Programmes

General Information

Phenomena such as globalisation, integration and industrialisation have increased mobility within the world for economic, sociocultural and political motives hence the need for language competency. This need has equally cascaded to the professional arena whereby the world’s economic market has become cross-cultural and needs a workforce that can meet the needs of their multicultural clients. Employers want a blend of academic achievement with well-balanced intercultural skills. This can be achieved through a language competency and French has over the years taken the lead in being this language of choice in Africa and the world. Regional and International economic blocks like SADC, AU, EU and the UN are such living testimonies of the importance of French in the many economic sectors. Today’s students and professionals understand that they live in a global village and that the professional standards of excellence are now internationally shared. Acquiring the ability to speak foreign languages and to have multi/intercultural competencies are part of these standards, hence the need for French today.

This focused programme aims at producing professionals whose level of Proficiency in French is excellent and who are better equipped academically and professionally to integrate the regional and the international globalized job market.

Programme Regulations

Except as provided here, General Regulations for the Faculty of Humanities shall apply. Eligibility for admission to the programme shall be according to the General Regulations of the Faculty of Humanities and as follows:

1. Pre-Requisite Learning and Qualification
   
   The profile of the students enrolling in the programme will be BA degree holders, in-service training personnel, and professionals such as teachers, translators, interpreters, journalists, diplomats, etc. from both private and public sectors, in Botswana, the Region and internationally. In accordance with the terms of the University’s Articulation, Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning Policy, applicants from other study and work–experience backgrounds shall be considered for admission.
    
2. Eligibility for admission to the programme
   
   Eligibility for admission to the programme shall be in accordance with:
   • The Entrance Qualification of the Academic General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies (41.3): the normal minimum entrance requirement shall be a Bachelor’s degree of this or any other recognized University or equivalent institution with at least a second class, second division or equivalent (3.0 GPA, on a 5-point scale) in the relevant field. Applicants who have completed a post-graduate diploma are eligible for admission into a Master’s programme. The number of credits to be allowed towards the Master’s programme will be assessed on admission.
   • The Departmental Special Regulations: a) A candidate must hold a Major in French in a Single Major or Combined-Major Bachelor degree programme, from this university or another recognized institution; or b) A degree classification of Second class second division/ 2(ii) with at least 65% in the subject French; or c) other qualifications that in the view of Senate are deemed equivalent to those in Graduate School Regulations.
      

3. Credit Transfer
   
   Students within an Exchange Programme shall benefit from the transfer of credits, as stipulated in the UB Regulations and/or Memoranda of Understanding.

4. Recognition of Prior Learning
   
   The Department shall interview candidates whom it deems worthy of admission but who do not satisfy the requirements of the regulations.

Programme Structure

This NCQF level 9 two-year MA programme qualification is worth a minimum total of 252 credits and offers three specialisations:

• Translation/ Interpreting
• Teaching of French as a Foreign Language
• Literature

The programme allocates credits as follows:

• 4 Core Curriculum Courses (Language, Culture And Research Methodology): 48 Credits;

• 10 Core courses in the chosen specialisation (Teaching French as a Foreign Language, Literature or Translation/ Interpreting): 120 credits
• 2 Optional courses (to be taken in any other two specialisations): 24 credits
• A Research Essay (Literature) or Teaching Practice + Report (Teaching of French as a Foreign Language) or Translation Placement + Report (Translation/ Interpreting): 60 credits.

