French I and Mediation
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
The course aims to introduce the main characteristics of the French language from a theoretical and applied perspective. The monographic course will provide students (beginners, intermediate and advanced) with the basic phonetic and phonological, morphosyntactic and lexical skills for communication, drafting and producing short text in French. In addition to grammatical, morphosyntactic and lexical knowledge (level B1), the course aims to develop critical listening, reading, comprehension and oral production skills and skills in the field of intralinguistic mediation (thanks to simplification and reformulation activities) and interlinguistic (through translation of simple texts).
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students will have to reach a competence not lower than the B1 of the European Framework (European Framework of Reference) which requires a good mastery of linguistic skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking). Furthermore they will be able to present the contents of the course in French, to analyze the lexical and syntactic aspects of simple texts and to apply some mediation strategies
Lesson period: year
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
year
Course syllabus
The course consists of a monographic course, divided into four modules, and a series of practical sessions.
The first module (first semester) will explore the main features of the French phonetic and phonological system (vowels and consonants; phonetic modes of French; syllables; stress; liaison and enchaînement; transcription using the International Phonetic Alphabet).
The second module (first semester) will cover aspects relating to verb morphology (verb categories; conjugation; verb agreement; verb mood, tense and aspect; the use of verb moods and tenses).
The third module (second semester) will introduce students to the French socio-political lexicon, with particular emphasis on its use in the media (print, broadcast, etc.). In addition to lexical knowledge, students will be provided with the basic cultural, linguistic and translation skills necessary for understanding and translating the texts covered.
The fourth module (second semester) will focus on the main morphosyntactic aspects of the French language and will introduce students to the vocabulary of cooperation and international organisations. Attention will also be paid to the strategies of intra- and interlinguistic mediation applicable to the texts under analysis.
Language Practice Sessions
The language practice sessions aim to develop both productive and receptive skills, in written and oral forms.
In particular, the French language practice cycle for the first year is designed to help students acquire fundamental knowledge of phonetics, morphosyntax, and vocabulary.
The activities are designed to help students reach level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) across all four language skills:
- Development or reinforcement of oral comprehension and production skills in relation to everyday situations
- Basic morphology and syntax
- Core vocabulary
The first module (first semester) will explore the main features of the French phonetic and phonological system (vowels and consonants; phonetic modes of French; syllables; stress; liaison and enchaînement; transcription using the International Phonetic Alphabet).
The second module (first semester) will cover aspects relating to verb morphology (verb categories; conjugation; verb agreement; verb mood, tense and aspect; the use of verb moods and tenses).
The third module (second semester) will introduce students to the French socio-political lexicon, with particular emphasis on its use in the media (print, broadcast, etc.). In addition to lexical knowledge, students will be provided with the basic cultural, linguistic and translation skills necessary for understanding and translating the texts covered.
The fourth module (second semester) will focus on the main morphosyntactic aspects of the French language and will introduce students to the vocabulary of cooperation and international organisations. Attention will also be paid to the strategies of intra- and interlinguistic mediation applicable to the texts under analysis.
Language Practice Sessions
The language practice sessions aim to develop both productive and receptive skills, in written and oral forms.
In particular, the French language practice cycle for the first year is designed to help students acquire fundamental knowledge of phonetics, morphosyntax, and vocabulary.
The activities are designed to help students reach level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) across all four language skills:
- Development or reinforcement of oral comprehension and production skills in relation to everyday situations
- Basic morphology and syntax
- Core vocabulary
Prerequisites for admission
This course does not require any prior knowledge
Teaching methods
The monographic course includes lectures aimed at strengthening the morphosyntactic structures, vocabulary, and phonetics of the French language.
Students will play an active role in the lessons by completing exercises designed to enhance both written and oral skills.
The language practice sessions focus on the acquisition and consolidation of morphosyntactic structures in French, the development of writing skills, and the improvement of linguistic and communicative competence.
These are year-long courses, and two internal assessments are scheduled during the academic year.
Grammar Program
- Présent (present tense)
- Futur proche and futur simple (near future and simple future)
- Passé composé
- Imparfait
- Plus-que-parfait (pluperfect)
- Temporal indicators (les indicateurs temporels)
- Simple relative pronouns (les pronoms relatifs simples)
- Prepositions of place (les prépositions de lieu)
- Pronouns: subject, tonic, and object pronouns (les pronoms: sujets, toniques et compléments)
- Possessive and demonstrative adjectives (les adjectifs possessifs et démonstratifs)
- C'est / il est / il y a
- Imperative mood (l'impératif)
- Gallicisms (gallicismes)
- Indirect speech in the present (le discours indirect au présent)
- Comparatives (le comparatif)
- Past participle agreement with être (l'accord du participe passé avec l'auxiliaire être)
- Agreement of qualifying adjectives (l'accord de l'adjectif qualificatif)
Vocabulary Program
- Personal presentation: greetings, identity details, nationalities, countries, numbers, university studies, career plans, expressing likes and dislikes; parts of the day, days of the week, months
Location and direction: city places, giving directions, informal correspondence
- Family relationships, physical and psychological traits, sports and cultural activities, professions
- Daily activities, holidays, expressing frequency
- Weather, travel, physical sensations, colors, cultural activities
- Food, clothing, online shopping, shops and shopkeepers, expressing quantity, describing objects
- Housing, real estate, alternative housing
- Social life, making acquaintances
- Education, professional experience, job search, résumé writing, job interviews
Students will play an active role in the lessons by completing exercises designed to enhance both written and oral skills.
