2017-2018 / LANG0913-2

English - Module 1 : Reading of scientific texts

Duration

15h Th, 15h Pr

Number of credits

 Master in population and development studies (120 ECTS)3 crédits 

Lecturer

Frédéric Depas, ISLV

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

This class consists of practical reading comprehension activities based on scientific articles related to the students' curricula and provided by some of the core courses professors.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

The main objective of this course is to help students to improve their reading skills of scientific articles. Students will also be able to make active use of the content of these articles, which are directly relevant to the subject matter of their curriculum.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

The level of this course corresponds to the European levels C1/C2 for reading and B2/C1 for the three other skills. Students will thus need to have a good basic knowledge of English. The class is taught in English.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

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

This 2-hour weekly class is taught in the first semester.
Additional sessions may have to be organised to allow all the students to give their oral presentations.
It is the work done in class that makes this seminar useful and interesting.  Therefore, attendance is compulsory.  Students who attend less than 70% of all classes will not be allowed to take the exam either in the first or in the second session and will be marked as "absent" or "excused" for the whole course.
 

Recommended or required readings

Any messages or documents relating to this course will be posted on eCampus after the introductory class. Information pertaining to the readings file will be given at a later date.

Assessment methods and criteria

  • First session:
1. Continuous assessment: An oral presentation (in pairs) will be organised during the semester. This presentation will count for 4 points out of the 20 points which make up the final mark in the first session.
2. Oral exam:
The final exam is an oral exam with preparation time. Students will have to demonstrate their reading comprehension skills and their ability to discuss the content of the scientific articles. This exam will account for the remaining 16 points of the final mark.


Students will have to answer questions about one of the texts seen in class as well as questions about the text about which they have given an oral presentation.  Students have to have given the presentation to be allowed to take the exam.
  • Second session:
The final exam is an oral exam with preparation time. Students will have to demonstrate their reading comprehension skills and their ability to discuss the content of the scientific articles.
Students will have to answer questions about one of the texts seen in class as well as questions about the text about which they have given an oral presentation.  Students have to have given the presentation to be allowed to take the exam.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

On the day of the oral exam, students have to bring the article that they have presented orally during the term as well as the articles studied in class.  Notes in the articles themselves are welcome, as long as those notes are handwritten.
The use of cell phones for any reason is not permitted in the classroom. 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. 
Students are advised to bring a paper version of the articles to class and to make notes by hand.  However, should exceptional circumstances make the use of a laptop necessary, students are required to let the teacher know before the class.

Contacts

Frédéric Depas F.Depas@ulg.ac.be
ISLV office in Sart Tilman: level -1 in B33 (Trifac), tel: 04 366 46 52

Items online

eCampus
Course material and articles are available on eCampus.