The credit weighting across the proposed programme menu of course is based on the Botswana Qualifications Authority guidelines for credit allocation and appropriation, namely: 1 credit is equivalent to 12 notional learning hours. The structure of the proposed programme is as follows:

YEAR 1

Semester One

Take both Core Curriculum courses + 3 courses in the chosen specialisation (total of 5 courses)

CORE CURRICLUM

FRE601 Advanced French Language C1.1  Core Curr.          12
FRE602 Cultural Anthropology & Globalization in Francophone African Countries      Core Curr.          12

Specialisation in LITTERATURE

FRE611 Linguistics Approach to the French Text   Core      12
FRE612 Francophone Literary Theory       Core      12
FRE613 Deconstruction of “Representation” in Literature   Core      12

Specialisation in METHODOLOGY OF FRENCH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

FRE621 French on Specific Purpose: Curriculum Development        Core      12
FRE622 Didactics of Teaching French as a Foreign Language: An Introduction           Core      12
FRE623 Teaching Oral & Written Skills in a French as a Foreign Language Classroom Core      12

Specialisation in TRANSLATION/INTERPRETATION

FRE631 Introduction to Translation Technology    Core      12
FRE632 Theories of Translation & Interpreting      Core      12
FRE633 Conference Interpreting

TOTAL CREDITS 60

Semester Two

Take the Core Curriculum course + 4 courses in the chosen specialisation + minimum 1 option to choose among the other specialisation Core courses offered or any relevant MA programme (total of 6 courses minimum)

CORE CURRICULUM

FRE603 Research Methods & Dissertation Planning Core Curr.          12

Specialisation in LITTERATURE

FRE614 Postcolonial Literary Theory        Core      12
FRE615 Literature, Gender & Sexuality     Core      12
FRE616 Readings & Analysis of Francophone Literary Texts Core      12
FRE617 Popular & Mass Literatures in French        Core      12

Specialisation in METHODOLOGY OF FRENCH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

FRE624 Assessment Practices in French as a Foreign Language        Core      12
FRE625 Teaching French Phonetics         Core      12
FRE626 ICT in the French as a Foreign Language Classroom Core      12
FRE627 Workshop on French Language Curriculum Design 1           Core      12

Specialisation in TRANSLATION/INTERPRETATION

FRE634 Public Service Translation & Interpreting 1            Core      12
FRE635 Audio-visual Translation 1           Core      12
FRE636 Legal Translation & Interpreting 1        Core      12
FRE637 Conference Interpreting 2            Core      12

TOTAL CREDITS 72

YEAR 2

Semester Three

Take the Core curriculum course + 3 specialisation courses + minimum 1 option to choose among the other specialisation Core courses offered or any relevant MA programme (total of 5 courses minimum)

CORE

FRE701 Advanced French Language C1.2  Core Curr.          12

Specialisation in LITTERATURE

FRE711 Seminar in Theory of Literature   Core      12
FRE712 Theory of Reception & Reading    Core      12
FRE713 Comparative Study of the World Literature            Core      12

Specialisation in METHODOLOGY OF FRENCH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

FRE721 Teaching French as a Foreign Language: Module Design      Core      12
FRE722 Analysis, Assessment & Design of Teaching Resources        Core      12
FRE723 Design of digital resources for the French Classroom          Core      12

Specialisation in TRANSLATION/INTERPRETATION

FRE731 Public Service Translation & Interpreting 2            Core      12
FRE732 Audio-Visual Translation 2           Core      12
FRE733 Legal Translation & Interpreting 2         Core      12

TOTAL CREDITS 60

Semester Four

Specialisation in LITTERATURE

FRE714 Research Essay Core      60

Specialisation in METHODOLOGY OF FRENCH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

FRE724 Teaching Practice: Internship      Core      60

Specialisation in TRANSLATION/INTERPRETATION

FRE734 Translation Placement    Core      60

TOTAL CREDITS 252

 

 

YEAR	Semester	Core Curriculum		Core courses in each specialisation		Optional Courses		Essay or Internship	Total
		Courses	Credits	Courses	Credits	Courses	Credits	Credits	Courses	Credits
1	One	2	24	3	36	-	-	-	5	60
	Two	1	12	4	48	1	12	-	6	72
2	One	1	12	3	36	1	12	-	5	60
	Two	-	-	-	-	-		60	-	60
TOTAL		4	48	10	120	2	24	60	16	252