French Student Handbook (Autumn 2022)
French Student Handbook (Autumn 2022)
French Student Handbook (Autumn 2022)
European Languages
French
Student Handbook
Autumn 2022
HKU SPACE
College of Humanities and Law
European Languages
11/F Fortress Tower
250 King’s Road
North Point, Hong Kong
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Contents
1. Introduction
3. Programme Structure
5. Further Information
5.1. Deferral of Studies
5.2. Requests for transfer to another class
5.3 Discount when repeating a course
5.4. Change of personal particulars
5.5. Confidentiality of personal contact information
5.6. HKU SPACE Alumni
5.7. Lifelong Learner Card
5.8. Quality Assurance
5.9. School Discipline
5.10. Academic Freedom and Civility in the Classroom
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PROGRESSION PATH ON FRENCH COURSES
(French)
Certificate in French (Advanced) Advanced French Language Practice 1 & 2
OR
(120-hr) (60-hr each)
Certificate in French
(Introductory) Part 2
Certificate in (60-hr) ^
French
(Introductory)
(120-hr) Certificate in French
(Introductory) Part 1
Beginners’ French 2 / French for Travel 2 (30-hr each)
(60-hr) ^
each)
This course has been included in the list of reimbursable courses under the Continuing Education Fund.
This course is recognised under the Qualification Framework (QF Level [2]).
CEF is only available for students who have successfully completed both Part 1 & Part 2 of ‘Certificate (Introductory) (Part 1& Part 2)’within 2 years
^ ‘Certificate (Introductory) (Part 1)’ by itself does not have any QF level.
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1. Introduction
HKU SPACE is the oldest (established 1957) and biggest provider of adult and
continuing education in Hong Kong. HKU SPACE has been a leading provider of high
quality European language courses for many years. We offer courses in: French, Spanish,
Italian, German, Portuguese, Greek, Russian, Latin, Polish and Arabic. These range from
120-hour Certificate courses at four different levels to short courses that, for instance,
focus on language for complete beginners, for travel and short cultural ‘taster’
workshops. Courses run from absolute beginner to advanced levels and take place at a
variety of times (mornings, evenings and weekends) at our well-equipped learning
centres in Hong Kong and Kowloon.
We would like to welcome you to our French courses and wish you success. This
handbook aims to answer the most frequently asked questions and to provide you with
key information you need. If you still have questions after reading it, please contact us
or ask your teacher.
2. Programme Management
Programme Management
Mr. Wallace MA
(Programme Director)
Tel: 3762 0899; email: [email protected]
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3. Programme Structure
In addition, we offer the following short courses with several intakes per year:
French for Travel / French for Travel 2 (30 hours each)
Beginners’ French / Beginners’ French 2 (30 hours each)
Advanced French Language Practice / Advanced French Language Practice 2
(60 hours each)
All 120-hour programmes include 40 sessions (20 for 60-hour modules), each of which
lasts 3 hours. The programmes are based upon internationally recognized textbooks
appropriate to your level.
At the beginning of the course, your teacher will give you information about the
curriculum:
Number of units of the adopted textbook
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Language points
Selected topics
The mode of delivery is face to face. However, if the circumstances affect us (e.g., due
to an outbreak of Covid-19), we might have to switch to online teaching. The Programme
Team will inform students of the arrangements.
4.2. Exams
In order to assess your progress, you will be given some tests during your course, written
and oral. Your teacher will give you the dates of these tests in the first few weeks of your
course. You must obtain a PASS as average result if you wish to satisfy the course
requirements for performance and qualify for CEF funding and to be promoted to the
next level. You need to demonstrate a commitment to your studies by taking part in
exercises and activities, and by meeting certain assessment criteria. Whether you pass
the performance or not will be based on your marks on the following:
- Participation throughout the course. This will be a mark given by your teacher, based
on the effort you have put into speaking French, on the accuracy and fluency of your
usage of the language, on the consistency of you doing your homework, etc.
- Two progress tests and one final written exam. These will test your understanding of
what you have studied during the course (for the 60-hour module there will be only
one final written exam and no progress test).