The language practice sessions focus on the acquisition and consolidation of morphosyntactic structures in French, the development of writing skills, and the improvement of linguistic and communicative competence.
These are year-long courses, and two internal assessments are scheduled during the academic year.
Grammar Program
- Présent (present tense)
- Futur proche and futur simple (near future and simple future)
- Passé composé
- Imparfait
- Plus-que-parfait (pluperfect)
- Temporal indicators (les indicateurs temporels)
- Simple relative pronouns (les pronoms relatifs simples)
- Prepositions of place (les prépositions de lieu)
- Pronouns: subject, tonic, and object pronouns (les pronoms: sujets, toniques et compléments)
- Possessive and demonstrative adjectives (les adjectifs possessifs et démonstratifs)
- C'est / il est / il y a
- Imperative mood (l'impératif)
- Gallicisms (gallicismes)
- Indirect speech in the present (le discours indirect au présent)
- Comparatives (le comparatif)
- Past participle agreement with être (l'accord du participe passé avec l'auxiliaire être)
- Agreement of qualifying adjectives (l'accord de l'adjectif qualificatif)
Vocabulary Program
- Personal presentation: greetings, identity details, nationalities, countries, numbers, university studies, career plans, expressing likes and dislikes; parts of the day, days of the week, months
Location and direction: city places, giving directions, informal correspondence
- Family relationships, physical and psychological traits, sports and cultural activities, professions
- Daily activities, holidays, expressing frequency
- Weather, travel, physical sensations, colors, cultural activities
- Food, clothing, online shopping, shops and shopkeepers, expressing quantity, describing objects
- Housing, real estate, alternative housing
- Social life, making acquaintances
- Education, professional experience, job search, résumé writing, job interviews
Teaching Resources
For all course units and language practice sessions, the following tools are essential:
- A university-level French grammar book. Recommended:
F. Bidaud, Grammaire du Français pour italophones, Torino, UTET, 2020
- Bescherelle, La conjugaison pour tous, Paris, Hatier, 2012
- A French monolingual dictionary (recommended: Le Nouveau Petit Robert de la langue française)
Unit 1
- Murano M., Zanola M.T., Le français parlé, in Zanola M.T. (ed.), Le français de nos jours. Caractères, formes, aspects, Carocci, Rome, 2023, pp. 15-34
- L. Charliac, A.-C. Motron, Phonétique progressive du français avec 600 exercices : intermédiaire (A2/B2), 2nd ed., Clé International, Paris, 2014 + Audio CD
Units 2 and 3
- M. Riegel, J.-Ch. Pellat, R. Rioul, Grammaire méthodique du français, capp. IX (La morphologie verbale) e X (La sémantique des formes verbales), pp. 434-593.
- G. Rossi, Introduction au lexique socio-politique français, course reader prepared by the instructor [available on MyAriel]
Unit 4
- G. Zanella, Introduction au lexique lié aux organisations internationales, à la coopération internationale, au système économique international et aux relations internationales, course reader prepared by the instructor [available on MyAriel
For all teaching units, complete reading of the assigned texts is an integral part of the course, unless otherwise specified.
Slides, which will be uploaded to the MyAriel platform after the lessons, are a valuable supplementary resource, but do not replace the reading of the texts.
Language Practice Sessions - Required Texts
- J.-Th. Le Bougnec, M.-J. Lopes, Inspire 1. A1 : livre de l'élève, Paris, Hachette, 2020.
- L. Malcor, C. Marchandeau, Inspire 1. A1 : cahier d'activités, Paris, Hachette, 2020.
- J.-Th. Le Bougnec, M.-J. Lopes, Inspire 2. A2 : livre de l'élève, Paris, Hachette, 2020.
- L. Malcor, C. Marchandeau, Inspire 2. A2 : cahier d'activités, Paris, Hachette, 2020.
- A university-level French grammar book. Recommended:
F. Bidaud, Grammaire du Français pour italophones, Torino, UTET, 2020
- Bescherelle, La conjugaison pour tous, Paris, Hatier, 2012
- A French monolingual dictionary (recommended: Le Nouveau Petit Robert de la langue française)
Unit 1
- Murano M., Zanola M.T., Le français parlé, in Zanola M.T. (ed.), Le français de nos jours. Caractères, formes, aspects, Carocci, Rome, 2023, pp. 15-34
- L. Charliac, A.-C. Motron, Phonétique progressive du français avec 600 exercices : intermédiaire (A2/B2), 2nd ed., Clé International, Paris, 2014 + Audio CD
Units 2 and 3
- M. Riegel, J.-Ch. Pellat, R. Rioul, Grammaire méthodique du français, capp. IX (La morphologie verbale) e X (La sémantique des formes verbales), pp. 434-593.
