Duration
90h Th
Number of credits
Lecturer
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 has a B1-B2 CEFRL level (B1 for writing, speaking and listening skills, B2 for reading comprehension).
The aim of the course is a) to reactivate, consolidate and extend the students' general language understanding and use, and b) to introduce the specific features of the language related to politics. This is done in the four language skills, i.e. reading, listening, speaking and writing. Concretely students will deal with:
- selected articles and readings (From Dictatorship to Democracy')
- discussions and oral presentations
- writing exercises (definitions, compare and contrast, commentaries, ...)
- grammar revision
- George Orwell's novel 1984 as well as articles contextualising this novel.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
The dual purpose of the course is
- to consolidate and extend the students' general language understanding and use
- to introduce the specific features of the language related to politics
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Intermediate level, A2+ CEFRL level
We highly recommend that beginners and students requiring a deep revision of the basics of the English language take part in the remedial classes.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
In addition to regular preparation work, students will have to:
- do 1 oral presentation
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)
The course is divided into two weekly sessions of 2h in small groups (main course) and 1h, all students together (grammar course) from September to May.
Two more 1-hour sessions will be organized every week, so that students who need them can catch up. One will be dedicated to grammar, the other one to conversation. Depending on your results for the placement test, these courses will be compulsory or optional.
Weekly preparation work is expected. The work load this represents is variable and depends on the students' level of competence.
We strongly advise students to read articles about the themes discussed in class, on their own.
You can also practice your grammar skills online on eCampus thanks to GABi, an on-line English grammar course.
Recommended or required readings
- Course book Political Science - English for First-Year Students available at Intercopy.
- Course book Political Science - English Grammar for First-Year Students available at Intercopy.
- Book Level 4: 1984 (Pearson English Graded Readers, 2008) ( = adapted and simplified version of George Orwell's famous novel 1984).
Assessment methods and criteria
Written exams in January and June, and oral exam in June. The written exam (70%) will include reading and listening comprehension exercises, grammar and vocabulary exercises, and some writing. The oral exam (25%) will deal with articles from a readings file, the oral presentations and the book 1984.
The assessment grid for the oral exam takes into account content and language skills. In case the student did not get at least 4.5/10 for each part, the final grade for the oral exam cannot be equal or above 10/20.
The in-class oral presentation (second term) accounts for 5% of the final grade.
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
The placement test will take place on 20/09/2017, 16:15-18:15 in De Méan (B31) from 8.30 to 10.30 in room 202 (B7b - Petits amphis de Physique et Chimie). The test is compulsory for every student except for repeating students who must contact their teacher in order to choose a group.
Contacts
Amaël Verbeure - amael.verbeure@ulg.ac.be Stéphane Ghijsen - s.ghijsen@ulg.ac.be ISLV