- A final oral test. The format of this will be announced by your teacher. It may be a
discussion, a role play or a presentation, or a combination of these.
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a letter from your employer. No other reasons besides health or work will be accepted to
re-schedule your final exams.
You will then have two options: you can retake the exam the week after, during the oral
examinations (you need to inform both your teacher and the HKU SPACE staff well in
advance); or we can arrange a date for you to come and take the exam in our office
during working hours. An administration fee of HK$250 will be charged. Please contact
us for more details.
For arranging a missing oral exam, please discuss with your teacher, as he/she will try
to accommodate you as far as possible during the last class, provided that you have an
official work or doctor’s note.
For arranging a missing progress test, please discuss with your teacher, as he/she will try
to accommodate you as far as possible during the class right after the marked one,
provided that you have an official work or doctor’s official note.
Please understand that dates for tests/exams are announced well in advance so that you
can note them down in your schedule and ensure that you can be present. We cannot
guarantee the same test/exam conditions if it has to be rescheduled on an individual basis.
Two factors are taken into account to decide whether you have successfully passed the
course and can promote to the next level: your attendance and your performance.
Your attendance. You need to attend at least 70% of the classes, which is 28 out of 40
sessions (or 14 out of 20 sessions for the 60 hour courses). Please note that 70%
attendance is also a strict requirement of the Continuing Education Fund (CEF). We are
required to keep an accurate record of your attendance for inspection by the Office of
Continuing Education (OCEF).
If you have difficulty in attending class for whatever reason, please let your teacher know
about this. If you do arrive late, please ensure during the break that your teacher has
marked you present. If you arrive very late (during the second half of the class) you run
the risk of being marked absent on the register for that week.
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When you successfully complete a Certificate course (120-hour course), or when you
complete Certificate (Introductory) (Part 2) (60-hour module following Part 1), you will
receive the following:
- Letter of Continuation
- Notification of Result
- Certificate
C+ 67-69 2.30
Work that demonstrates a sufficient understanding of the
subject matter, being able to develop rudimentary solutions to
C 64-66 2.00 Satisfactory
related problems and with evidence of some attempts at
analytical thinking, and average presentation and accuracy.
C- 60-63 1.70
D+ 56-59 1.30 Work that demonstrates a basic familiarity with the subject
Pass matter, and with evidence of marginal accuracy, acceptable
D 50-55 1.00 presentation and organization.
You will receive it together with your Certificate (see point 4.3.3).
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NOTE:
1) A Letter of Continuation will be issued to students who successfully complete the 60-hour Certificate
in French (Introductory) (Part 1) course for progress to Part 2.
2) On completion of Part 2, students will be given a Notification of Result.
3) For students who successfully complete both parts of the programme (120 hours), the GPA will be the
average of Part 1 and Part 2.
4) For students with exemption from Part 1, the attendance and GPA will be that of Part 2 only.
4.3.3 Certificate
The Certificate is an award or recognition issued to students who have passed the course.
Those who failed do not have a Certificate. You need to have also attended at least 70%
of your classes to be awarded a Certificate.
This document indicates whether students have passed the course with Distinction or
Merit.
Classification of Awards CGPA Requirement
* Students will have to complete both (Introductory, Part 1) and (Introductory, Part 2) within 24 months.
However, in order for you to qualify for this refund, please note that you must:
➢ pass the course, scoring at least 50% of the marks available on performance
➢ attend 70% of the classes
➢ take a recognised French language examination
➢ submit your claims within one year upon the successful completion of the
course
You can make a claim on both the SPACE course fee and the exam fee for the external
test.
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Please note:
➢ You will only pass the performance if you meet all the assessment requirements.
Unless you get a letter saying that you have passed the course and met the
performance and attendance criteria outlined above, you will not qualify for a
refund of the course fee, regardless of how much effort you have put into the
course. This condition is laid down by the OCEF not by SPACE.
