English level 2

Duration

60h Th, 30h Pr

Number of credits

Lecturer

Frédéric Depas, ISLV, Victoria Purchon

Coordinator

Frédéric Depas

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

All year long, with partial in January

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

This course is an upper-intermediate level course for sociology students and it is based on selected audio, video and written documents relative to human sciences.
During the course of the year, exercises will be provided to enhance the four major language skills (listening, speaking, writing and reading) as well as important academic skills such as efficient note taking.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

The course provides a variety of challenging tasks and communicative activities for practising the language.
By the end of the year, students can have achieved the following skill levels as described in the Common European Framework Reference for Languages:

• Listening : B2-C1
• Reading: C1
• Speaking: B2
• Writing: B2

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

This course follows the level-1 course taught in first year (LANG0001-2). The vocabulary and grammar learned in first year are a necessary part of the students' active language skills.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

In addition to attending class regularly, students will be expected to undertake three hours' study in English per week outside the classroom throughout the academic year, i.e research and prepare for upcoming classes as required, organize and acquire a considerable volume of relevant vocabulary, organize their work themselves, either alone or in small teams, and do the exercises from the course notes. Students will be asked to write essays on the different topics discussed in class and to give presentations.

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

The class is taught 3 hours a week over the two semesters.
Students will have to take part actively in three hours of class weekly.
To be ready for this class, students should expect to have to work on average another three hours at home (self-study of grammar, preparation of the grammar and vocabulary exercises, writing exercises and listening practice, readings and information search).
Regular tests will be organised during the year to check how well students have prepared their course. These tests will allow the students to assess what they have learned, what they still need to improve, how much they have progressed and whether their method of working enables them to cope efficiently with the requirements of the course.
Besides, students are expected to have completed all the level B1+ and B2 chapters on GABi by the end of the second term.

Recommended or required readings

Texts and course notes will be available on e-campus and at Intercopy. Students will be expected to bring a printed copy along to class every week.
For their oral exam, students will be required to read one of the following five books:

• Gang Leader for a Day by Sudhir Venkatesh
• The Bottom Billion by Paul Collier
• In Praise of Slowness by Carl Honore
• Drive by Daniel H. Pink
• Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Eherenreich

Assessment methods and criteria

The January exam is an oral exam based on one of the four books indicated above under "required readings."  Students will be required to be able to discuss the issues raised in the book.  Students who have passed the oral exam in January do not have to resit the exam in August.
The June exam, testing the language and skills taught throughout the year, includes a written and a listening exam.
All three parts of the exam are compulsory. In August, students who have not passed the oral exam in January have to take all the different parts of the exam again in August or they will obtain a final mark of 0/20. 
Students who have to retake the exam in the second session but have passed the oral exam in January with 10/20 or more do not have to resit the oral part in August and can keep the January result.
Students can obtain up to 1 mark out of twenty for regular attendance.  Students who attend less than 70% of all classes will obtain 0/1 for their attendance.
A classwork mark of one mark out of twenty will be given based on one oral presentation and one essay in the second semester.
The points that make up the final mark will be distributed as follows: 

• Oral exam - 6 marks
• Attendance - 1 mark
• Classwork (presentation + essay) - 1 mark
• Written exam - 10 marks
• Listening exam - 2 marks

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Regular attendance is absolutely necessary and expected.
The language and skills content of this course cannot be acquired over a short revision period because they require regular work over the academic year.
The use of cell phones for any reason is not permitted in the classroom, and cell phones may not be kept on the desk. Students accessing their cell phones for any reason will be considered disruptive and may be asked to leave the class. Also, laptops are to be used in class only for purposes that are strictly related to class work and only when explicitly allowed by the teacher. Examples of such purposes may be looking up vocabulary or making powerpoint presentations. Using laptops for any other purpose could also result in sanctions.
If exceptional circumstances make the use of a laptop necessary, students are required to let the teacher know before the class.

Contacts

Frederic Depas (F.Depas@ulg.ac.be)
Victoria Lemaire (vlemaire@ulg.ac.be)

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