2 FRENCH FOR GENERAL STUDIES

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A PROPOSAL FOR THE TEACHING OF FRENCH AS A GENERAL STUDIES
PROGRAMME IN LINE WITH THE NUC BENCHMARK MINIMUM
ACADEMIC STANDARDS FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES IN NIGERIAN
UNIVERSITIES
1.0 BACKGROUND
The National Universities Commission recommended that French be taught as a General
Studies Course for all undergraduate programmes in Nigerian Universities. This
recommendation is in line with the 1996 Presidential Declaration of French as “the second
official language in Nigeria”. The natural geographical location of Nigeria as an Anglophone
oasis in a desert of Francophone neighbours, as well as the challenges of a globalised world
economy, imposes, as it were, the teaching of French in the Nigerian educational curricular as a
child of necessity, if our graduates must be globally competitive. There is no doubt that our
graduates will be better and hotter professionals if they are bilingual.
In response to NUC’S BMAS, several Nigerian Universities have since been teaching
French as a General Studies Course. Some of these include University of Nigeria, Nsukka,
University of Lagos, Delta State University. Others are Benue State University, Akwa Ibom
State University, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo and Caleb University, Imota-Lagos, Covenant
University, Bells University and Redeemers University, among others. Some, like the University
of Nigeria, Nsukka teach French as a compulsory course to some faculties for two academic
sessions.
With an ultra-modern language laboratory, a corps of qualified and dedicated staff, the
University of Calabar is today better positioned to mount the French programme and, thus,
fulfil the NUC requirement in this regard, hence this proposal.
2.0 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME
The Communication in French programme has been designed with the following specific
objectives in mind:
i. To develop in the learners competencies for the pronunciation of French words (sounds,
intonation, rhythm, etc)
ii. To develop communication skills in the learners’ everyday life situations.
iii. To enable the learners to develop oral expression competencies in French
iv. To make the learners understand simple messages written in French.

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At the end of the two semester programme, it is expected that learners should be able to
understand and react to oral and written messages expressed in French, understand questions,
statements, orders and instructions; know how to ask questions, give orders and issue out
instructions; know how to introduce themselves and be able to find their way around or describe
same to others. They should also be able to express themselves in writing, especially in giving
personal information, providing answers to questions, as well as filling out questionnaires and
other personal data forms, among others.
3.0 CURRICULUM/STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAMME
The design of a two semester one session programme in French is as follows:
FIRST SEMESTER
Course Title: Communication in French 1 2 credit units
Week 1: Introduction générale - Expressions prioritaires/consignes utiles en classe (general
introduction- useful expressions in class).
Week 2 : Se présenter/présenter quelqu’un (how to introduce oneself and others)
Week 3: La salutation – saluer et répondre à des salutations (greetings – how to greet and
respond to greetings).
Week 4: L’alphabet de français et guide de prononciation (the French alphabets and
pronunciation guide).
Week 5: Le temps – les saisons, les mois et les jours (time – seasons and months of the year; days
of the week, etc.).
Week 6: Les chiffres – les nombres cardinaux et ordinaux (number work, how to count,
ordinary numerals, cardinal numbers).
Week 7: Décrire des objets et des personnes autour de soi- emploi de "voilà, voici, il est, elle est,
Il y a, c’est, etc" . (describing objects and people around you using demonstratives like
‘that is, this is, it is; and he is, she is, etc).
Week 8: Le nom et l’article – le genre du nom (nouns and articles, the gender of nouns).
Week 9 : Le verbe « avoir » et son emploi au présent de l’indicatif ; expressions avec « avoir ».
(the verb ‘to have’ and its uses ; expressions with the verb ‘to have’).
Week 10: Exprimer l’appartenance – c’est mon/ma ; c’est le mien/la mienne ; il/elle est à moi et
les formes plurielles. (Expressing possession – it’s my, it’s mine, it belongs to me, etc).
Week 11: Le verbe “être” et son emploi au présent de l’indicatif – expressions avec « être » (the
verb ‘to be’ and how to use it in the present tense ; fixed expressions using the verb ‘to
be’).

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Week 12: Demander/donner les informations pratiques – âge, nationalité, temps, lieu, etc.
(asking and giving practical information about one’s age, nationality, time, place, etc).
Week 13: Le verbe “aller” et son emploi au présent de l’indicatif. (The verb ‘to go’ and its use in
the present tense).
Week 14 – 15: Révision générale (general revision).
Week 16: Examens (Examinations).
SECOND SEMESTER
Course Title: Communication in French 2 2 Credit units
Week 1: Vocabulaires pratiques – à la maison, au marché…l’achat et la vente ; au
restaurant…commander quelque chose. (daily vocabulary – at home, at the
market…buying and selling; at the restaurant…order for something to eat).
Week 2: Inviter/répondre à une invitation (inviting and responding to invitations)
Week 3: Vocabulaires pratiques – à l’aéroport, a l’hôpital, à la banque (practical daily
vocabulary at the airport, at the hospital, at the bank).
Week 4: Les verbes du premier groupe ‘–er’ (the first group verbs, that is verbs which have
their suffixes as ‘–er’).
Week 5: Exprimer son état de santé (how to express one’s state of health)
Week 6: Affirmation et négation – oui/non ; vrai/faux ; c’est…/ce n’est pas ; ne…pas, etc. (how
to express affirmations and negations)
Week 7: Exprimer l’accord et le désaccord (how to express agreements and disagreements)
Week 8 : Les verbes du deuxième groupe -ir, oir (treatment of the second group French verbs;
verbs with suffixes in ‘ir and oir’)
Week 9 : Le pluriel des noms et des adjectifs (the plural of nouns and adjectives)
Week 10 : Structure des interrrogatives simples - emploi de "est-ce que", ‘n’est-ce pas’ et
l’inversion du verbe
Week 11 : Les verbes du troisième groupe- "re" (treatment of the third group verbs with
suffixes in ‘re’)
Week 12 : Exprimer ses goûts et préférences (how to express one’s tastes and preferences)
Week 13 : Engager une conversation -des canevas (how to engage in simple conversations)
Week 14-15 : Lectures en français facile et révision générale (readings in simple French texts)
Week 16 : Examens (Examinations)

