Sumários
Introducing B2.1 English
16 Fevereiro 2016, 10:00 • Hilda Alexandra Prazeres Eusebio
Students were introduced to the course and were given the following information:
- the course will consist of learning English (reading, writing, speaking and listening) through the exploration of the following writing genres:
- descriptive writing;
- persuasive writing;
- narrative writing;
- expository writing;
- new vocabulary and reading/comprehension skills will be acquired through the reading of texts inside class and through the reading of the novel, Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., (Penguin Essentials edition);
- writing skills will be developed through four pieces of writing: the descriptive piece, the narrative piece and the major writing project (first and final drafts);
- feedback will be given through the teacher's colour coded system - students will be given class time to figure out their mistakes, to discuss potential correct answers with each other and, finally, to confirm corrections with the teacher;
- any 'awesome mistakes' will be shared with the class;
- grammar lessons will be delivered upon the return of homework assignments and exams so that students may discover where they're going wrong and how to do it right;
- oral skills will be developed throughout the semester during group presentations/peer teaching - all groups must speak in English at all times while preparing presentations;
- listenting skills will be developed throughout the semester by listening to audio clips (thank you, youtube);
- the course book can be bought in the Green Photocopy Room (Reprografia Verde);
- the novel can be ordered in the basement bookstore or online but must be the edition mentioned above.
GRADE PERCENTAGES
Attendance and class participation – 5%
Completed Homework – 10%
Midterm – 20%
Writing project – 20% (5% first draft; 15% final draft)
Oral presentation – 20%
End of Term Exam – 25% (5% listening comprehension; 20% written exam: grammar, comprehension, composition.)
HOMEWORK/ASSIGNMENTS
Homework/assignments must be EMAILED to me on the day that they’re due. You have until midnight on the day of the deadline – not emailing me the assignment on the day of the deadline will mean that your assignment will be marked as late and will lose 10% each day that it is late. Reasons for lateness (other than illness or Worker Student Status) will not be accepted. If you are ill, you must email me at the first available opportunity to let me know in advance and to request an extension. Extensions will only be granted in the event that a doctor’s note can be provided. Should this doctor’s note be unavailable for any reason, the extension will be cancelled and the work will be marked as ‘Late’.
Important Dates:
- 12th April - Midterm exam;
- 21st April - 1st draft of writing project due;
- 10th May - final draft of writing project due;
- 10th, 12th, 17th and 19th May - oral exams;
- 31st May - listening comprehension exam;
- 2nd June - final exam.
The teacher and students then went on to tell each other a bit about themselves.
Presentations; Assessment; Semester's Planning
15 Fevereiro 2016, 16:00 • Paula Alexandra Carvalho Alves Rodrigues Horta
Assessment and Grading System:
Presentations; Assessment; Semester's Planning
15 Fevereiro 2016, 12:00 • Paula Alexandra Carvalho Alves Rodrigues Horta
Assessment and Grading System:
Presentations; Assessment; Semester planning.
15 Fevereiro 2016, 10:00 • Lili Cavalheiro
Presentations; Assessment; Semester planning. Ice breaker activities.
1. OBJECTIVES
This course aims at:
§ consolidating English structures;
§ improving the students’ ability to understand and discuss concrete and abstract texts;
§ enabling students to both communicate spontaneously and at ease with other fluent/ proficient speakers of the language;
§ Expressing opinions clearly and with detail on a wide variety of subjects;
§ Increasing the students’ perception on the way the English language is used in debate: expressing the advantages and inconveniences of the various possibilities.
1.1.These aims will be achieved by means of specific written and oral activities, which will serve as the basis for continuous assessment. These activities will include:
§ Reading (newspaper/ magazine articles, short stories and a novel);
§ Writing (summaries, paragraphs and essays);
§ Speaking (oral presentations and participation in debates);
§ Listening and watching (documentaries, interviews and films).
2. ASSESSMENT AND GRADING SYSTEM
Students will be assessed on attendance/class participation, homework, two written tests and oral presentations.
Weighting will be as follows:
|
First test |
25% |
|
Second test |
25% |
|
Oral presentation |
20% |
|
In-class essay |
15% |
|
Attendance/ class participation[1] |
15% |
2.1. Assessment will take place on the following dates:
In-class essay writing March 9
First written test April 11
Second written test May 11
Please note that the Test date has been set, but extenuating circumstances sometimes require changes in the Course Calendar.
