French Advanced Step 3

Pre-requisites for enrolment

French Advanced is subdivided into six progressive steps: Advanced Step 1, Advanced Step 2, Advanced Step 3, Advanced Step 4, Advanced Step 5, and Advanced Step 6.

Advanced Step 1 is suitable for students who have completed an Upper Intermediate course (steps 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6), or have achieved the equivalent of a B2 level of the CEFR.

Students who have completed Advanced Step 1 will be able to progress to the next step.

Students who have any prior knowledge of the language are encouraged to self-assess their proficiency by using our on-line assessment or by contacting the Course Organiser.

Students who have registered for a course that is not at the right level can request a transfer after session 1 and 2 of the course. (see our Languages FAQ)

Special Information

Students will be asked to buy the following textbook(s):

• The course is taught with a course book. Your tutor will give you all the details in the first class.

We recommend that you do not buy your textbook before the first session of your course so we can be certain that your chosen course is at the right level for you. The course book will not be used in the first session of the course.

For more information on course books, visit our Languages FAQ

In order to successfully engage with the course via Zoom/ Microsoft Teams, you will require:

• A reliable internet connection
• A computer equipped with a camera and mic
• A headset or earphones

We recommend that your computer runs a modern operating system. For example, Windows 10 or the latest Apple software.

For more information about technical requirements, please visit the FAQ's on our website.

Content of Course

As they progress from Advanced Step 1 to Advanced Step 6, students will learn how to:

• Participate in debates and discussions and convince an audience
• Understand and use idiomatic and colloquial language
• Take effective notes and summarise the content of a complex presentation
• Read complex texts
• Write clear, well-structured texts on complex subjects

Teaching method(s)

Students will explore the use of the language in a safe, supportive and inclusive learning environment.

Students will experience the target language in a productive way, carefully designed to grow familiarity and confidence.

We follow an action-oriented communicative approach. The lessons include whole-class activities and pair or small-group work, role-play, responding to short texts, listening to dialogues, and watching video clips. Grammar is introduced, practised and consolidated in context. Students will engage with more extensive written exercises and reading texts as part of the autonomous learning activities on the course page on-line (the Virtual Learning Environment of the University of Edinburgh).

Learning is assessed informally throughout the course with the teacher providing regular feedback to help students progress and plan their learning.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the six steps of the Advanced course, students who have fully engaged with all the learning activities will achieve the equivalent of C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), and will be able to:

1. Understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts and presentations, and recognise implicit meanings.
2. Interact fluently and spontaneously with proficient users without much obvious searching for expressions.
3. Produce clear, well-structured, detailed texts on complex subjects.
4. Show controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices.
5. Use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.