Duration
13h Th, 39h Pr, 5h Proj.
Number of credits
| Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Engineering | 3 crédits |
Lecturer
Daphné Bui, Sabrina D'Arconso, Pascale Drianne, Jérôme Gaillard, Philippe Jeukenne, Pascal Maquinay, Andrea Tudino, Caroline Van Linthout
Language(s) of instruction
English language
Organisation and examination
All year long, with partial in January
Schedule
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.
This course contributes to the learning outcomes II.1, II.2, V.2, VI.1, VI.2, VII.4, VII.5 of the BSc in engineering.
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 compulsory oral, written and online assignments in the course of the year. These exercises will enable the students to improve their knowledge by doing exam-format tasks.
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, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Further information:
Face-to-face course
Additional information:
A compulsory placement test is held in the first week of the year. Repeaters and students with a CAE/C1Advanced or FCE/B2First certificate (the latter with grade A or B), TOEFL iBt (score 87 and higher) and IELTS (score 4.5 and higher) are the 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 and writing task in order to exempt them from the compulsory course exercises (presentation and essays),
(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. Last year's class work note will not be carried over.
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Further information:
- 2024-2025 coursebook in two volumes : English Level One (Engineers).
- For the remedial course, Remedial English course notes available from the Centrale des Cours.
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire, open-ended questions )
Written work / report
Continuous assessment
Further information:
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire, open-ended questions )
Continuous assessment
Additional information:
Continuous assessment of progress (20% of the global mark): 2 compulsory written tests and 1 presentation.
Students failing to give their presentation or take the 2 tests without valid justification (e.g.medical certificate) will get 0/20 for the continuous assessment grade, regardless of whether they completed the other assignments
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 taken into account in the global grade both in June and September.
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
The course is taught in two series either on Thursday / Wednesday or on Friday based on the students' surnames. Both series are subdivided into 5 groups depending on the students' grades in the entrance test.
Regarding the use of language-generating artificial intelligence:
Unless specific instructions are given by the teacher within the framework of well-defined activities, the ULiège Charter on the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Academic Work applies.
Contacts
Pascale Drianne - p.drianne@uliege.be
ISLV