French culture and society

EM1FKM01B1

Program

PGE
Visitants

French Culture and Society

Semester

Discipline

Other

Contact hours

27 H

Number of spots

ECTS

Open to visitors

Yes

Language

Coordinator

Patricia TEHAMI

List of lecturers

Lecturer(s)	Email	Contact hours - lecture
Patricia TEHAMI	patricia.tehami@em-strasbourg.eu	27 h

Pedagogical contribution of the course to the program

No educational contribution associated with this course for this program.

Description

This course aims to allow students to better identify and understand some underlying cultural factors that may impact mindsets, behaviours and practices in today’s France, particularly in the working environment. Beyond unearthing significant trends and patterns, such an approach will also enable students to revisit some workplace clichés traditionally associated with France -quality of life, incessant strikes, the 35-hour week, an overreaching state, to name a few-. By comparing facts and experiences in the home and host countries, the students will enhance their cross-cultural awareness and their ability to better adapt to an ever-changing world. The observation of the French emphasis on continuity through change will finally allow for an assessment of some salient strengths and weaknesses of France as a cultural entity to be reckoned with in social or business interactions and dealings.

Teaching methods

Face-to-face

- Lectures
- Tutorials
- E-learning

In group

- Exercises
- Oral presentations
- Projects
- Case studies/texts

Interaction

- Discussions/debates
- Personal accounts

Others

No items in this list have been checked.

Learning objectives

Cognitive domain

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to

- (level 1) Identify characteristic behaviours and practices
- (level 2) Distinguish facts from clichés
- (level 3) Interpret cultural determinisms
- (level 5) Incorporate data pertaining to different fields
- (level 6) Evaluate one's own observations and interpretations

Affective domain

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to

- (level 3) accept Accept to challenge ideas and opinions about one's own culture and the culture under study

Outline

Course Outline 1° The Overall Picture. Some Facts and Figures. Preliminary observations about the new COVID-19 context. 2° French Paradoxes and Mysteries 3° Education and Work 4° Money and Business 5° From "Made in France" to Brand France 6° Luxury and Innovation 7° Self-Representations: French Symbols - French Exceptionalism 8° The French Language 9° Revisions and exam preparation The above outline is an indicative one. Sections may be expanded or pared down based on developments in the news. This will allow for hands-on observations and more challenging opportunities to form opinions.

No prerequisite has been provided

Knowledge in / Key concepts to master

None apart form a willingness to observe, identify and interpret situations and behaviour while remaining non-judgmental and to further further grasp intrinsic similarities and differences with situations and behaviour in one's home country.

Teaching material

Mandatory tools for the course

- Computer

Documents in all formats

- Newspaper articles
- Case studies/texts
- Worksheets

Moodle platform

- Upload of class documents
- Interface to submit coursework

Software

- Keynote

Additional electronic platforms

- AssessFirst
- CrossKnowledge
- goFLUENT

Assessment

List of assessment methods

Intermediate assessment / continuous assessment 1Other (date, pop quiz, etc.) : Throughout the course
Written and oral (300 Min.) / Individual / English / Weight : 50 %
Details : A group report whose sections will be marked individually - Regular class contribution

Final evaluationExam week
Written (120 Min.) / Individual / English / Weight : 50 %
Details : No class notes or documents will be allowed