French and Business BA (Hons)

" French and Business BA (Hons)

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— @CovUniBES (@CovUniBES) February 20, 2014 OVERVIEW

The joint French and Business BA Honours degree is a flexible programme that will provide you with high-level language skills and an awareness of major contemporary cultural, historical, political and economic developments concerning France.

You will gain knowledge of business management disciplines and the wide range of optional choices available allow you to tailor your degree to suit your personal interests or career aspirations.

WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?

This course will prepare you for work in today’s international business world. France is a major global economic power with French companies operating in all European countries, including the UK.

You will study business management and marketing as well as French language modules that, in addition to French media and society, French culture and specialist translation include a range of French for Business modules taught in the language: French Business Environment, Business Strategies in French, Advertising and Marketing in French and Global Business in French.

If you choose this course you will benefit from:

• a practical and career-focused course designed to enhance your critical thinking and develop the communication skills employers want;
• expert teaching carried out by native speakers of the language you are learning in a state-of-the-art Languages Centre;
• the opportunity to develop advanced French language skills in a business environment;
• specialist Management and Marketing modules delivered by the Business School;
• support in applying for a work placement in France which is not only a valuable experience, but will also give you an edge when applying for jobs;
• the option to spend a year studying or working in France which provides you with an international experience that many businesses are looking for when employing a graduate.

Authorised

The University’s authorised status shall be renewed in accordance with the University of Cambridge’s standard review process and is subject to the University maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

WHAT WILL I LEARN?

Alongside mandatory modules in French and in Business there are also a range of options offered at levels two and three. You also have the opportunity of studying at each level a minor language: these include most European languages as well as Mandarin, Arabic and Japanese. These are offered as part of the University’s Add+vantage programme.

There is an opportunity of a study placement or a work placement in France in year three.

This course is regularly reviewed and updated to reflect new developments and the requirements of the profession and of employers. The following represents some of the subjects that currently make up the course.

Year 1

• Fundamentals of Business Organisation
• Contemporary French: media and society
• Marketing Essentials
• Business Environment in French
• Add+vantage module

Year 2

• Business Management
• Doing Business in Emerging Markets
• Communication Strategies in French
• Marketing and Advertising in French
• Business Strategies in French
• French Translation in Socio-Political Contexts
• Add+vantage module

Placement or Study Year Abroad

Final Year

• Corporate Strategic Management
• Global Marketing
• International Business
• Global Business in French
• French Advanced Translation
• Advanced French and DALF preparation
• Specialised Study (Dissertation or Professional Portfolio)
• Add+vantage Topic

Authorised

The University’s authorised status shall be renewed in accordance with the University of Cambridge’s standard review process and is subject to the University maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

HOW WILL THIS COURSE BE TAUGHT?

Your course will be based on a series of mini-lectures and task-based activities such as translation from and into French, listening and grammar exercises, business case studies, oral presentations and summary writing from written and audio/visual sources. In addition, your personal tutor will review and discuss your progress with you and will be available for advice.

HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?

Assessments on this course include listening comprehensions, translations, summaries, individual and group oral presentations, online grammar tests and reading comprehensions. Some modules require essay writing, but these are not as lengthy as those required by other disciplines. Most modules are assessed by a combination of coursework and exam (with oral exams as well as written ones for language learning modules).

Below is an estimated percentage breakdown of how your final grade is assessed:

• formal examinations: 35%;
• coursework, tests, essays: 40%;
• practical or project work: 10%;
• group work etc: 5%;
• presentations, posters etc: 10%.

A compulsory Add+vantage module must also be completed: please see the page on the Add+vantage scheme for more details.

TEACHING CONTACT HOURS

In a typical week you will have up to 16 contact hours of teaching and this could break down as:

Personal tutorial/small group teaching: 3 hours per week to practise conversation with a language assistant as well as tutorials (individual or in small groups), and individual project supervision in your final year;

Medium group teaching: 10 hours of workshops, seminars and language classes;

Large group teaching: 3 hours of lectures;

Personal study: 22 hours each week studying and revising in your own time.

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