38th Annual Student Research Conference
Intermediate to Advance Transitional French Courses
Bailey L. Redford
Dr. Erin Joyce, Faculty Mentor
This paper advocates for the creation of a transition course to bridge the gap between intermediate and advanced French language studies. Drawing on research that highlights the effectiveness of immersive, multimedia-based teaching methods (e.g., Landes & Audigier, 1995; Gateway Course), it argues that combining audiovisual resources, native speaker interactions, and literature-based activities can enhance both linguistic proficiency and cultural understanding. Studies on Integrated Performance Assessments (e.g., Darhower & Smith-Sherwood, 2021) show the value of integrating oral tasks and critical thinking in advanced language courses. The proposed transition course incorporates these strategies, offering students a mix of intermediate-level practice and advanced materials to improve their speaking, reading, writing, and listening skills. By providing targeted support, this course ensures smoother progression to higher-level French courses, fostering greater confidence and competence in students.
Keywords: French courses, Advanced level, Linguistics, Language courses, Language learners, Transition, Second language acquisition, Intermediate to advanced
Topic(s):French Capstone
Education
French
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Session: 302-3
Location: SUB 3202
Time: 1:30