This courses provides a practical knowledge of the working and language of the world of French business. It is of particular interest to students who have followed Business French I but can equally be done as a standalone course. The module looks at key organisations such as French Customs and the Stock Exchange as well as important issues such as advertising, selling, import-export and globalisation. It also offers valuable vocabulary-building exercises and training in the preparation of résumés and prose.

  At the end of this module, you should be able to:

• display a basic knowledge and understanding of the organisation and workings of organisations such as French Customs and the Stock Exchange; the activities associated with selling, advertising, import and export; as well as the implications of globalisation for French business.
• demonstrate the linguistic competence and powers of analysis with which to deal competently with most communication within the French business organisation
• show a capacity to work independently and in cooperation with other students
• show an ability to participate in discussion of key aspects of the French business world
• consider taking the diplôme de français professionnel Affaires B2 (DFP Affaires B2), a prestigious external examination set by the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Please note, however, that you are only advised to take this external exam if you have followed both Business French I and II.

There will be lectures and seminars totalling 20 hours, including a brief induction session and in-depth revision classes at the end of the Semester, all of which are obligatory.  Lectures will provide the background knowledge of the French business world. This material will feed into seminars where students will probe more deeply into the lecture topic and practise communicative skills such as writing résumés, prose translation and vocabulary exercises to apply and increase their knowledge of business French.  Cooperative working will be encouraged through the use of syndicates working towards an internet project. Students are expected to complete homework and guided study ahead of seminar classes. 

• Lectures will develop the student’s capacity to absorb information, including through note-taking.
• Seminars will develop the capacity to deploy this information and apply it to texts drawn from the world of French business
• Seminars and coursework will enable students to develop their vocabulary, improve their writing skills in a range of areas (letters, prose, memos etc), improve their listening and to some extent their speaking skills in French
• Through coursework and examination students will to demonstrate their knowledge of the world of French business
• Other academic and key skills developed include research and organisational skills, communication and basic word-processing skills, intercultural awareness as well as interpersonal and cooperative working skills, notably through the syndicate project.
• Some students will also choose to go on to enhance their employability by taking the prestigious, internationally recognised examination (DFP Affaires B2) of the Paris Chamber of Commerce

Week 1: Les Ventes

Week 2: La Comptabilité

Week 3 : Les Transports

Week 4 : La Poste

Week 5 : Les Assurances

Week 6 : Reading Week

Week 7:  La Publicité I

Week 8 : La Publicité II

Week 9 : La Douane/ Importations/ Exportations

Week 10 : La Bourse/ La Mondialisation

Week 11 : Révisions

Indicative Reading and Resource List:

Please provide an indicative reading list for the module. Where possible, highlight the core resources for the module in bold and list in priority order.  It is useful to indicate whether the module uses a textbook heavily or relies mainly on journal articles, for instance.  Web resources and sources such as films or musical recordings should also be listed here.  If the topic is one where the readings will usually change or be updated regularly from year to year, please indicate that. You may wish to link to module resources in Learning Central here. 

Prescribed Text

All students should possess a copy of the prescribed text and should familiarise themselves thoroughly  with its contents.

Claude Le Goff                       Le Nouveau French for Business (Didier), April 2000 edition

In addition, the following texts are useful. Those marked with an asterisk are particularly valuable.

Les Ventes

L Dahan and P Morel*              Maitrisez le français commercial en 40 questions (Langues Pour Tous, 2004, on  order), pp. 188-206

R. Crawshaw                             The European Business Environment: France (Thomson, 1997), pp. 46-51

R-J Berg                                     Parlons Affaires! (Harcourt Brace, 1999), pp 50-51

F. Delbourgo & P Taylor:           French for Business Studies, (Longman, 1998, 2^nd edition), pp66-69, pp 99-108

Comptabilité

L Dahan and P Morel*              Maitrisez le français commercial en 40 questions (Langues Pour Tous, 2004), pp. 278-80

Transports

R-J Berg                                     Parlons Affaires! (Harcourt Brace, 1999), pp 83-86

L Dahan and P Morel*               Maitrisez le français commercial en 40 questions (Langues Pour Tous,  2004), pp24--3

Poste

E. Cloose*                                  Le Français du Monde du Travail (2004), pp.70-72

Assurances

E. Cloose*                                  Le Français du Monde du Travail (2004), pp.96-104

R-J Berg                                     Parlons Affaires! (Harcourt Brace, 1999), 111-117

Publicité

E. Cloose*                                 Le Français du Monde du Travail (2004), pp.82-94

R. Crawshaw                             The European Business Environment: France (Thomson, 1997), pp. 54-63

R-J Berg                                    Parlons Affaires! (Harcourt Brace, 1999), pp 52-56

L Dahan and P Morel*               Maitrisez le français commercial en 40 questions (Langues Pour Tous, 2004), pp. 218-225

F. Delbourgo & P Taylor:           French for Business Studies, (Longman, 1998, 2^nd edition), pp.135-9

La Douane, les Importations/ Exportations and la Mondialisation

E. Cloose*                                  Le Français du Monde du Travail (2004, on order), pp.106-111, pp.113-115

L Dahan and P Morel*              Maitrisez le français commercial en 40 questions (Langues Pour Tous, 2004), pp28-35, 88-95,.232-239

Maclean, M.                               Economic Management and French Business (Palgrave, 2002), pp. 40-42, 190-202, 208-212

P.H. Gordon & S. Meunier        The French Challenge: Adapting to Globalization (Brookings, 2001), pp. 26-30

La Bourse

E. Cloose*                                  Le français du monde du travail (2004, on order), pp. 25-32

R-J Berg*                                   Parlons Affaires! (Harcourt Brace, 1999), pp 101-107

L Dahan and P Morel*              Maitrisez le français commercial en 40 questions (Langues Pour Tous, 2004), pp288-291

Général

G Auger and C. Le Ninan          Le français des affaires

J-P Bajard and C, Sibieude       Les affaires en français

Comprehension Aurale (Chambre de Commerce)

For listening comprehension practice ahead of the Chambre de Commerce examination, see:

  M. Danilo et al              Le français de la communication professionnelle (Paris, Clé, 1992) (Ask at issue desk for accompanying audio-cassette)

                                       Exercises on pages 30, 35, 36, 42, 49, 73, p.84-6, 93,95, 102, 109, 119

Presse et Internet

Le Mondeis available in electronic format via Nexis-UK (ask Library staff for help)

Students should also consult internet sites given in E. Cloose, Le Français du Monde du Travail (2004).

Point Communis a useful journal in the ASSL (2^nd floor)

Business French Dictionaries

A. Stevenson                             Harrap's Business French Dictionary (Harrap, 2003)

Michel Peron et al:                     Le Robert Collins du Management Commercial, Financier, Economique

M. Chalmers & M. Pierquin       Oxford Business French Dictionary (Oxford Uni. Press, 2002- electronic resource: www.oxfordreference.com/views/BOOKSEARCH.html?book=t109a)

Michel Marcheteau et al:           Dictionnaire de l'Anglais Economique, Commercial et Financier (Presses Pocket)

Jean Binon et al                         Dictionnaire d'apprentissage du français des affaires (Didier, 2000)