This external examination for CEF refund is the Test de Connaissance du Francais
(TCF). It uses everyday situations (similar to the topics covered in your books) and
includes three sections: listening, use of language and reading comprehension. It lasts
90 minutes. The purpose of the exam is not to stand as a final examination of any course
you have done with us. Our courses are not exam preparation courses and the test does
not require any specific study. TCF is a proficiency test that is designed to test your level
of ability in French on a sliding scale. The TCF positions you on a 6-level scale (A1-C2)
established by the Council of Europe. A1 represents a relatively low level and C2 is an
extremely advanced level. In order to place students on this scale, the exam has to include
vocabulary and grammar that is beyond the ability of low-level users of the target
language. This is the only way that it can discriminate between candidates of different
abilities.
For the majority of our students, both TCF will appear difficult. However, do remember
that on a scale, you are only expected to perform at quite a low level to qualify for CEF
reimbursement.
Further information on the content of this test and sample exercises from tests is
available online. You will receive information on the testing sessions around the end of
the course.
The levels you are required to achieve to qualify for CEF reimbursement are:
➢ Certificate in French (Introductory)*: TCF level A1
➢ Certificate in French (Intermediate): TCF level A1
➢ Certificate in French (Upper Intermediate): TCF level A1
➢ Certificate in French (Advanced): TCF level A2
*For the Certificate in French (Introductory), you need to have completed both Part 1
and Part 2 (or the 120-hour course) to qualify.
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5. Further Information
All changes of name, HKID number, date of birth, place of birth, nationality or gender
should be supported by legal documentary evidence.
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5.5 Confidentiality of personal contact information
Some of our teachers like to be able to send information directly to their students by
email, e.g. learning materials or urgent course matters. This is done on a purely voluntary
basis and it is absolutely fine if you prefer to opt out of such group communication and
choose not to reveal your contact details to the teacher or other students.
Academic Freedom
4. In terms of promoting civility on the campus (which includes in this context all
HKU SPACE campuses and learning centres), we are committed to ensuring that
transgression of the basic notions of civility listed in paragraph 3 above is not permitted.
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5. The first priority of the School is to provide a high quality, safe and stimulating
learning environment for all our students, full-time and part-time. I ask therefore that
all students and teachers uphold this convention whilst in class so that all may give their
uninterrupted attention to learning and thus ensure the smooth operation of the classroom
environment so as to meet the learning objectives. Education is for all in a spirit of
toleration and respect for each other.
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Appendix 1 Course Overview – French
The School adopts an outcome based approach to learning, meaning that we focus and
organize our programmes and instructional efforts around clearly defined outcomes
which we want our students to demonstrate when they leave school.
Programme objectives:
The course aims to
a. Introduce students to simple phrases and sentences used in basic conversation,
e.g.: introducing oneself, saying hello, reserving a hotel room, ordering food and drink,
talking about your job, finding your way around town, talking about likes and dislikes
and holidays.
b. Give students the basic grammar and vocabulary needed for simple
communication, e.g. present tense forms, adjectives, articles, basic modal verbs, and
prepositions of place.
c. Provide students with the techniques needed to listen with confidence to
simplified, everyday dialogues when spoken clearly and slowly.
d. Introduce students to some areas of French culture such as food and drink,
greetings, festivals and places.
e. Enable students to extract information from very simple written texts such as
forms, menus and short, simplified articles. Also to write short simple postcards and fill
in information on a form, e.g. hotel registration form.
PILOs:
a. in speaking, to use simple words and phrases to handle basic situations when
travelling .
b. in writing, to produce very short simple texts, e.g. a postcard or form filling.
c. in listening, to demonstrate an understanding of the key ideas from very simple
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conversations when the language is slow and clear.
d. in reading, to extract key idea from menus, forms and short, simplified texts on
everyday topics.
Programme objectives:
This course aims to
a. Increase students’ confidence to deal with everyday spoken situations, e.g.
talking about your home, talking about free time activities (e.g. food, sport and travel),
discussing work and jobs and making simple phone conversations.
b. Consolidate and build on the basic grammar learned in the first year, adding
imperatives, past tenses, comparative and superlatives and simple future.
c. Enable students to write a short simple letter or email and to complete a simple
curriculum vitae in a given format. Also to take down simple notes on a telephone
conversation.
d. Build students’ confidence while listening so that they can demonstrate an
understanding of the main point in short simple messages and everyday conversations,
e.g. when listening to information about family, the local area and hobbies or when
listening to basic information on the telephone.
e. Introduce students to some important areas of French culture, e.g. culinary
specialities, regions of France, housing, industry (e.g. tourism and fashion).
