Resources - Bocconi University

a.y. 2014-2015
Class contents and exam requirements
Code 30302
French Language – First Language
Class contents and exam requirements are the same for both attending students and non-attenders
Program
Bachelor
Degree course
BIEM, BIEF (taught in English)
CLEAM, CLEF, CLEACC, CLES (taught in Italian)
Teaching activity
1st year, annual course “P1” (total classroom teaching hours 96).
The course is activated if an appropriate number of participants
is met
Objective
The acquisition of reading, writing, listening and speaking skills
required to interact at an B2* level in a professional context
Final Exam


Head Teacher
Bocconi internal exam (B2*) or an international certification
among those recognized by the University
4 credits, 2nd semester
Bianca Maria San Pietro
*Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
Set Textbook


PENFORNIS J.L., Affaires.com, CLE International, Paris 2013
GREGOIRE M. - THIEVENAZ O., Grammaire progressive du Français, niveau intermédiaire, CLE
International, Paris 2003
Recommended textbooks

GREGOIRE M. – MERLO G., Exercices communicatifs de la Grammaire progressive du Français,
niveau intermédiaire, CLE International, Paris 2004
We remind you that the Language Center offers to all students an information and consultancy service for the study
of languages. In addition, at its language laboratories, multimedia library, and online a variety of materials for
students wishing to prepare for international certificates recognized by the University also for Bocconi exams
(visit: www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter, in Language Laboratory).
Resources
Materials prepared by professors
Self-study programme
Past exams
Extra teaching materials
Language tutors
Office Hours for Bocconi teachers
International certificates recognized
1
Classroom activities & skills
Teaching intends to promote the acquisition of professional language skills.
In particular, the following will be treated through topics covered in the textbook:
 extension of business vocabulary
 development of listening, reading, speaking and writing skills. Tasks will be set individually or in
small groups, at times requiring presentations to the whole class; editing professional documents
(formal letter, e-mail, report)
 mock exam simulation for internal examination and for international certificates (Diplôme de
français professionnel B2 of the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Paris, wich the textbook
prepares to)
 grammar revision
Self-Study activities & skills
In order to acquire language skills and to prepare correctly for the Bocconi exam, it is important to attend
lessons regularly as well as to follow a self-study program.
To reach this objective a series of activities are indicated to be carried out from the following textbook:
Exercices de la communicatifs Grammaire Progressive du Français (see textbooks) and self-study modules
available on the e-learning platform.
In the Library you can find materials (including past exam) provided by the class professor.
It is suggested to dedicate 3-5 hours weekly for independent study.
Topics/units
(set textbook Affaires.com)
MODULE 1
Diversité des entreprises
Banques et services bancaires
Défense du consommateur
MODULE 2 - CREATEURS D’ENTREPRISE
Profil du créateur d’entreprise
Recherche de capitaux
Lieu d’implantation
Choix de société
MODULE 3 - RESSOURCES HUMAINES
Contrat de travail
Profil de manager
Organisation du travail
Réunion de travail
Droits des salariés
MODULE 4 - MARKETING
Etude de marché
Définition du produit
Méthodes de distribution
Moyens de communication
MODULE 5 - CONTACT AVEC LA
CLIENTELE
Force de vente
Commande en ligne
Service clientèle
Règlement de facture
Grammar/Skills & Activities
Partitif, Adverbes de quantité. Ex: pages 28-32
Mettre en page une lettre commerciale. Pronoms personnels
complément. Ex: pages 62-67
écrire une lettre de réclamation. Pronoms relatifs .
Conjonctions. Ex: pages 68-70
Forme passive. Ex: pages 116-118
Passé composé, Imparfait. Ex: pages 103-115
Ecrire efficacement. Indicateurs de temps. Ex: pages 99-101
Rédiger un e-mail . Pronoms Y et EN. Ex: pages 59-62
Pronoms relatifs composés Ex: pages 97-98
L’hypothèse. Ex: pages 126-131
Futur simple et composé. Ex: pages 120-123
Pronoms et adjectifs indéfinis. Ex: page 34
Emploi du subjonctif. Ex: pages 142-143
Impératif, conditionnel. Ex: pages 124-125
Comparatifs et superlatifs. Ex: page 44
Prépositions et adverbes. Ex: pages 48-54
Discours rapporté. Ex: pages 133- 136
Infinitif complément. Ex: pages 118-119
La condition. Ex: pages 99-102
La cause. Ex: page 152
La conséquence. Ex: page 153
2
MODULE 6 - RESULTATS DE
L’ENTREPRISE
Assurances
Secteur d’activité
Comptes de l’exercice
Commerce extérieur
Le but. Ex: pages 154-155
Accord des temps. Ex: pages 137-140
La concession. Ex: pages 144-146
Indicatif et subjonctif. Ex: pages 147-151
Exam content and description
The exam is scored out of a maximum of 30 points, which will go into the calculation of your grade point
average, and evaluates your ability to:
 understand fairly long and complex listening passages, making notes and reworking the information
heard
 write structured texts of various types
 oral interaction: presentation and discussion
 demonstrate your knowledge of the language, by correctly using a range of vocabulary and
grammatical structures
Rules
The exam consists of a written paper and an oral exam. Both need to be passed for the grade to count
towards the final average. In order to take the oral exam, it is necessary to:
 Pass the written exam (minimum mark 18/30)
 Have a test score that hasn’t expired, i.e. that is still valid (see Written Exam, Validity)
Students can choose to retake the written exam before the taking the oral exam but must remember that
handing in their paper annuls any previous grade given. The oral exam is compulsory and bring the written
exam mark up to date.
We would like to remind students that, in order to take the exam, they must register for the exam session
in question at the Punto Blu.
Written exam
First part
Objective
Test
Second part
Objective
Test
Duration
Dictionary
Listening to one or more passages – monologues, dialogues and surveys – containing
data, opinions, descriptions, explanations
Check candidates’ ability to:
- understand a listening passage and make brief notes on the information contained
therein;
- report accurately in a structured written form the information and opinions
expressed, possibly adding also a personal comment
1. Sentence completion and/or tables; true/false questions; multiple
choice answers
15/30
2. Ability to write structured texts according to instructions given
Reading comprehension of one or more authentic texts, possibly also containing
graphs, tables, images
Checking candidates’:
- ability to understand written texts;
-ability to write structured texts adequate to a professional context
Writing a short report according to the documents given, from a personal
point of view and with a format given
15/30
120 minutes
Bilingual dictionary can be used
3
Validity
it is valid for the 3 subsequent oral exams, and it is also valid for the subsequent 12
months but there is a penalty that must be paid (see Oral Exam, Validity)
Oral exam
Objective
Skill
Test
Discussion of the topic presented led by the examiners using ad hoc questions
Presentation and discussion
The student presents a dossier of at least three articles (taken from French or Italian
press) which relate to each other concerning one of the topics contained in the course
and approved by the teacher during the students consultation hours prior the exam,
and on another topic chosen by the teacher during the exam.
It is indispensable that the above-mentioned items are prepared thoroughly for the oral
exam and students are advised to prepare themselves well in advance of the date.
Details on how to prepare for the exam are to be found online in the library for each
language (Bocconi e-learning platform) or at:
http://www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter in Self-Study > Online Materials
Duration
15 minutes
Dictionary
Dictionaries are not allowed
Validity
The oral exam can only be taken once you have passed the written exam. Students will
be assessed in terms of their practical ability to communicate. During the oral exam
marks can be added to or subtracted from the written exam result in the following way:
 by +3 or -3, if the oral exam is passed within the 3 oral exams subsequent to the
written exam;
 by +1 or -3, if the oral exam is passed after the first 3 subsequent oral exams,
but still by 12 months subsequent to the written exam
As an alternative to the Bocconi exam, students may choose to register one of the international
certifications recognized by the University. The achieved result is converted into a number grade out of a
possible thirty and is registered in the student's academic record.
Additional Points
The assessment of language skills depends both on the result of the final exam and on marks awarded
during the year:
1. Positive participation in the course and completion of self-study activities
2. Partial exam
3. The exam passed the first time it is taken
Points are registered immediately after the oral exam is passed
1. Positive participation in the course and completion of self-study activities
Objective
To encourage constant and active improvement in the language
Maximum points
 1 thirtieth for active participation in at least 75% of lesson hours +
awardable
completion of the self-study programme
Assignment of points
Defined by professor at the end of the course on the basis of quality of work
performed and respected due dates as indicated the professor in the
classroom and also online
Validity
From June to the December immediately following the course. These
months are included
4
2. Partial exam
Objective
Test
Dictionary
Maximum points
awardable
Assignment of points
Duration
Validity
Note
Assess students' progress
Skills:
- Grammar – Grammar exercises in the following formats: multiple
choice answers, sentence completion
- Vocabulary exercises in the following formats: sentence completion,
cloze test, multiple choice answers
Dictionaries are not allowed
 1 thirtieth is awarded on the condition that students pass their final
written and oral exam within the first or second scheduled exam
session
The final grade is expressed by “pass” or “fail”; the extra points will be
awarded in case of positive result (“pass”)
60 minutes
From June to the July immediately following the course. These months are
included
The exam is open to all students enrolled, both attending and nonattending students. It is held once each academic year in January after the
end of first semester classes (see general exams calendar for exact date).
Students must enrol at the Punto Blu
3. The exam passed the first time it is taken
Objective
Reward students who sit for the exam only when really well prepared
Maximum points
 1 thirtieth
awardable
Assignment of points
Automatically, when the student registers for the written exam and hands in
the exam for the first time, and passes it (minimum 18/30)
5