Class contents and exam requirements

a.y. 2014-2015
Class contents and exam requirements
Code 20366-20372 and 20416
French Language – First and Second language
B2 business
Class contents and exam requirements are the same for both attending students and non-attenders
Program
Degree course
Teaching activity
Objective
Final Exam
Master of Science
M, IM, MM, AFC, CLAPI, CLEFIN-FINANCE, CLELI, ACME, DESESS, EMIT
Annual: 1° year, 2nd semester (36 hours) - 2° year, 1st
semester (36 hours); (total classroom teaching hours 72).
The course is activated if there is a sufficient number of
participants
 language skills for the B2 business language exam
(counts towards the Master CEMS and replaces the MBC
test, provided the candidate has attended a B2 course for
at least one semester)
 To acquire the language skills required for
communicating at work without difficulty
 Bocconi internal exam (B2 business*) or an international
certification from among those recognized by the
University
st
 4 credits, 2° year, 1 semester
Bianca Maria San Pietro
Head Teacher
* Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
Set Textbook



SCHENA L. , DESOUTTER C. , ZORATTI C. , Le Français en contexte, LED - Milano 2003
DESOUTTER C. , ZORATTI C. , Vers les écrits professionnels. Principes et pratiques, Edizioni
LED - Milano 2011
Authentic materials supplied by the teacher in class: newspaper and magazine articles, videos,
internet, radio and TV programmes
We remind you that the Language Center offers to all students an information and consultancy service for
the study of languages. In addition, at its language laboratories, multimedia library, and online a variety of
materials for students wishing to prepare for international certificates recognized by the University also for
Bocconi exams (visit: www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter).
Resources
Materials prepared by professors
Self-study programme
Past exams
Extra teaching materials
Language tutors
Office Hours for Bocconi teachers
1
International certificates recognized
Classroom activities & skills
Teaching intends to promote the acquisition of professional language skills.
In particular, the following will be treated through topics covered in the textbook:
 extension of business vocabulary
 development of listening, reading, speaking and writing skills. Tasks will be set individually or in
small groups, at times requiring presentations to the whole class; editing professional documents
(formal letter, e-mail, report)
 mock exam simulation for internal examination
 grammar revision
Self-Study activities & skills
In order to acquire language skills and to prepare correctly for the Bocconi exam, it is important to attend
lessons regularly as well as to follow a self-study program.
To reach this objective a series of activities are indicated to be carried out from the following textbook:
“Vers les écrits professionnels”, ch. 10, pp. 190-201, and “Le français en contexte” Unités d’application 19* and self-study modules available on the e-learning platform.
In the Library you can find materials (including past exam) provided by the class professor.
It is suggested to dedicate 3-5 hours weekly for independent study.
Topic/Units
Grammar/Skills
L’environnement socioéconomique
La conjoncture économique
L’Union Européenne
La mondialisation
La création d’entreprise
Profil du créateur
Naissance de l’idée
Montage du projet
Lancement de opérations
Les ressources humaines
La gestion du personnel
Les relations sociales
Analyser les données socioéconomiques d’un pays
Décrire le parcours du créateur
Présenter une entreprise (activité,
forme juridique, implantation…)
Comprendre une annonce
Rédiger un CV, une lettre de
motivation
Analyser un contrat de travail
Fixer, reporter, annuler un rendezvous
Rédiger une note d’information, un email
La démarche mercatique
Réaliser un questionnaire d’enquête
La connaissance du marché Positionner un produit
Les méthodes de distribution Rédiger un compte-rendu
Les moyens de
Analyser différents moyens de
communication
communication
L’activité productive
Comprendre et expliquer un processus
L’organisation de la
de fabrication
production
Rédiger le compte-rendu d’une visite
La contrefaçon
La négociation commerciale
Comparer les différents moyens de
La force de vente
passer commande
Self-Study
(see textbooks)*
Comparer, commenter des
données chiffrées
Quantifier
Situer une action dans le temps
Localiser dans l’espace
Présenter un parcours
professionnel
Situer une action dans le temps
Se justifier, exprimer la cause
Exprimer la finalité, le but
Rapporter les propos d’autrui
Exprimer une idée d’opposition,
de concession
2
La commande
Le service clientèle
Les résultats de l’entreprise
La banque – les moyens de
paiement
Les assurances et la protection
sociale
Les risques
Le contrat d’assurance
L’Etat providence
Les échanges internationaux
Formuler une réclamation par
lettre/e-mail
Demander un délai de paiement
Comprendre un communiqué
financier, un bilan
Découvrir les services bancaires
Demander un report d’échéance
S’informer sur les conditions du
contrat d’assurance
Résumer un texte
Comparer, analyser des données
chiffrées
Conseiller sur des habitudes
culturelles
Exprimer une comparaison
Exprimer l’hypothèse, la
condition
Exprimer la conséquence
Articuler un discours
Exam content and description
The exam is scored out of a maximum of 30 points, which will go into the calculation of your grade point
average, and evaluates your ability to:
 understand fairly long and complex listening passages, making notes and reworking the information
heard
 write structured texts of various types
 oral interaction: presentation and discussion
 demonstrate your knowledge of the language, by correctly using a range of vocabulary and
grammatical structures
Rules
