Students

FREN1010 – I French Studies 1

2025 – Session 1, Online-flexible

General Information

Download as PDF
Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor
Alexandra Kurmann
alex.kurmann@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
Office C311B, Level 3, 25 Wally's Walk
Tuesdays 1-2pm in office; Fridays 2-3pm online
Lecturer
John Severn
john.severn@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
N/A
Please email
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit, designed for those who have little or no knowledge of French, seeks to develop students' skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. It introduces students to contemporary French culture. The work in this unit is of a very intensive nature. (A1 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.)

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Develop elementary level skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking in the French language.
  • ULO2: Identify, describe and evaluate a few aspects of French-speaking cultures and societies.
  • ULO3: Identify, evaluate and deploy the grammatical structures of French at elementary level.
  • ULO4: Apply relevant language conventions to create meaningful intercultural encounters.
  • ULO5: Demonstrate an awareness of some language and language use in both French and English.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Comprehension Skills 40% No 23:55 on 11/05/25 and 23:55 on 01/06/25
Oral Production Task 30% No 17:00 on 06/06/25
Written Production Task 30% No 23:55 on 08/06/25

Comprehension Skills

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 23:55 on 11/05/25 and 23:55 on 01/06/25
Weighting: 40%

 

Comprehension of French and its usage will be tested in various formats.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Develop elementary level skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking in the French language.
  • Identify, describe and evaluate a few aspects of French-speaking cultures and societies.
  • Identify, evaluate and deploy the grammatical structures of French at elementary level.
  • Demonstrate an awareness of some language and language use in both French and English.

Oral Production Task

Assessment Type 1: Simulation/role play
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 17:00 on 06/06/25
Weighting: 30%

 

French Speaking Test

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Develop elementary level skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking in the French language.
  • Identify, describe and evaluate a few aspects of French-speaking cultures and societies.
  • Apply relevant language conventions to create meaningful intercultural encounters.

Written Production Task

Assessment Type 1: Log book
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 23:55 on 08/06/25
Weighting: 30%

 

Short Answer Grammar and Vocabulary Tasks

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Develop elementary level skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking in the French language.
  • Identify, describe and evaluate a few aspects of French-speaking cultures and societies.
  • Identify, evaluate and deploy the grammatical structures of French at elementary level.
  • Demonstrate an awareness of some language and language use in both French and English.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

DELIVERY

Internal students

Students attend 2 x 2 hour tutorials per week: 4 hours of class. There are no lectures for FREN 1010. Please go to eStudent to register in one practical and one tutorial on offer. 

Classes start at five minutes past the hour. We recommend that you arrive 5 minutes before the start of class so you do not miss out on important information given at the start of a class. We encourage students to come to as many classes as possible to facilitate the best learning experience possible.

External students

External students do not need to register in any particular classes and just need to make sure you are enrolled in FREN 1010 on eStudent. External students will have access to instruction videos that cover content for each class. These are accessable via ILearn on Echo.

Your only timetabled activities will involve the attendance of a live video-conferencing speaking test at the end of the unit at specific times allocated by the unit tutor. More details will be provided then. 

External students will need to have access to a webcam for the test, headphones as well as a microphone for use during the video-conferencing sessions with Zoom which they will need to download for free from the internet. We recommend you use Firefox which has been reliable with respect to media files used in the course. The correct functioning of internet connection and network is the student's sole responsibility. 

All students

The course is of a very intensive nature. FREN 1010 aims to prepare students for FREN 1020 in session 2. 

The work required for FREN 1010 is two-fold, involving:

  • 4 contact hours in class (or recorded on Echo 360 for external students). These will be organised around oral participation, explanation of new grammar points, practice and reinforcement of new language (or listening to the Echo 360 recordings).
  • Approximately 8 hours of weekly home study, consisting of written, oral and aural practice using the CDs/audio files that accompany the textbook and exercise books - Défi 1/A1 by Maison des Langues publisher. All students MUST have bought a copy of this text book with the accompanying exercise book (cahier d'exercices) for week 1 classes. 

 External students are encouraged to find a French speaking partner in the unit with whom to practice spoken French to compensate for not being in the interactive language learning classroom. The forum on iLearn called "Je cherche un copain/copine de classe" (I'm looking for a study partner) will allow you to connect with other external students online.

IT and iLearn assistance is available via the iLearn login page or by clicking on the words "Help me" under the iLearn logo at the top right hand side of every iLearn window. 

PLease note that all new threads will be sent to your University account. You are encouraged to use the University account rather than a private e-mail account and to check this account regularly for announcements from the convenor and emails form your tutor.

RESOURCES

Choices below are between the Immersive French versions, which we will teach with, or the English versions for easing into language study. From these two options choose hardcopies for both books or hardcopy with digital access that comes with workbook access. Digital access is called 'version hybride' in French and comes with many extra resources. It is highly recommended.

Défi 1/A1 Hybrid Livre élève & eBook code ISBN: 9788419236531 [Textbook with digital eBook code and workbook]

OR

Défi 1/A1 Livre de l'élève + CD Audio  ISBN: 9788416273065 [Hardcopy textbook only]

AND

Défi 1/A1 Cahier d'exercices + MP3 download ISBN: 9788417249656 [Hardcopy workbook only]

 

OR, for those who would like to use the English version of the textbook: 

Défi 1/A1 Hybrid Textbook English ed. & eBook code ISBN: 9788419236548 [Book with digital eBook code and workbook]

OR

Défi 1/A1 Textbook English edition. ISBN: 9788418907746 [Hardcopy book only]

AND

Défi 1/A1 Workbook English version. ISBN 9788418907753 [Hardcopy workbook only]

These can be bought online through www.languageint.com.au. Please use the code MAC-KUR to receive free shipping.  

For information about buying the books please contact: info@languageint.com.au

Alternatively the hardcopy of the books can be bought at Abbey's Bookstore in Sydney

The online resources on iLearn (http://ilearn.mq.edu.au) are another essential part of the unit. Students have access to all materials (including recorded iLectures on Echo360) from the beginning to the end of the session.

Please refer to iLearn for announcements, and possible amendments to the program as this is how the convenor will communicate with you throughout the session.

 

TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED

Online Unit

Login is via: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/

Is my unit in iLearn?: https://unitguides.mq.edu.au/ilearn_unit_status/ to check when your online unit will become available.

Technology

Students are required to have regular access to a computer and the internet. Mobile devices alone are not sufficient.

For students attending classes on campus we strongly encourage that you bring along your own laptop computer, ready to work with activities in your online unit. The preferred operating system is Windows 10.

Students are required to access the online unit in iLearn by the end of Week 1 and follow any relevant instructions and links for downloads that may be required.

 

Unit Schedule

PLease see Ilearn

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Unit information based on version 2025.03 of the Handbook