PILOs:
a. in speaking, to handle common everyday situations such as talking about
personal interests, home and work, when the language is clear and slow; also, to make
simple phone conversations.
b. in writing, to write a short simple letter or email and to take down notes on a
basic telephone conversation.
c. in listening, to follow the most important information from short and simple
messages / everyday conversation and basic telephone conversations.
d. in reading, to find specific, information in simple texts such as information
leaflets, recipes, timetables and advertisements. Also to follow the main ideas in
simplified articles, e.g. magazine-type and newspapers.
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Certificate in French (Upper Intermediate) (120 hours)
*equivalent to B1 level in the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)
This course continues to build upon the language already acquired in the first two years,
adding key grammar and vocabulary and practicing this in simple discussions, role-plays
and group work, so that students can talk with confidence about the past, present and
future.
Programme objectives:
This course aims to
a. Improve students’ spoken fluency while expressing opinions and plans on a
range of topics: e.g. free time activities, sport, culture, art, food and drink, holidays etc.)
b. Consolidate and deepen students’ grammatical accuracy while speaking and
writing.
c. Enable students to write a variety of simple texts on topics of personal interest.
d. Build students’ confidence while listening so that they can demonstrate an
understanding of and respond to challenging situations on the phone and in daily
conversation.
e. Increase students’ knowledge of the French culture so that they can compare it
with their own and deal more easily with everyday situations while in France.
PILOs:
a. in speaking, to describe experiences and events, express opinion, future plans
and deal with most situations when travelling.
b. in writing, to produce simple texts on topics that are familiar or of personal
interest.
c. in listening, to demonstrate an understanding of the main ideas when discussing
familiar matters and making phone calls.
d. in reading, to extract key ideas from texts on everyday topics.
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Programme objectives:
This course aims to
a. Listen to and understand authentic listening tasks.
b. Read and react to authentic texts.
c. Speak appropriately in a range of everyday situations.
d. Write sufficiently clearly to convey their meaning in routine situations.
PILOs:
a. in speaking, to express opinions on abstract/cultural matters in a limited way
or offer advice within a known area.
b. in writing, to write letters or make notes on familiar or predictable matters.
c. in listening, to understand instructions or public announcements.
d. in reading, to understand routine information and articles, and the general
meaning of non-routine information within a familiar area.
The following short non-award bearing courses range from 6 to 60 hours in length.
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Advanced French Language Practice / Advanced French Language Practice 2 (60 hours
each)
This is an opportunity for advanced users of French to develop their writing and speaking
skills through newspaper and magazine articles, works of literature, films and television
programmes. The focus is on speaking and practice is in small groups and pair work.
Workshop in French
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Appendix 2
When an announcement is made by the Continue until Continue until the end of that
Hong Kong Observatory that the Tropical Tropical Cyclone examination session unless
Cyclone Signal No. 8 or above is likely to Signal No. 8 is otherwise announced by the
be issued within the next two hours officially issued, School */#
then classes will
be suspended
immediately */#
When Black Rainstorm Signal is in force Continue# Continue#
*It will be the discretion of students, particularly those living in outlying islands or remoter areas, to leave earlier
# all outdoor activities will be suspended
‡
Postponed examinations will be re-scheduled. Students will be informed of the details as soon as possible.
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Appendix 3
Course Dates (Holidays, Exam Dates and Final Course End Dates)
For your ease of planning, the following table summarises holidays, exam dates and projected final course
end dates for the Academic Year 2022-2023. Please make a careful note of these dates. In exceptional
circumstances, classes may have to be cancelled due to unexpected circumstances such as bad weather.
We will, however, endeavour to hold all classes as planned and to complete the course as planned in this
table.
Autumn 2022
120-hour Courses
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