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4.0 STAFF DISPOSITION
5.0 S
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6.0
NAME
QUALIFICATION
RANK
SPECIALIZATION
1.
Prof. I. A. Noah
B.A.(ABU); M.A., Ph.D
(Paris III)
Professor
Literature/Language&
Grammar
2.
Prof. Z. I. Akpagu
B.A, M.A., (Calabar) ; Ph.D (Benin
City); PGDE (Calabar)
Professor
Literature/Culture&
Civilisation
3.
Prof. F. U. Angrey
NCE (Okene); B.A. (Nsukka); M.A.,
Ph.D (Calabar)
Professor
Literature/Language&
Grammar
4.
Prof. G. Simire
NCE (Abraka); B.A. (Ibadan); M.A.,
MPil (Grenoble III);PhD (Nice-
France)
Professor
Language Didactics
5.
Dr. C. N. Odock
M.Sc., DEA, Ph.D (Bordeaux-France)
Assoc. Prof.
International Relations
6.
Dr. (Mrs.) C. A. Agbor
B.A. (Hons), M.Ed, Ph.D (Calabar)
Assoc. Prof.
French Education
7.
Dr. E. I. Iwunze
B.A., M.A., Ph.D (Uturu)
Senior
Lecturer
Translation
8.
Dr. B. O. Oben
B.A., M.A., Ph.D (Calabar); Diplôme
d’Études françaises (Besançon)
Senior
Lecturer
Literature
9.
Dr.(Mrs.)V.E. Odey
NCE (Uyo); B.A.Ed. M.A., MPA,
Ph.D (Calabar); Diplôme d’Études
françaises (Besançon)
Senior
Lecturer
Language & Grammar
10.
Dr. S. F. Nzuanke
B.A. (Calabar); M.A. (Buea-
Cameroon); MPA, Ph.D (Calabar)
Senior
Lecturer
French in International
Relations/Translation&
Interpretation
11.
Dr. (Mrs.) O. E. Ebong
B.A, M.A., Ph.D (Calabar) ; PGDE
Lecturer I
French in International
Relations/Translation
12.
Dr. (Mrs.) T. B. Akpama
NCE (Nsukka); B.A. (Ife); M.Ed.,
Ph.D (Calabar)
Lecturer I
Language Education
13.
Dr. E. N. Nwobu
NCE (Awka); B.A.Ed. (Nsukka); PGD,
M.A., Ph.D (Awka)
Lecturer I
French Linguistics & German
14.
Dr.(Mrs.) A. A. Ajimase
NCE (ABU); B.A. (Uyo); M.A., Ph.D
(Calabar); Diplôme d’Études
françaises (Besançon)
Lecturer I
Literature/Translation
15.
Dr. G. M. Umukoro
B.A., M.A., PGDPA, Ph.D (Calabar)
Lecturer I
Culture&
Civilization/Literature
16.
Dr. Q. O. Ayeni
B.A. (Uyo); M.A., PDGE Ph.D
(Calabar); Diplôme d’Études
françaises (Nantes)
Lecturer I
French in International
Relations/Translation
17.
Mr A. I. Asuquo
Licence, Maitrise (Paris)
Assistant
Lecturer
Language Education
18.
Mrs Endong,Grace N.
Licence (Spanish) Dschang; M.A.
(Yaounde I)
Assistant
Lecturer
Spanish French Languages

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19.
Mrs. G. J. Ibatt
B.A. (Hons) , M.A. (Calabar)
Assistant
Lecturer
Language & Grammar
20.
Mr. E. Oza Anaba
B.A. Hons. (Nsukka)
Assistant
Lecturer
Translation
21.
Mrs.Ohanyere,Lilian O.
B.A. (Hons), M.A. (Owerri)
Assistant
Lecturer
Literature
22.
Mrs.J. Benjamin Inyang
B.A. (Hons), M.A. (Calabar)
Assistant
Lecturer
Translation
23.
Mr. Chinweze Nwagwu
B.A. (Hons), M.A. (Uturu)
Assistant
Lecturer
Translation
24.
Mr. Etete G. Mbey
B.A. (Hons), M.A. (Calabar)
Assistant
Lecturer
Translation
25.
Miss. K. Okoi Itam
B.A. (Hons) (Banjul)
Graduate
Assistant
Language & Grammar
26.
Mr. P. Akongfeh Agwu
B.A. (Hons) (Calabar)
Graduate
Assistant
Language &Literature
27.
Mr. Kati Ushie George
B.A. (Hons) (Calabar)
Graduate
Assistant
Language & Grammar
28.
Ms. Grace Ngaji
B.A. (Hons) (Calabar)
Graduate
Assistant
Language & Grammar
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Mr. Waliya Yohanna
Joseph
B.A. (Hons) (Calabar)
Graduate
Assistant
Language &Literature
We shall also engage lecturers from other Departments who have competencies in French as the
need arises.
5.0 PRAYERS AND CONCLUSION
The Senate of the University of Calabar is hereby prayed to approve the teaching of
Communication in French as a General Studies Course to all undergraduate programmes of the
University, with effect from the next academic session, in line with the NUC recommendations.