English B2.1

Code:

LLC057

Acronym:

IB2.1

Instance: 2014/2015 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Anglo-American Studies
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Languages, Literatures and Cultures

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
CL	14	CL - Study Plan	1	-	6	52	162
LA	49	LA - Study Plan	1	-	6	52	162
LLC	147	Plano Oficial do ano letivo 2013_2014	1	-	6	52	162
LRI	38	Plano Oficial do ano letivo 2013_2014	1	-	6	52	162

Teaching language

English

Objectives

The learning outcomes for this level of foreign language learning correspond largely to those defined by the CEFR. Students can comprehend the key ideas of complex texts about concrete and abstract topics. Students can communicate with a reasonable level of spontaneity and fluency and can interact with native speakers without difficulty. Students are able to produce coherent, detailed texts on several topics and explain a viewpoint on a current issue explaining the pros and cons of different options.

Learning outcomes and competences

By the end of the course the student should have demonstrated the ability to speak and write effectively in English at the level of B2 (CEFR).

 

Working method

Presencial

Program

The syllabus is largely defined by the use of a support text produced by the teachers of B2.1.The main thematic areas covered in this semester are, firstly, ‘Becoming a University Student’, dealing with issues related to student life including student induction; taking a gap-year; financial concerns affecting students, such as fees and loans; going on an (Erasmus) mobility program; relationships; leisure time; and, secondly, ‘Travel and Tourism’, including effects of mass tourism; descriptions of unusual travel experiences; travel guides and brochures; ethical tourism. In terms of grammar focus, the semester focuses on revision of the tense system, particularly looking at Present Perfect, Narrative tenses and Future forms, and on Modal Verbs with particular emphasis on how they are used to express past events. As well as book-based exercises, specific classes are timetabled for intensive work on these items.

Mandatory literature

Eastwood, John; Oxford Practice Grammar, Oxford, 2009. ISBN: 0194579808

Teaching methods and learning activities

The course employs an essentially ‘communicative approach’ to English language teaching. The principle focus is on improving students’ productive skills: speaking and writing. The stimulus for this work is provided by reading and listening texts from a variety of authentic sources, which also help develop the students’ receptive skills. The work undertaken in class involves frequent changes of interaction patterns to ensure a dynamic and participative learning environment. There is also a focus on developing students’ awareness of important grammatical patterns and features of the language as a system. Students are evaluated by means of written tests (two Compositions and one Use of English Test and speaking tests (at least two tutorial discussion groups and a final paired oral). These elements are weighted to provide a balanced evaluation of the students’ productive skills and language awareness.

keywords

Humanities

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	0,00
Participação presencial	0,00
Prova oral	20,00
Teste	80,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	70,00
Frequência das aulas	54,00
Trabalho de investigação	38,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Students are required to attend 75 % of classes, with exceptions according to FLUP regulations. Working students are not required to attend lessons.

Calculation formula of final grade

The final mark will be calculated based on the following components of assessment: Writing: 30% (two composition tests, the first worth 10 and the second 20); Use of English (Grammar, Vocabulary and Listening/Reading Comprehension): 40% (two tests, the first worth 10% and the second 30%) Speaking: 30% (10% from participation in at least three in-class oral discussions, and 20% from an oral exam to be done in pairs at some time in January). TOTAL 100. All of these tests are to be done in class, except the second use of English exam, (which will be done with all the students together on the morning of Saturday 13th December 2014) and the final orals (which will take place during January 2015).

Examinations or Special Assignments

N/A

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

According to FLUP regulations.

Classification improvement

There is no final exam during the 'Época Normal'. As a result, there is also NO 'recurso' exam.

Observations

Worker students must do at least one of the written exams in class time, but can opt to do all of the remaining written evaluation on the morning of Saturday 13^th December 2014. They can also opt not to participate in any of the evaluated tutorial sessions and, in that case, their final oral exam will be worth 30% rather than 20%.