Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
English Language II
Teaching staff
By appointment.
Introduction
The aim of this programme is primarily to provide students with the skills and knowledge to practice and perform the linguistic tasks related to everyday life in English. Emphasis is given to the linguistic skills of speaking and writing using a communicative approach whilst short texts are also used to deepen their knowledge and understanding of language structures and use of new vocabulary.
The programme contains 3 elements that include class-based lessons, tutorials and self study. The teacher-led lessons focus on speaking and writing about personal experiences and opinions whilst the reading activities are based on various aspects of everyday contexts, culture and society. Tutorials will focus on student development and interpersonal skills and will include evaluated group projects. The final part being the self study or ‘distance learning’ element which primarily focuses on developing listening skills, consolidating grammar and increasing the autonomy of the learner with respect to learning a foreign language.
All three elements have been specifically designed to provide students with the skills, knowledge and resources that will increase their confidence in order to communicate effectively in English.
In the event that the teaching staff detects plagiarized work or a student copying during an exam, the Humanities Faculty will be notified and the relevant measures will be taken, including being given an automatic grade of 0 for that subject and going directly to the second sitting.
Pre-course requirements
Preferred mínimum global level is that of a B1+ before the start of the course
Objectives
Classroom:
To prepare and equip students with the necessary lexical and grammatical knowledge and understanding to become effective communicators in English in everyday personal and academic contexts.
To reinforce the receptive skills of reading and listening through practice, using a variety of stimuli and to facilitate the improvement of the productive skills of speaking and writing.
Tutorial:
To develop students’ interpersonal skills and ability to work with others in English.
Self Study:
To develop listening skills and familiarization with different accents and vocabulary relating to common situations and familiar matters, consolidate grammar usage and train students in how to learn a language independently using ICT and internet-based resources.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- CN01 - Students will be able to analyse and interpret imaginary and iconic, symbolic and representational language in the context of humanistic disciplines.
- CP05 - Students will be able to analyse socio-cultural, historical and artistic structures, from a respect for the fundamental rights of equality between men and women, using language that avoids androcentricity and stereotypes.
- HB02 - Students will be able to convey information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
- HB03 - Students will be able to develop a coherent understanding and expression of ideas and arguments, both orally and in writing.
- HB06 - Students will be able to plan tasks and projects in an organised and structured manner.
- HB12 - Students will be able to adequately and effectively apply methods and techniques specific to different humanities disciplines when problem solving and when elaborating critical and well-founded arguments.
- HB18 - Students will be able to present the results of their research in a narrative way, following the critical standards of each discipline.
- HB19 - Students will be able to analyse original texts or documents in their mother tongue and in other languages, with appropriate summaries and categorisation techniques.
- HB20 - Students will be able to use sources of information in an international context.
Learning outcomes of the subject
Students are expected to achieve or surpass one of the above competencies at a level B1/B1+.
Knowledge of the English language (competency 2)
Students will be able to:
Oral production
a. Carry out with reasonable fluency a straightforward description of one of a variety of subjects within his/her field of interest, presenting it as a linear sequence of points (B1*)
Spoken interaction
b. Communicate with some confidence on familiar routine and non-routine matters related to his/her interests and professional field. (B1.2)
Written production
c. Write straightforward connected texts on a range of familiar subjects within their field of interest, by linking a series of shorter discrete elements into a linear sequence (B1*)
Overall reading comprehension
d. Can read straightforward factual texts on subjects related to his/her field and interest with a satisfactory level of comprehension (B1*)
Listening as a member of a live audience
e. Can follow a lecture or talk within his/her own field, provided the subject is familiar and the presentation straightforward and clearly structured. (B1.2)
*Students already demonstrating linguistic skills at a level B1+ will be expected to work towards demonstrating these skills at a level B2 or above.
2. To demonstrate the ability to learn autonomously (competency 30)
3. To be able to develop abilities for interpersonal relations (competency 16)
Syllabus
Topics:
Students will cover topics related to areas of literature, history and philosophy.
Language knowledge:
Students will consolidate the use of present, past and future tenses including perfect and continuous aspects; hypothetical expressions; modal auxiliary verbs; indirect speech; passive structures and sentence patterns.
Teaching and learning activities
In person
In order to develop the linguistic skills of the students (speaking, writing, reading and listening), a variety of classroom materials and range of activities will be employed using a communicative approach. At the same time, students will be expected to actively participate and use their newly acquired knowledge in pairs and small groups.
Emphasis will also be given to preparation for self-study using distance learning tools and internet materials, and this will form an essential part of the course, equipping and motivating students for the life-long learning of English.
| TRAINING ACTIVITY | HOURS | COMPETENCES |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | G02 G16 G30 | |
| 30 | G02 G16 G30 |
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
|
Educational Activity |
% final grade
|
Learning outcomes |
|
Autonomous activities |
15% |
(30) To demonstrate the ability to learn autonomously
|
|
|
||
|
Summarizing texts and lectures |
10%
|
(2) Knowledge of the English language Can read straightforward factual texts on subjects to his/her field and interest with a satisfactory level of comprehension. (B1*) Can write straightforward connected texts on a range of familiar subjects within their field of interest, by linking a series of shorter discrete elements into a linear sequence. (B1*) Can follow a lecture or talk within his/her own field, provided the subject is familiar and the presentation straightforward and clearly structured. (B1.2) |
|
Projects and presentations
|
30% |
(2) Knowledge of the English language (6) To be able to develop abilities for interpersonal relations (30) To demonstrate the ability to learn autonomously Carry out with reasonable fluency a straightforward description of one of a variety of subjects within his/her field of interest, presenting it as a linear sequence of points (B1*) Communicate with some confidence on familiar routine and non-routine matters related to his/her interests and professional field. (B1.2) Can follow a lecture or talk within his/her own field, provided the subject is familiar and the presentation straightforward and clearly structured. (B1.2) |
|
Research paper |
15% |
(2) Knowledge of the English language Can write straightforward connected texts on a range of familiar subjects within their field of interest, by linking a series of shorter discrete elements into a linear sequence. (B1*) |
|
Final Exam |
30% |
(2) Knowledge of the English language Can read straightforward factual texts on subjects to his/her field and interest with a satisfactory level of comprehension. (B1*) Can follow a lecture or talk within his/her own field, provided the subject is familiar and the presentation straightforward and clearly structured.(B1.2) Can write straightforward connected texts on a range of familiar subjects within their field of interest, by linking a series of shorter discrete elements into a linear sequence.(B1*) |
Students are reminded that attendance and participation in class and continuous evaluation are fundamental to passing the course.
- Students with a final mark between 4 and 4'9 in the first sitting only have the right in the second sitting to make up the material that was failed or not handed in.
- Students with a mark that is less than a 4 in the first sitting will have to make up 100% of the subject in the second sitting by producing and defending a dossier before a tribunal and taking a final exam.
In all situations and in both sittings students must show a B1.2 level in English to pass the subject
Bibliography and resources
Class-based materials provided by teacher.
Supplementary materials proved by teacher