- G. Rossi, Introduction au lexique socio-politique français, course reader prepared by the instructor [available on MyAriel]
Unit 4
- G. Zanella, Introduction au lexique lié aux organisations internationales, à la coopération internationale, au système économique international et aux relations internationales, course reader prepared by the instructor [available on MyAriel
For all teaching units, complete reading of the assigned texts is an integral part of the course, unless otherwise specified.
Slides, which will be uploaded to the MyAriel platform after the lessons, are a valuable supplementary resource, but do not replace the reading of the texts.
Language Practice Sessions - Required Texts
- J.-Th. Le Bougnec, M.-J. Lopes, Inspire 1. A1 : livre de l'élève, Paris, Hachette, 2020.
- L. Malcor, C. Marchandeau, Inspire 1. A1 : cahier d'activités, Paris, Hachette, 2020.
- J.-Th. Le Bougnec, M.-J. Lopes, Inspire 2. A2 : livre de l'élève, Paris, Hachette, 2020.
- L. Malcor, C. Marchandeau, Inspire 2. A2 : cahier d'activités, Paris, Hachette, 2020.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Student evaluation will take into account the level of independent judgment developed in the analysis of authentic texts, as well as the oral and written communication skills acquired.
The final exam takes place during three sessions each academic year (May, September, and January) and consists of two compulsory components, both conducted in French:
A) Written Exam
The written exam is designed to assess the ability to apply linguistic skills to written texts, corresponding to Level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). It includes the following:
Grammar test (duration: 45 minutes)
Reading comprehension and vocabulary test (duration: 30 minutes)
- Vocabulary will be drawn from the textbooks used during the practical sessions
Dictation (duration: 30 minutes)
Each part is graded on a 30-point scale, and all parts must be passed for the written exam to be considered sufficient.
The written exam result remains valid for three sessions (June, September, January).
Students may choose to reject the grade; in that case, they must retake the entire written exam in a future session.
The use of dictionaries is not permitted.
B) Oral Exam
The oral exam assesses both language proficiency and the student's ability to apply the theoretical and methodological tools taught in the course to the assigned texts.
It consists of a discussion in French on the topics covered in the syllabus and evaluates both language and content-related competencies.
Note: Students must pass the written exam to be eligible for the oral exam.
It is not possible to take French Language 2 without having first passed the exam for French Language 1.
Alternative: Midterm Exams
The written exam may be replaced by two midterm exams, held at the end of each semester, as follows:
End of the first semester:
- Grammar test (45 minutes)
- Vocabulary test (30 minutes)
End of the second semester:
- Grammar test (45 minutes)
- Vocabulary test (30 minutes)
- Dictation (30 minutes)
Each midterm is only considered sufficient if all individual components are passed.
Only students who have passed the first midterm may sit for the second.
The final written grade is the average of the two midterms.
Students who pass both midterms may proceed to the oral exam.
The midterm grades are valid for three exam sessions.
Additional Notes
Exam arrangements for students with disabilities and/or specific learning disorders (SLDs) must be agreed upon with the instructor, only after the student has received certification from the appropriate university office.
Further details will be provided during the course and published on the course's Ariel webpage.
The final exam takes place during three sessions each academic year (May, September, and January) and consists of two compulsory components, both conducted in French:
A) Written Exam
The written exam is designed to assess the ability to apply linguistic skills to written texts, corresponding to Level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). It includes the following:
Grammar test (duration: 45 minutes)
Reading comprehension and vocabulary test (duration: 30 minutes)
- Vocabulary will be drawn from the textbooks used during the practical sessions
Dictation (duration: 30 minutes)
Each part is graded on a 30-point scale, and all parts must be passed for the written exam to be considered sufficient.
The written exam result remains valid for three sessions (June, September, January).
Students may choose to reject the grade; in that case, they must retake the entire written exam in a future session.
The use of dictionaries is not permitted.
B) Oral Exam
The oral exam assesses both language proficiency and the student's ability to apply the theoretical and methodological tools taught in the course to the assigned texts.
It consists of a discussion in French on the topics covered in the syllabus and evaluates both language and content-related competencies.
Note: Students must pass the written exam to be eligible for the oral exam.
It is not possible to take French Language 2 without having first passed the exam for French Language 1.
Alternative: Midterm Exams
The written exam may be replaced by two midterm exams, held at the end of each semester, as follows:
End of the first semester:
- Grammar test (45 minutes)
- Vocabulary test (30 minutes)
End of the second semester:
- Grammar test (45 minutes)
- Vocabulary test (30 minutes)
- Dictation (30 minutes)
Each midterm is only considered sufficient if all individual components are passed.
Only students who have passed the first midterm may sit for the second.
The final written grade is the average of the two midterms.
Students who pass both midterms may proceed to the oral exam.
The midterm grades are valid for three exam sessions.
Additional Notes
Exam arrangements for students with disabilities and/or specific learning disorders (SLDs) must be agreed upon with the instructor, only after the student has received certification from the appropriate university office.
Further details will be provided during the course and published on the course's Ariel webpage.
FRAN-01/B - French Language, Translation and Linguistics - University credits: 12
Lessons: 80 hours
Professor(s)