English

Duration

20h Th, 60h Pr, 5h Proj.

Number of credits

Lecturer

Christine Filot

Language(s) of instruction

French 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

The course has a B1/B2 (CEFR) level (B2 level for reading comprehension and lecturing). It is essentially an ESP course consisting of:

• Unabridged scientific articles (analysed for their linguistic features and content)
• Debates and presentations
• Exam-format exercises (summaries, definitions, descriptions, presenting arguments ...) of the IELTS, FCE or TOEFL type.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of the first-year course, all students will have developed a general language understanding and use as well as basic knowledge of the specific features of scientific English (vocabulary and grammar).
This general ability will concern the four language skills, namely speaking, reading, listening and writing.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Considering its objectives, the course cannot be seen as an introduction to the basics of the English language.

Therefore, the students who do not have a basic grounding in general English language and grammar (intermediate level - B1) will be asked to participate in a remedial course.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

There will be two compulsory oral presentations, three written assignments (one at home and two in class)and 3 online progress tests (listining comprehension and language exercises) in the course of the year. These exercises will enable the students to improve their knowledge by doing exam-format tasks.
Several other self-assessment tests and one mock exam will also be held in the course of the year.
Due to its particular nature, the English course will not be split into two separate courses, but part of the continuous assessment grade will be given at the end of the first quarter. 

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

A compulsory placement test is held in the first week of the year. Repeaters are the only students to be exempted from the placement test, which will enable us to:
(1) select the best students (with a mark of at least 16 out of 20) for an oral exam in order to exempt them from the compulsory course exercises (presentations, essays and online tests),
(2) divide students into level groups that will see the same Level-A course (but differently) in weekly two-hour sessions (60 hours in all) and
(3) revise the English grammar with the weakest students in a Remedial Course that will be taught for about 20 hours in the first semester.
For both remedial and Level A courses, students will have to do exercises at home every week. The work load this represents is variable as it depends on the students' level of competence. 
Except for the students who will have a grade of 16/20 or above in the entrance test or have a First Certificate with grade A or B or another B2-level international test, NOBODY is exempted from the course compulsory exercises. The 2014-2015 class work note will not be carried over.
 
  

Recommended or required readings

• 2016-2017 coursebook in two volumes : English Level A (Engineers) and Grammar.
• For the remedial course, Remedial English course notes available from the Centrale des Cours.

Assessment methods and criteria

Continuous assessment of progress (20% of the global mark): compulsory written and online tasks and presentations).
Written exam in June (80% of the global mark): scientific vocabulary, listening and reading comprehension, and grammar Multiple Choice Tests + writing tasks).
The papers handed in during the year will be corrected, marked and handed back. They will be assessed according to a number of criteria including their content and internal cohesion, the accuracy of grammar, vocabulary, spelling and punctuation, and the range of vocabulary and structure.
Course attendance is compulsory.
The continuous assessment mark is always taken into account when the student sits the exam for the first time (either in June or in September) ; it is taken into account a second time if it is better than the exam mark.  

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Students can also train on eCampus where various exercises and several past exams with their keys have been posted. 

Contacts

Dr Christine BOUVY - cbouvy@ulg.ac.be - ISLV

Items online