The exam consists of a written paper and an oral exam. Both need to be passed for the grade to count
towards the final average. In order to take the oral exam, it is necessary to:
 Pass the written exam (minimum mark 18/30)
 Have a test score that hasn’t expired, i.e. that is still valid (see Written Exam, Validity)
Students can choose to retake the written exam before taking the oral exam but must remember that
handing in their paper annuls any previous grade given.
The Oral exam is compulsory and the score is added to the written grade.
We would like to remind students that, in order to take the exam, they must register for the exam session
in question at the Punto Blu.
Passing the B2 business language exam qualifies a student for the Master Cems provided at least one
semester of the course has been attended.
Written Exam
First part
Objective
Listening to one or more passages – monologues, dialogues, debate, poll – containing
data, opinions, descriptions, explanations
Check candidates’ ability to:
- understand a listening passage and make brief notes on the information contained
therein;
- report accurately in a structured written form the information and opinions expressed,
possibly adding also a personal comment
3
Test
Writing memos, letters or short reports according to instructions given
Second part
Reading comprehension of one or more authentic texts, possibly also containing graphs,
tables, images
Objective
Checking candidates’:
- ability to understand written texts;
- ability to write structured texts suitable for professional use
Test
Writing a short report according to the documents given, from a
personal point of view and with a format given
Duration
120 minutes after the listening
Dictionary
Bilingual dictionary can be used
Validity
it is valid for the 3 subsequent oral exams, and it is also valid for the subsequent 12
months but there is a penalty that must be paid (see Oral Exam, Validity)
Oral Exam
Objective
Skill
15/30
15/30
Discussion of the topic presented led by the examiners using ad hoc questions
Presentation and discussion
The student presents a dossier of at least four or five articles (taken from French or
Italian press) which relate to each other concerning one of the topics contained in the
course and approved by the teacher during the students consultation hours prior the
exam.
It is indispensable that the above-mentioned items are prepared thoroughly for the
Test
oral exam and students are advised to prepare themselves well in advance of the
date. Details on how to prepare for the exam are to be found online in the library for
each language (Bocconi e-learning platform) or at:
http://www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter in Self-Study > Online materials
Duration
15 minutes
Dictionary
Dictionaries are not allowed
The oral exam can only be taken once you have passed the written exam. Students
will be assessed in terms of their practical ability to communicate. During the oral
exam marks can be added to or subtracted from the written exam result in the
following way:
Validity
 by +3 or -3, if the oral exam is passed within the 3 oral exams subsequent to
the written exam;
 by +1 or -3, if the oral exam is passed after the first 3 subsequent oral exams,
but still by 12 months subsequent to the written exam
As an alternative to the Bocconi exam, students may choose to register one of the international
certifications recognized by the University. The achieved result is converted into a number grade out of a
possible thirty and is registered in the academic career.
Additional Points
The assessment of language skills depends both on the result of the final exam and on marks awarded
during the year:
4
1.
Positive participation in the course and completion of self-study activities
2.
Partial Exam
3.
The exam passed the first time it is taken
Points are registered at the same time the oral exam is passed
1. Positive participation in the course and completion of self-study activities
Objective
To encourage constant and active improvement in the language
 2 thirtieth: 1 thirtieth for each semester of teaching for active
Maximum points
participation in at least 75% of lesson hours + completion of the selfawardable
study programme
Defined by professor at the end of the course on the basis of quality of work
Assignment of
performed and respected due dates as indicated by the professor in the
points
classroom and also online
From January to the September immediately following the course. These months
Validity
are included
2. Partial Exam
Objective
Maximum points
awardable
Assignment of
points
Dictionary
Duration
Validity
Test
Note
To encourage constant and active improvement in the language
 0,5 thirtieth is awarded on the condition that students pass their final
written and oral exam within the first or second scheduled exam session
Determined by the teacher but only awarded to students who have passed the
exam
Dictionaries are not allowed
60 minutes
From January to the February immediately following the course. These months
are included
Skills:
-Grammar – Grammar exercises in the following formats: multiple choice
answers, sentence completion;
-Vocabulary exercises in the following formats: sentence completion, cloze test,
multiple choice answers and possibly a short writing
The exam can be taken by attending and non-attending students. It will be held
once per academic year in June after classes have finished for the first semester
(see General Exams calendar for exact date). Students must enrol at the Punto
Blu
3. The exam passed the first time it is taken
Objective
Reward students who sit for the exam only when really well prepared
Maximum points
awardable

Assignment of
points
Automatically, when the student registers for the written exam and hands in the
exam for the first time, and passes it (minimum 18/30)
0,5 thirtieth
5