English B2.4

Code:

LLC121

Acronym:

IB2.4

Instance: 2016/2017 - 2S

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
LA	43	LA - Study Plan	2	-	6	52	162
LLC	91	Plano Oficial do ano letivo 2013_2014	2	-	6	52	162
LRI	45	Plano Oficial do ano letivo 2013_2014	2	-	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

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

N/A

Program

The syllabus is largely defined by the use of a support text produced by the teachers of B2.4.The main thematic area covered in this semester is “Science Fact and Fiction”. The first half of the semester deals with issues related to scientific research, including significant developments in such diverse fields as genetics, psychology, biology and astronomy and their impact on society and culture. The second half of the semester deals with the area of science fiction, including an overview of how the genre has developed in both books and films and its wider cultural significance. In terms of grammar items, the semester focuses on transitivity and phrasal verbs. 

Mandatory literature

ULL; Cambridge international dictionary of english. ISBN: 0-521-48421-9
Yule, George; Oxford Practice Grammar Advanced, Oxford University Press, 2006. ISBN: 0-19-430916-9

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 two writing tests (a summary of a text and a report), 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.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Prova oral	30,00
Teste	30,00
Trabalho escrito	40,00
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

All students are required to attend 75 % of classes, with some exceptions according to FLUP regulations. Official worker students are not required to attend lessons but must take all components of continual evaluation, according to the dates published in the course programme.

Calculation formula of final grade

The final mark will be calculated based on the following components of assessment: Writing: 40% (two composition tests, both worth 20%); Use of English (Grammar & Vocabulary): 30% (two tests, the first worth 10% and the second 20%) Speaking: 30% (10% from participation in at least two in-class oral discussions, and 20% from a speaking test to be done in pairs at the end of the semester). All of these tests are to be done in class, except the second Use of English test, (which will be done with all the students together on a Saturday morning after classes have finished) and the final paired speaking test (which will take place after the end of the course). No dictionaries are permitted in any test.

Examinations or Special Assignments

RESITS. Students may only repeat ONE written test for which they have a negative mark. Students must inform their teacher in writing (via email) which test they wish to repeat so that their names are generated automatically for the ‘recurso’ marks list on Sigarra.

Internship work/project

N/A

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

According to FLUP regulations

Classification improvement

Students who wish to improve their final mark may only repeat ONE written test. Students must inform their teacher in writing (via email) which test they wish to repeat. Students must also be properly enrolled for ‘melhoria’ with the ‘Serviços Académicos’ so that their names are included in the marks list on Sigarra.

Observations

Worker students should maintain contact with their class teacher and colleagues in order to remain informed as to progress and dates for tests, etc.