Teacher's email contact: cavalheiro.lili@gmail.com

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:

                        www.bookdepository.co.uk

                        www.amazon.co.uk

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)

INDIVIDUAL MEETING HOURS: To be arranged by email according to student's and teacher's availability.