2019-2020 / LANG1965-1

English 1

Duration

80h Th

Number of credits

 Bachelor in business engineering6 crédits  

Lecturer

David Lombard, Fanny Novakovic, Nathalie Schraepen, Julien Stevens, Andrea Tudino

Coordinator

Nathalie Schraepen

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

All year long, with partial in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

This 80-hour course is based on the "Level-1 Business English Course" (which includes a few exercises adapted from Market Leader Intermediate and Business Partner B1-B2), on some chapters from Murphy's Cambridge English Grammar in use and on some interactive Grammar and Vocabulary tests. It includes the following:


  • Further study of everyday English vocabulary and introduction to business English vocabulary (Topics = business organization, brands, entrepreneurs and working abroad)
  • Review and study of grammar basics
  • Developing reading comprehension of business-related texts from the English-speaking press
  • Communication practice in everyday and business English: short presentations, discussions, dialogues, role-plays based on case studies, etc.
  • Developing writing skills in everyday and business English: descriptions, business emails and letters, short graph descriptions, etc.
  • Developing listening skills thanks to listening comprehension exercises based on audio and video recordings related to business or economics

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

As this is a B1/B2-level course, the key learning outcomes, consistent with the programme, are:

  • understand the main points of a speech or conversation or of radio or television programmes on current events or topics of personal or professional interest, as long as the language is clear and standard.
  • understand articles about contemporary problems in which the writers adopt particular viewpoints as well as the description of events, feelings and wishes.
  • communicate with a degree of fluency on topics that are familiar or of personal or professional interest and present and defend their point of view, taking into account the multicultural and international features of their environment.
  • write simple and clear connected text on topics that are familiar or of personal or professional interest, describe experiences and events, explain the advantages and disadvantages of various options and give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
The course will also encourage students to be creative and self-sufficient and demonstrate scientific precision and a critical and ethical mind in the analysis of complex situations.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

This course is not a beginners' course. It is an intermediate-level business English course that corresponds to Council of Europe level B1/B2. Therefore the level required to take this course is a good basic knowledge of English (secondary/ high school level or Council of Europe level A2/B1). This course can be complemented by an evening class or an @lter course. For more information go to www.islv.ulg.ac.be.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

This class uses a dynamic, interactive and efficient approach to learning business English and is based on the "Level-1 Business English coursebook", interactive grammar and vocabulary tests and a grammar book. In class a variety of activities enable the presentation, assimilation and practice of the language material from the book, such as PowerPoint presentations, role-plays based on case studies and debates.

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

The in-class course is taught to a maximum of 35 students for three hours every week.
Students are required to prepare the units from the coursebook every week (two units per term). This preparation work varies in time depending on the students' previous knowledge. Regular work is essential as students are expected to participate actively in class discussions and debates.

Recommended or required readings

Compulsory:

  • "Level-1 Business English coursebook" (ISLV): programme & requirements, useful tips & pronunciation, writing exercises: available on lol@ and at Intercopy (Sart Tilman) from September 16th, 2019
  • "Level-1 Business English coursebook supplement" (ISLV): 4 units (Organisation, Brands, Entrepreneurs & Travel) available on Lol@ (Units 1 & 2 from September 16th, 2019)
  • Readings file for the oral exam: available on lol@ and at Intercopy from September 30th, 2019
  • MURPHY, R., "English Grammar in Use" (intermediate), 4th edition with answers, Cambridge University Press
Recommended:
  • "Grammaire anglaise de base" (with exercises and key) (ISLV): available at the "Editions ULg" and the "Point de Vue" (Sart Tilman).
  • ROBERT & COLLINS Dictionary.
  • "Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English" or "The Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary of Current English".
  • "Oxford Business English Dictionary for Learners of English", Oxford University Press.

Assessment methods and criteria

1. Continuous assessment:

  • Assessment test at the beginning of the year
  • Regular interactive in-class grammar and vocabulary tests
  • Written assignments
2. Written exams (14/20):
January written exam (5/20)
  • Exercises on the vocabulary and grammar seen in Q1
May written exam (9/20)*
  • Exercises on the vocabulary and grammar seen in Q2
  • Reading comprehension exercises based on an unseen text
  • Writing exercises
*The students who do not pass in January (i.e have less than 50%) will have an extra section in the May exam.  Those who did not pass in January and have a second session in English will have an extra section in the written exam in August.
3. Oral exam (4/20):
  • 20-minute discussion based on 25 pages of texts from the British and American press in a readings file
4. Listening comprehension exam (2/20)
N.B: The pass mark is at least 10/20. Marks between 9.5 and 10 will not be rounded up.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Students can also train on-line on the ISLV (Institut Supérieur des Langues Vivantes) website thanks to the GABi (Grammaire anglaise de base interactive) and the EGIPT grammar test. To do so, simply log on to the ISLV website (http://www.islv.ulg.ac.be). Students just have to click on "Les cours et les stages" and then on "Langues étrangères" for the GABi and on "Les Tests" for the EGIPT test. In the "Tests" menu, there is also information on the Cambridge tests which the University of Liège organises in May every year. The GABi is available in your list of courses (ISLV0000-3.2) on ecampus (myuliege).
Students should make sure that they keep up to date with the messages and practice exercises on http://lola2019.hec.uliege.be.
A compulsory placement test will be organised during the first week of class (Thursday, September 19th, 2019 at 4pm in room Wilmotte (3rd floor, A2 building, Place Cockerill in Liège).

Contacts

 

  • David LOMBARD David.Lombard@uliege.be
  • Fanny NOVAKOVIC Fanny.Novakovic@uliege.be
  • Nathalie SCHRAEPEN N.Schraepen@uliege.be
  • Julien STEVENS julien.stevens@uliege.be
  • Andréa TUDINO andrea.tudino@uliege.be
  • ISLV office in Sart Tilman: level -1 in Bldg B33 (Trifac) 04 366 46 52

Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the May-June 2020 session

Teaching methods implemented : distance-learning

The following elements have been implemented and are centralized on the Lol@ page of the course:
- Interactive exercises (Wooclap and Socrative quizzes)
- Keys to some exercises in units 3 and 4 and glossaries
- Classes via video conference where students can interact actively with us and ask any questions they may have on the course.
 - A document listing the main information about the final exam as well as the resources provided and where to find them has been sent to the students and posted on Lol@.
 

Assessment subjects

No change

Assessment methods

Oral exam online for 30 minutes
This exam will test:
> the student's ability to communicate ideas clearly and effectively and also to answer content-based and opinion-based questions about texts from a readings file. (10/20)
> the vocabulary and grammar seen in the course. (5/20)
There will also be an extra section on the vocabulary and grammar covered in the first term for the students who obtained less than 10/20 for the January exam. This section will count for 25% of the final mark (5/20), as initially planned.

Contacts

  • David LOMBARD David.Lombard@uliege.be
  • Fanny NOVAKOVIC Fanny.Novakovic@uliege.be
  • Nathalie SCHRAEPEN N.Schraepen@uliege.be
  • Julien STEVENS julien.stevens@uliege.be
  • Andréa TUDINO andrea.tudino@uliege.be
  • ISLV office in Sart Tilman: level -1 in Bldg B33 (Trifac) 04 366 46 52

Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the Aug-Sept 2020 session

Assessment subjects

The criteria are the same as for the first session of exams in June 2020.

Assessment methods

The criteria are the same as for the first session of exams in June 2020.

Contacts

The contacts are the same as for the first session of exams in June 2020.