A) Phonetics: The study of French phonetics with exercises of pronunciation practiced at the laboratory. B) Conversation: Study of vocabulary and discussions surrounding contemporary French life.
Method of presentation:
A) Phonetics: Explanation of phonetic rules, in-class and lab phonetic transcription and pronunciation exercises. B) Conversation: General discussions
Required work and form of assessment:
Phonetics (70%)
Theory: 2 tests and one final exam = 35 %
Practice: exercises; final exam; participation and attendance = 35 %
Conversation (30%)
Attendance and participation; final exam=30%
content:
PHONETICS
The phonetics component is composed of two parts:
Theory: with exercises (to be handed regularly) to familiarize oneself with phonetic transcription.
Practice (in the language lab): Including pronunciation exercises, songs, etc.
Session 1:
Introduction: What is Phonetics? How sounds are produced; description of vocal apparatus.
Session 2 : How to read and cut a text into units:
Rhythmic group, intonation and punctuation, stress.
Session 3: syllables and speech sounds
How to cut rhythmic groups into syllables, different types of syllables. I.P.A.: consonants, vowels and semi-vowels
Session 4: description of vowel speech sounds: definition of distinctive features.
Classification of vowels. Vowel trapeze.
Session 5: One-tone vowels ( oral and nasal): description. Speech sounds and graphemes.
Transcription
Session 6: Two-tone vowels. Distinctive features, rules for pronunciation and transcription. Phonetic transcription
Session 7: Semi-vowels
Exercises and questions on vowels
Session 8:Mid term
Session 9:
Consonants: distinctive features and classification.
Graphemes and speech sounds. Transcriptions
Session 10: Silent consonants and liaisons (rules)
Session 11: phonetic assimilation and transcription
Session 12: The silent or null “e” and the schwa. Phonetic “short cuts”
Session 13: Phonetic and alphabetical transcription exercises
Questions
CONVERSATION
The course is organized around different themes: each theme corresponds to a specific communication situation. Attendance and participation (40% of the grade)
The final exam is a short individual oral presentation (60% of the grade)
Session 1:
Ice breaking activities
Session 2: Expressions for starting discussion, giving one’s opinion, expressing agreement or disagreement
Session 3: giving one’s opinion:Role play
Session 4:
School and higher education in France
Session 5:
Food habits
Session 6:
New technologies
Session 7:
bioethics
Session 8:
How to justify oneself: role play
Session 9:
Young people, their activities
Session 10:
Familiar language
Session 11:
making decisions, justify one’s opinion: role play
Session 12:
Social welfare system in France
Session 13: final impressions about France and french people
Required readings:
Daily newspapers and weekly/monthly French magazines.
It is also necessary to watch the news on tv.
Recommended readings:
Carton, F. Introduction à la phonétique du français. Paris: Bordas, 1974.
Malmberg, B. La Phonétique. Paris: Que sais-je?, nº 637.
Phonetics and Conversation
A) Phonetics: The study of French phonetics with exercises of pronunciation practiced at the laboratory. B) Conversation: Study of vocabulary and discussions surrounding contemporary French life.
A) Phonetics: Explanation of phonetic rules, in-class and lab phonetic transcription and pronunciation exercises. B) Conversation: General discussions
Phonetics (70%)
Theory: 2 tests and one final exam = 35 %
Practice: exercises; final exam; participation and attendance = 35 %
Conversation (30%)
Attendance and participation; final exam=30%
PHONETICS
The phonetics component is composed of two parts:
Session 1:
Introduction: What is Phonetics? How sounds are produced; description of vocal apparatus.
Session 2 : How to read and cut a text into units:
Rhythmic group, intonation and punctuation, stress.
Session 3: syllables and speech sounds
How to cut rhythmic groups into syllables, different types of syllables. I.P.A.: consonants, vowels and semi-vowels
Session 4: description of vowel speech sounds: definition of distinctive features.
Classification of vowels. Vowel trapeze.
Session 5: One-tone vowels ( oral and nasal): description. Speech sounds and graphemes.
Transcription
Session 6: Two-tone vowels. Distinctive features, rules for pronunciation and transcription. Phonetic transcription
Session 7: Semi-vowels
Exercises and questions on vowels
Session 8: Mid term
Session 9:
Consonants: distinctive features and classification.
Graphemes and speech sounds. Transcriptions
Session 10: Silent consonants and liaisons (rules)
Session 11: phonetic assimilation and transcription
Session 12: The silent or null “e” and the schwa. Phonetic “short cuts”
Session 13: Phonetic and alphabetical transcription exercises
Questions
CONVERSATION
The course is organized around different themes: each theme corresponds to a specific communication situation. Attendance and participation (40% of the grade)
The final exam is a short individual oral presentation (60% of the grade)
Session 1:
Ice breaking activities
Session 2: Expressions for starting discussion, giving one’s opinion, expressing agreement or disagreement
Session 3: giving one’s opinion:Role play
Session 4:
School and higher education in France
Session 5:
Food habits
Session 6:
New technologies
Session 7:
bioethics
Session 8:
How to justify oneself: role play
Session 9:
Young people, their activities
Session 10:
Familiar language
Session 11:
making decisions, justify one’s opinion: role play
Session 12:
Social welfare system in France
Session 13: final impressions about France and french people