English

B1.2 level (Strong Threshold)

2017/2018

 Lecturer: Isabel Ferro Mealha

Email address: isabelmealha@campus.ul.pt

 1. Learning outcomes

The course will follow the objectives for the Strong Threshold Level (B1.2) outlined in the Council of Europe document Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEF). At the end of the semester, the student will be able to maintain interaction and communicate effectively in a range of contexts and cope flexibly with problems in everyday life and use an enhanced exchange of information on topics of a more abstract nature, such as summarising and giving his/her opinion about a short story, article, talk, discussion, interview, or documentary and answering further questions of detail. 

2. Syllabus

The student will develop language competencies with regard to Reading: the student will be able to understand texts that consist of high frequency everyday or job-related language; s/he will be able to read articles/reports concerned with contemporary problems and literary prose; Writing: the student will be able to incorporate paragraphs and sentences into an essay; s/he will be able to describe people/characters and places; s/he will be able to master the essential discursive essay technique and describe fictional events; Speaking: the student will be able to narrate a story or relate the plot of a book/film and to describe his/her reactions; s/he will be able to argue different ideas about a short story, a book or a film; Listening: the student will be able to understand the main points of clear standard speech on familiar matters; s/he will be able to understand the main point of radio or TV news and current affairs programmes as well as films in standard dialect.

3. Teaching methodologies (including evaluation)

In accordance with Regulamento Geral de Avaliação da Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa, students will be assessed on oral and written work throughout the semester. Weighting will be as follows:

·        first test (listening) 10%;

·        second test (writing) 40%;

·        oral and written task-based assignments 50%, consisting of

o   oral presentation 20%;

o   homework/class work and active participation in class 25%

o   attendance 5%

The oral presentation is an individual assignment that will consist in a 5-minute speech, spoken from notes, NOT read. Each student will choose the date of the oral presentation from a set of proposed dates. Topic: presenting a book or a film.

Tests will take place on the following dates:

First test: Listening                                                         08 November 2017

Second Test: Writing                                                       11 December 2017

Since assessment will be conducted on a regular basis, any task that is not submitted when due and/or any form of plagiarism will be given a zero. Any student who fails to do one of the above-mentioned tests/tasks will be given a zero. Worker students may opt for continuous assessment (in which case they will have to comply with all the assessment criteria set for regular students) OR sit an examination to be held in January 2018. The examination will focus on the contents of the syllabus adopted for the B1.2 level.

5.  Bibliography

·        B1.2 Workbook 2017-2018 (a compilation of short stories by contemporary English-speaking authors and of articles on current topics). (compulsory – please bring your course book to every class) – available from Reprografia Verde.

·        Swan, Michael. 2005. Practical English Usage. 3rd edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. (optional)

·        The Longman Dictionary Of Contemporary English. For Advanced Learners. 2009. 5th edition. Harlow, Essex: Pearson Education Limited. (optional)

·        Extra materials may be sent by email.

ATTENDANCE

Attendance is compulsory. For exceptions, please check the Regulamento geral de avaliação da faculdade de letras da universidade de Lisboa (RGA, FLUL) at http://www.letras.ulisboa.pt/pt/sobre-a-flul/legislacao/normas-e-regulamentos/faculdade-de-letras-da-universidade-de-lisboa/181--133/file.

Absence from class should be reported by email to the teacher prior to missing a class, if at all possible, or as soon as possible after a student misses a class. Reporting an absence does not automatically “excuse” missed work. In these cases, students should contact the teacher to discuss what options may be available. If the absence is due to illness or other emergency, please submit a doctor’s note or any other appropriate documentation within the following ten working days (see Artigo 4, alínea 2, RGA, FLUL).

LECTURER/STUDENT COMMUNICATION

You will be asked to provide your individual email address. You should make sure that you (a) give a correct email address; (b) check your email on a regular basis. Please do not send your emails after 8 p.m. on the day before each class.