evaluation of the course will take place in class at the end of the term. The course will also be
evaluated by FEM management and by a student panel.

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