Presentation of programme and evaluation criteria

19 Setembro 2016, 10:00 • Cecília Maria Beecher Martins

Learning outcomes of the curricular unit

To acquire a C1.2 level of fluency and accuracy in the four language skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening) in English using and producing materials appropriate for language learning in a university environment.

At the end of the Curricular Unit, they will be expected to

v  be able to read, appreciate and criticise texts of different types, including literary, journalistic and philosophical texts.

v  produce written texts of different types including academic and journalistic summaries, essay and descriptive as well as narrative texts.

v  to discuss concrete as well as abstract ideas in English

v  listen to and discuss issues presented through online and other debates and discussions carried out in a number of different accents, related to different cultural and scientific areas

 

Syllabus

Consolidation of essay writing techniques for “opinion” and “for and against” essays

Consolidation of grammatical structures

Summary writing applied to literary, academic and journalistic texts

Writing descriptive and narrative texts

Listening to varied multimedia resources including debates, discussions, lectures and video clips

Reading and discussion of a set contemporary novel

Preparation of student led discussion on literary texts

Presentation of an Oxford Union style debate

 

Demonstration of the syllabus coherence with the curricular unit's objectives

Students will be instructed in all tasks to be performed as they will be presented with authentic materials in this area and given the opportunity to discuss these in class. For instance, we will watch actual Oxford Union Debates so that students will see how these are presented and the different roles played by the different speakers. We will watch good and bad presentations so that students will learn what they should do to present a good debate.

 

The syllabus aims at giving students practice in different forms of writing; essay writing and an introduction to the writing of literary texts (distinguishing between descriptive and narrative texts). Students will be presented with models of each type of writing and have opportunities to discuss the different forms and presentations. Times has been allotted to writing practise essays in class so that students will have the opportunity to practise the methods under supervision. The subjects covered will be discussed sequentially giving students time to get used to one subject before moving onto the next. Methods and applications will be compared and contrasted as the work proceeds. Care has been taken in the selection of the bibliography and in the progression of the presentation of topics so that students will be able to achieve the desired outcomes.

 

Teaching methodologies (including evaluation)

The methods used in this CU will be student-centred and task based with a progressive development of the difficulty of the exercises applied to encourage the development of active listening, speaking reading and writing skills up to a C1.2. Students will also practice different types of writing, namely summary writing, essay writing and narrative and descriptive writing, so that they understand the differences and similarities between the different styles.

Students will listen to and discuss a series of authentic multi-media resources presented in various English accents, to improve their listening skills and to expand their notion of “English as an international language”. They will also participate in speaking activities common in British and American universities, such as individual or group student-led discussions on set sections of the course novel and participate in an Oxford Union Style Debate.

EVALUATION:

Written Assignments 20%     Oxford Union Style Debate 20% Attendance and Participation in set class activities: 20%     Final Written Test: 40%