SFF11320 French literature and cultural understanding (Autumn 2025)

Facts about the course

ECTS Credits:
10
Responsible faculty:
Faculty of Teacher Education and Languages
Campus:
Online
Course Leaders:
  • Hélène Celdran
  • Franck Orban
Teaching language:
Frensh
Duration:
½ year

Table of contents

The course is affiliated to the following study programme

  • Mandatory course in the One-year French Programme (full-time and part-time).
  • Mandatory course in the 60 ECTS part of the Bachelor's Programme in Languages for students with French as one of their chosen languages.

Recommended previous knowledge

Prerequisites equivalent to French Level II from high school are recommended.

Teaching semester

  • One-year French Programme - full-time: 1. semester (autumn)
  • One-year French Programme - part-time: 3. semester (autumn)
  • Bachelor's Programme in Languages, with French as one of their chosen languages: 1. or 3. semester (autumn)

Content

The students shall acquire knowledge about France as a country, both within the EU and in the Francophone world. The course aims to contribute to cross-cultural insight and understanding, as well as an introduction to societal structures. It also explores French culture and society from a literary and socio-cultural perspective. Additionally, it covers various genres in French literature, literary devices, and literary history, with a focus on the 20th and 21st centuries.

The student's learning outcomes on passing the course

Knowledge

The student

  • has knowledge of geography, social structures, politics, and institutions in France
  • has knowledge of key features of daily life and society in French-speaking countries
  • has knowledge of various textual expressions in French such as novels, short stories, and comics
  • has knowledge of the literary-historical and social context of the works

Skills

The student

  • can compare central features of daily life and traditions in French with Norwegian culture
  • can produce various types of texts in French
  • can interpret literary texts
  • can explain key features of French social life and politics

General Competence

The student

  • can use reference works and sources independently and reflectively
  • can find relevant material in various media and with the help of ICT

Teaching and learning methods

The teaching and guidance are provided in online meetings via digital collaboration tools. The university college's learning platform is used for the distribution of foundational documents, central study materials, assignments, and other relevant information about the subject. Self-study is included in the learning methods.

Workload

Approx. 280 hours

Coursework requirements - conditions for taking the exam

One individual, written submission in literature (700 words, excluding bibliography) and one written submission in cultural studies (700 words, excluding bibliography), followed by an oral presentation of the assignment (maximum 5 minutes).

The required coursework is assessed as approved / not approved. Required coursework must be approved before the student can sit for the exam.

Exam

Part 1 of the examination: Individual written exam in literature, duration 4 hours (represents 50%)
All aids are allowed, except communication and collaboration with others on the answers.
Grading scale A - F.

Part 2 of the examination: Oral exam in cultural studies, duration approximately 30 minutes (represents 50%)
No aids allowed.
The oral exam is conducted via a digital collaboration tool online.
Grading scale A - F.

Both parts of the examination must be passed in order to be awarded a grade for the course.
One overall grade is awarded for the course, using the grading scale of A-F.

Examiners

External or internal examiner(s).

Course evaluation

Feedback from our students is crucial for us to offer the best possible courses and study programs. This subject is evaluated in the following manner:

Mid-semester evaluation and ongoing evaluation/final evaluation

The results are reviewed by:

  • Teacher group
  • Head of studies
  • Programme committee

Reading list

The current reading list for 2025 Autumn can be found in Leganto
Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem) Oct. 15, 2026 4:27:53 AM