The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Department of Linguistics and Modern Languages

2nd Term 2013-2014

SOUNDS OF FRENCH
Course code & title:
FREN 2020

Language of instruction: French / English Units: 3

Course description:
This course is an introduction to the phonetic system of the French language. It is primarily designed to help
students who are learning French to improve their understanding, speaking and reading skills. Although
theoretical content on the subject of French phonetics will be provided, students must conceive this course
as a workshop rather than a lecture. Constant practice through pair work, games, interactive activities,
recordings will be included and active participation from the students is therefore expected.
Prerequisite: FREN1002 or FREN1010 or equivalent competence.

Course Content: Course content is supported by web links and recordings on Blackboard platform.
Note that regular practice is essential in order to perfect your listening and pronunciation.
The course will cover the following.

PHONETIC CONTENT

ALPHABET Spelling (revisions)

French IPA symbols & basic articulatory features of French

FRENCH vowels and consonants
SPEECH SOUNDS

Within words:
- types of syllables
- syllabification
SYLLABLE, - dropped ‘e’
RHYTHM & Grouping words together :
STRESS - resyllabification (syllable modification)
- liaison & elision
- Rhythmic group & stress placement

- Intonation & grammar

INTONATION - Intonation & focus
- Intonation, attitudes & emotions

EXAMPLES OF TOPICS COVERED

Greetings & introductions; place of living; food; shopping; family; numbers etc.
Games, poems and songs will also be used.

1
Learning outcomes:
After taking this course, students are expected to:
(1) be able to use the French IPA symbols provided in dictionaries;
(2) generally improve their reading, listening and speaking skills in French;
(3) understand and describe some basic articulatory features of French speech sounds;
(4) understand and describe the rhythmic groups and intonation patterns of modern French;
(5) understand the relationship between the French pronunciation and writing system.

Learning activities:
Interactive classwork[1] Web-based teaching Homework / Self-study
(hr) (hr) (hr)
in / out class in / out class in / out class
3 1 3
M O M
M = Mandatory / O = Optional
[1] Interactive classwork focuses on student-centered activities as pair work, group work, role play and student-teacher
interaction.

Assessment scheme:
Task nature Description Weight
Participation in class Active participation in class activities. 10%

Assignment
Reading exercises to be recorded individually. 20%
(mp3 recording needed)
2 marked quizzes (Q/A, listening skill test, phonetic transcription,
Quizzes 30%
dictation…)
Written part: Listening skill test, short questions, phonetic
Final Test
transcription… (20%) 40%
(on the whole term content)
Oral part: Reading or performance (20%)
Notes:
You are required to arrive on time.
You are required to attend at least 75% of the class. Treat 75% attendance as the minimum, not the maximum.
The success of your own learning will highly depend on your attendance.
Should you miss more than 25% of the class, you will automatically fail the course.
If you are unable to attend, get informed about what content and homework you missed and make it up yourself.

LEARNING RESOURCES

Course materials:
• Hand-outs. Extra articles & notes.
• Recorded material & Web links with exercises on Blackboard E-learning platform: https://elearn.cuhk.edu.hk/.
• Occasional Quizzes on Ureply: http://serv1.ureply.mobi/mobile_index.php
• The use of smartphones and tablets in the class will at times be encouraged.
• Students are advised to practice and record themselves regularly in order to perfect their listening and
pronunciation

Readings & references:

Recommended materials:
• A bilingual French/English dictionary with information on pronunciation provided in IPA (International Phonetic
Alphabet).
• Please see the list of websites available in the platform https://elearn.cuhk.edu.hk/

2
Feedback for Evaluation
Our language programme highly values students’ feedback and comments and is happy to use them for
reflection on our teaching and improvement. Students are very welcome to provide comments and feedback
on the course any time to their course teacher or the course level coordinator through email or in personal
conversation. In addition, students’ feedbacks will be collected in the middle of the term through an
open-end questionnaire and the teacher will discuss the feedbacks in class and make improvements if
necessary. The course will also follow the university’s course evaluation exercise at the end of the term, and
students’ feedbacks will be used for future course planning and teaching.

Schedule (Subject to changes):

FREN 2020 No Class Days Assignments Content
Week 1 Jan 6-10 Introduction & Alphabet
Week 2 Jan 13-17
Week 3 Jan 20-24
Week 4 Jan 27-31 CNY (Fri 31)
French Speech Sounds
Week 5 CNY (Mon 3 to
Feb 3-7
Wed 5)
Week 6 Feb 10-14
Week 7 Feb 17-21 Quiz 1 (in class)
Week 8 Feb 24-28
Week 9 Mar 3-7
Syllable & rhythm
Week 10 Mar 10-14 Assignment (to be handed on week 11)
Week 11 Mar 17-21
Week 12 Mar 24-28 Quiz 2 (in class)
Week 13 Mar 31-Apr 4 Intonation
Week 14 Apr 7-11
Week 15 Apr 15-17 Final test (oral + written)
Class schedule and teacher’s contact details:

Class Time Classroom No of weeks Teacher Email / Tel.

T6 NAH 8 raphael.chiarelli@cuhk.edu.hk
FREN 2020 14 Mr Raphaël CHIARELLI
H 3-4 LSB C4 3943 7723

Office hours:   
Wednesday & Friday: 11:45-12:45, KKL Bldg. Rm G31.

Administration Contact Telephone Email Office

General Office 3943 7110 lin@cuhk.edu.hk Rm G17, KKL Building

Attention is drawn to University policy and regulations on honesty in academic work, and to the disciplinary guidelines and procedures applicable to
breaches of such policy and regulations. Details may be found at h t t p : / / w w w. c u h k . e d u . h k / p o l i c y / a c a d e m i c h o n e s t y / . With each
assignment, students will be required to submit a statement that they are aware of these policies, regulations, guidelines and procedures.