2.2. Dates for oral presentations (see rationale in the course book):
May 16, 18, 23, 25 & 30
3. Bibliography
§ The course book is available at the Green photocopy shop. Throughout the semester supplementary material will be sent by email and posted in Moodle. The password is: B2.1_S2
§ Compulsory reading: Choose one of the following novels:
Instructions for a Heatwave by Maggie O’ Farrell (2013)
Little Bee by Chris Cleave (2008)
Novels will be read outside the classroom and will be discussed in class on the stipulated dates (see calendar). Students will be evaluated on the one they chose during the second written test.
Some Internet sites where books may be purchased:
The books can also be bought in the FLUL bookshop (next to the cafeteria) in the basement.
§ Dictionaries: students are expected to have at least one of the following dictionaries:
Cambridge International Dictionary of English
Collins Cobuild Dictionary of English Language
Longman Dictionary of English Language and Culture
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English
The New Penguin English Dictionary
[1] Students are expected to take an active part in the lessons, since oral participation in the classroom is crucial for their final assessment.
(RGA Artigo 4º 1. O Estudante em Regime de Avaliação Ordinário está vinculado à presença na totalidade das horas de contacto [relativas a tempos lectivos, tutórias e outras actividades]. 08/09/09)
Presentations; Assessment; Semester planning.
15 Fevereiro 2016, 08:00 • Lili Cavalheiro
Presentations; Assessment; Semester planning. Ice breaker activities.
1. OBJECTIVES
This course aims at:
§ consolidating English structures;
§ improving the students’ ability to understand and discuss concrete and abstract texts;
§ enabling students to both communicate spontaneously and at ease with other fluent/ proficient speakers of the language;
§ Expressing opinions clearly and with detail on a wide variety of subjects;
§ Increasing the students’ perception on the way the English language is used in debate: expressing the advantages and inconveniences of the various possibilities.
1.1.These aims will be achieved by means of specific written and oral activities, which will serve as the basis for continuous assessment. These activities will include:
§ Reading (newspaper/ magazine articles, short stories and a novel);
§ Writing (summaries, paragraphs and essays);
§ Speaking (oral presentations and participation in debates);
§ Listening and watching (documentaries, interviews and films).
2. ASSESSMENT AND GRADING SYSTEM
Students will be assessed on attendance/class participation, homework, two written tests and oral presentations.
Weighting will be as follows:
|
First test |
25% |
|
Second test |
25% |
|
Oral presentation |
20% |
|
In-class essay |
15% |
|
Attendance/ class participation[1] |
15% |
2.1. Assessment will take place on the following dates:
In-class essay writing March 9
First written test April 11
Second written test May 11
Please note that the Test date has been set, but extenuating circumstances sometimes require changes in the Course Calendar.
2.2. Dates for oral presentations (see rationale in the course book):
May 16, 18, 23, 25 & 30
3. Bibliography
§ The course book is available at the Green photocopy shop. Throughout the semester supplementary material will be sent by email and posted in Moodle. The password is: B2.1_S2
§ Compulsory reading: Choose one of the following novels:
Instructions for a Heatwave by Maggie O’ Farrell (2013)
Little Bee by Chris Cleave (2008)
Novels will be read outside the classroom and will be discussed in class on the stipulated dates (see calendar). Students will be evaluated on the one they chose during the second written test.
Some Internet sites where books may be purchased:
The books can also be bought in the FLUL bookshop (next to the cafeteria) in the basement.
§ Dictionaries: students are expected to have at least one of the following dictionaries:
Cambridge International Dictionary of English
Collins Cobuild Dictionary of English Language
Longman Dictionary of English Language and Culture
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English
The New Penguin English Dictionary
[1] Students are expected to take an active part in the lessons, since oral participation in the classroom is crucial for their final assessment.
(RGA Artigo 4º 1. O Estudante em Regime de Avaliação Ordinário está vinculado à presença na totalidade das horas de contacto [relativas a tempos lectivos, tutórias e outras actividades]. 08/09/09)