European Studies
Students of European Studies in Trinity learn two out of six European languages (French, German, Italian, Polish, Russian and Spanish). One of the two languages chosen is studied as a major component of the degree, the other as a minor component – although this is not decided until the end of Michaelmas Term (first term) of second year and only takes effect at the end of second year.
Junior Freshman French
Contact hours
FR1004: Oral Language: 1 hour, all year
FR1014: Language Class: 3 hours comprising: 1 Lecture, 2 Tutorials, all year
Set texts and recommended reading
Students should obtain the following books:
Oxford-Hachette French Dictionary
Hawkins, Roger and Towell, Richard, French Grammar and Usage (London: Arnold, 2001)
Hawkins, Roger and Towell, Richard, Practising French Grammar: A Workbook (London: Arnold,1997)
Bescherelle: La Conjugaison pour tous (Paris: Hatier,1997) [or the equivalent ‘Poche’ edition]
Paul Humberstone, Mot à mot (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1996)
Also recommended: Jacqueline Morton, English Grammar for Students of French (London: Arnold, 2002)
You should also read at least one daily French newspaper regularly, i.e. Le Monde, Libération, Humanité, and the major Francophone press.
Assessment procedures
Continuous assessment: Please see European Studies handbook for continuous assessment requirements
(i) Language 1: One 3-hour written paper testing grammar; 1/3 of the assessment
(ii) Language 2: One 3-hour written paper testing comprehension and composition; 1/3 of the assessment
(iii) A short aural comprehension test (30 minutes approx.) 1/6 of the assessment
(iv) A 15-minute oral examination, including an ‘exposé’ on a topic arising from the course. 1/6 of the assessment
To rise into the following year, students must:
a) achieve a pass mark on the aggregate of the two written papers; and
b) achieve a pass mark on the language examination as a whole.
Senior Freshman French
Contact hours
FR2004: Oral Language: 1 hour, all year
FR2010: Language Class: 2 hours comprising: 1 Lecture, 1 Tutorials, all year
Assessment procedures
All four elements are equally weighted: (i) a continuous assessment mark derived from the year's work; 25 marks
(ii) a 3-hour paper combining a test of grammar and a composition; 25 marks
(iii) a 3-hour paper combining translation from French and résumé. 25 marks
(iv) an oral examination including a formal exposé. 25 marks
To rise into the following year, students must
a) achieve a pass mark on the aggregate of the two written language papers; and
b) achieve a pass mark on the language examination as a whole. At the supplemental examinations, only the examination performance is taken into account (i.e. not the continuous assessment elements).
Junior Sophister French
The Junior Sophister year of European Studies is spent at a university abroad. Please see European Studies handbook for further information.
Senior Sophister French (Major Language).
Contact hours
FR4001: Written Language: 1 hour, all year
FR4005: Oral Language: 1 hour, all year FR4025: Essay Writing Skills: 1 hour, all year
FR4027: Reading Class: 1 hour, all year
Recommended reading:
Regular consumption of Le Monde, Libération, Humanité, and the major Francophone press. Please note that the weekly publication, L’Express, is available on short-term loan from Eithne Healy in the ES office.
Assessment procedures
(i) Paper 1 (3 hours): Translation from French and essay 100 marks
(ii) Paper 2 (3 hours): Reading comprehension and résumé 100 marks
(iii) Oral examination 1 50 marks
(iv) Oral examination 2 50 marks
(v) Aural comprehension 50 marks
Oral examination 1 is linked with the examination in aural comprehension, the two together testing the ability to extract and reproduce information orally. Oral examination 2 takes place in the presence of the external examiner, and involves a formal exposé of one of two topics of historical, political, cultural or topical interest submitted and agreed in advance.
French (Minor Language)
Contact hours
FR4003: Written Language: 1 hour, all year
Assessment procedures
(i) Written paper (to be answered in English) examining reading skills and comprehension (2 hours) 50 marks
Link to Centre for European Studies