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First Foreign Language (French): Narrative Uses

Code: 108325
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Translation and Interpreting FB 1

Contact lecturer

Name :
Eric Jean-Michel Martin
Email :
ericjeanmichel.martin@uab.cat

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

At the start of the course, students are expected to be able to:

  • Understand written texts of some complexity on personal topics and general topics within familiar areas (CEFR-FTI B2.2)
  • Produce written texts of some complexity on personal topics and general topics within familiar areas (CEFR-FTI B2.1)
  • Understand clear spoken texts on personal topics and general topics within familiar areas (CEFR-FTI B2.1)
  • Produce spoken texts on personal topics and general topics within familiar areas (CEFR-FTI B2.1)

Objectives

The objective of this course is to develop students’ oral and written comprehension and expression skills, mainly in narrative and descriptive genres.

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Understand written texts of a certain complexity on personal topics and general topics in familiar areas (CEFR-FTI C1.1b)

• Produce written texts of a certain complexity on personal topics and general topics in familiar areas (CEFR-FTI B2.2)

• Understand clear spoken texts on personal topics and general topics in familiar contexts (CEFR-FTI B2.2)

• Produce spoken texts on personal topics and general topics in familiar areas (CEFR-FTI B2.2)

Learning outcomes

  • CM06 (Integrate the knowledge and skills of the first language to produce written or oral texts that are suitable for the textual genre and the communicative register.) Integrate the knowledge and skills of the first language to produce written or oral texts that are suitable for the textual genre and the communicative register.
  • CM07 (Integrate the knowledge and skills of the first language to produce specialiaed written or oral texts using the appropriate register.) Integrate the knowledge and skills of the first language to produce specialiaed written or oral texts using the appropriate register.
  • CM08 (Integrate language skills to communicate through inclusive and non-sexist language in the first language.) Integrate language skills to communicate through inclusive and non-sexist language in the first language.
  • KM09 (Identify the lexical, morphosyntactic, phonological, rhetorical and linguistic variation characteristics of the first language.) Identify the lexical, morphosyntactic, phonological, rhetorical and linguistic variation characteristics of the first language.
  • KM10 (Recognise the characteristics of the different textual genres in the first language.) Recognise the characteristics of the different textual genres in the first language.
  • KM11 (Recognise the cultural characteristics of first language societies.) Recognise the cultural characteristics of first language societies.
  • SM13 (Apply strategies to understand written or oral texts in the first language.) Apply strategies to understand written or oral texts in the first language.
  • SM14 (Analyse the cultural references present in written or oral texts in the first language.) Analyse the cultural references present in written or oral texts in the first language.

Contents

Throughout the four courses corresponding to the First Foreign Language for Translation and Interpreting, a wide variety of text types and communicative styles will be explored.

This course will focus primarily on two text types: narrative texts, such as excerpts from novels and short stories, which will allow students to work on narrative organisation, temporal progression and character development; and descriptive texts, found in genres such as tourist guides or descriptions of characters, situations, and institutions, aimed at characterising spaces, entities, and contexts.

In addition to developing reading and writing skills in both text types, cultural other aspects will be addressed, linked to literature as well as to the administrative organisation of the country or countries of reference. This content will be explored using authentic documents related to current social and cultural events.

The course will also address the basic concepts of French phonetics and phonology, comparing them with the sounds of Spanish and Catalan, with the aim of improving comprehension and oral production.

Throughout the course, students will be assigned a contemporary novel to reinforce reading comprehension as a basis for developing written and oral production skills, as well as fostering a critical approach to texts.

Overall, the course will provide the necessary tools not only to achieve adequate command of the language, but also to develop a critical perspective essential in the field of translation and interpreting, enabling the adaptation of meaning and tone according to the text type.

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
One-off master classes with listening comprehension activities and oral interactions 20 0.8 CM06, CM07, CM08, KM09, KM10, KM11, SM13, SM14
Written production activities 15 0.6 CM06, CM07, CM08, KM09, KM10, KM11, SM14
Reading comprehension activities 15 0.6 KM09, KM10, KM11, SM13, SM14
Supervision and review of oral and written exercises and exams 21 0.84 CM06, CM07, CM08, KM09, KM10, KM11, SM13, SM14
Preparation and performance of written and oral production and comprehension activities. Preparation of exams. 70 2.8 CM06, CM07, CM08, KM09, KM10, KM11, SM13, SM14

Competences in French as a foreign language will be broadened and strengthened, and the specific skills required for translation will be developed. This includes, on the one hand, general foreign-language communicative competences and skills and, on the other hand, specialized linguistic competences in French as a working language for translation.

  • Carrying out tasks aimed at developing reading and text-comprehension strategies and methods
  • Carrying out tasks aimed at developing discourse-analysis strategies and methods
  • Addressing frequent linguistic and intercultural issues (B-A) found in contemporary texts, followed by grammatical and/or performance-based tasks or related identification exercises
  • Introduction to text summaries and the foundations of linguistic mediation through paraphrasing, reformulation, and the explicitation of textual content
  • Further development of written production skills in French
  • Completion of a variety of oral and written communicative tasks
Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
writing 20% 2 0.08 CM07, CM08, KM09, KM11, SM14
Listening 20% 1 0.04 KM09, KM10, KM11, SM13, SM14
written comprehension 20% 2 0.08 KM09, KM10, KM11, SM13, SM14
speaking 20% 2 0.08 CM06, CM07, CM08, KM09, KM10, KM11, SM14
lexic and grammar exam 20% 2 0.08 CM06, CM07, KM09, KM10

Continuous Assessment

Assessment is continuous throughout the subject. Students must provide evidence of their progress by completing various tasks and tests. Task and test deadlines will be indicated in the course schedule on the first day of class. The information on assessment activities and their weighting is a guide. The subject lecturer will provide full information when teaching begins.

Review

When publishing final grades prior to recording them on students' transcripts, the lecturer will provide written notification of a date and time for reviewing assessment activities. Students must arrange reviews in agreement with the lecturer.

Missed/failed assessment activities

Students may retake assessment activities they have failed or compensate for any they have missed, provided that those they have actually performed account for a minimum of 66.6% (two thirds) of the final grade for the subject and that they have a weighted average mark of at least 3.5. In case of retaking, the maximum grade will be 5 (Pass).

The lecturer will inform students in writing of the retake procedure involved when publishing final grades prior to recording them on transcripts. The lecturer may set one assignment per failed or missed assessment activity or a single assignment to cover a number of such activities. Under no circumstances may an assessment activity worth 100% of the final mark be retaken or compensated for.

Classification as "not assessable"

In the event that the assessment activities a student has performed account for 25% or less of the final grade for the subject, their work will be classified as "not assessable" on their transcript.

Misconduct in assessment activities

Students who engage in misconduct (plagiarism, copying, personation, etc.) in an assessment activity will receive a mark of “0” for the activity in question. In the case of misconduct in more than one assessment activity, the student involved will be given a final grade of “0” for the subject. Assessment activities in which irregularities have occurred (e.g. plagiarism, copying, impersonation) are excluded from retake.

Use of artificial intelligence

In this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is not permitted at any stage of the assessment activities. Any work that includes AI-generated content will be considered a breach of academic integrity and will be graded a 0, regardless of any disciplinary proceedings that may be initiated.

Single assessment

This subject may be assessed under the single assessment system in accordance with the terms established in the academic regulations of the UAB and the assessment criteria of the Faculty of Translation and Interpreting.

Students must make an online request within the period established by the faculty and send a copy to the lecturer responsible for the subject, for the record.

Single assessment will be carried out in person on one day during week 16 or 17 of the semester. The Academic Management Office will publish the exact date and time on the faculty website.

On the day of the single assessment, teaching staff will ask the student for identification, which should be a valid identification document with a recent photograph (student card, DNI/NIE or passport).

Single assessment activities

The single assessment will include four assessment activities.

- Written comprehension: 25%

- Written expression: 25%

- Grammar and vocabulary test: 25%

- Oral presentation: 25%

Grade revision and retake procedures for the subject are the same as those for continual assessment. See the section above in this Study Guide.

Bibliography

Edito B2 Livre de l’élève

Abou-Samra, Myrian

Heu-Boulhat, Elodie

Perrard, Marion

9788490498156

Software

No specific software is used in this course.



Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 French second semester morning-mixed