Syllabus

18 Setembro 2017, 14:00 • Rui Vitorino Azevedo

Students received and reviewed the syllabus, including course objectives and assessment criteria.

Introduction to the semester's work

18 Setembro 2017, 12:00 • Paula Alexandra Carvalho Alves Rodrigues Horta

Programme and Assessment Criteria:

One written test: 30%;

Research project on one of the themes of the Programme: 20%;

Research project on the novel: 10%

In-class essay: 20%;

Attendance, course work and participation: 20%.

See the Course Calendar in the Course Book for Test dates and class planning.

Introduction to classes and explanation of aims

18 Setembro 2017, 10:00 • David Alan Prescott

1. Aims of Course

 

The overall aim of this semester unit in English B2.1 will be to allow students to show that they are of the standard required to pass to the level of B2.2, both in terms of the English language and in terms of the cultural reality surrounding it.

 

An underlying element of this course will be to make students familiar with the many aspects of life in the United Kingdom that are so different to those in the rest of the world, and which still cause confusion today at all levels. Particular classes are given on these issues.

 

The textual analysis will lead to oral and written work of relevance. This analysis should not only be receptive; thus there will be the presenting of some help towards students adopting a critical approach towards the texts chosen, as well as teaching around the matters contained in the excerpts for discussion.

 

2. Specific Approach

 

Classroom activity will be centred on textual analysis and discussion, preparing and writing an essay and a comprehension or project, and grammar teaching on matters arising. The texts for discussion will be centred upon a current theme or subjects of interest so that students may wish to contribute as the issues involved are of some relevance. The theme material this semester will involve the current culture clashes in Western society.

 

3. Length of Course

 

The length of the course will be between 50 and 60 teaching hours.

 

4. Assessment

 

Assessment will be based on two elements: one written work in class, usually referred to as a test paper, and the second element, which is presence and participation in classroom activity. In the case of lack of satisfaction in the written exercise in class, there will be the opportunity for a second paper to be written in class.

 

Except for the cases of working students, who should inform me of their situation in advance, irregular attendance will lead to a negative mark. Under no circumstances will it be possible to simply do one test and pass the semester. Working students should acquire this anthology and remain in touch with the issues covered during the semester.

 

5. Bibliography and Dictionaries

 

A workbook available in the form of photocopies;

Any and as many as possible Eng-Port /Port-Eng Dictionaries;

Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language

 

The following is a list of works which may be useful in the fields of writing in terms of style, punctuation and presentation.

 

BLAMIRES, Harry, (2000). The Penguin Guide to Plain English. Penguin, UK

CAREY, G.V., (1939). Mind the Stop: A brief guide to punctuation. Penguin, UK

SWAN, MICHAEL, (2005). Practical English Usage, OUP, UK

TRUSS, Lynne, (2003). Eats, Shoots and Leaves. Profile Books, UK

 

B2.1 programme and assessment rules. Getting to know the students.

18 Setembro 2017, 08:00 • Isabel Maria Ferro Mealha

B2.1 programme and assessment rules. Getting to know the students.
______

B2.1 Programme and assessment rules 

1. Learning outcomes of the curricular unit

The course will follow the objectives outlined in the Council of Europe document Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEF). At the end of this course students will be able to understand the main ideas of complex texts on both concrete and abstract topics; interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with fluent/proficient speakers quite possible without strain for either party; produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options; understand and identify linguistic and cultural references from different varieties of English.

 

2. Syllabus

Students will develop their language competencies with regard to the four skills:

a) READING: literary and non-literary texts (e.g. newspaper articles, essays and contemporary short stories); special attention will be paid to different varieties of English

b) WRITING: opinion and discursive essays; summaries; emails and letters

c) SPEAKING: individual and group oral projects with a view to developing oral presentation skills; debates (putting forward arguments for and against); students will ask and answer questions about the English-speaking world

d) LISTENING to interviews and talks, watching films and documentaries with a view to developing note-taking skills.

Students will develop linguistic, social and cultural aspects related to the English-speaking world while further developing the ability to use grammatical structures with an emphasis on increased accuracy.

 

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

B2.1 aims have been set according to the CEF competencies adapted to university level. Literary and non-literary texts will be discussed with a view to developing social, cultural and linguistic features of the English-speaking world. Students are encouraged to research social, cultural and linguistic issues. Text analysis is carried out so as to develop effective communication and writing, speaking and listening skills. Text types are selected (e.g. short stories, essays, talks, and films) to develop linguistic writing competencies (e.g. English academic essay writing; connectors; formal and informal letter and email writing; register) and oral competencies (e.g. oral presentation skills; turn-taking; for and against arguments). All work is task-based promoting effective communication. Students will develop the ability to use grammatical structures appropriate to classroom discussion and the writing of increasingly accurate texts and academic essays.  

 

4. Teaching methodologies (including evaluation)

Teaching methodologies foster ongoing development of the CEF linguistic competencies. Task-based activities held include (dramatised) reading texts, essay writing, a speaking paper, watching films and talks followed by guided debates. Lexicogrammatical items are addressed in class with an emphasis on increased accuracy. Other individual and team/group teacher-oriented task-based activities will be carried out. 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 writing test 15%;

·        second writing test 30%;

·        listening paper 5%;

·        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 linguistic, social or cultural aspect related to an English-speaking country.

 

Tests will take place on the following dates:

 

Listening Paper:                                                                08 November 2017

First writing test:                                                              13 November 2017

Second writing test:                                                         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 the Época Especial de Avaliação examination. The examination will focus on the contents of the syllabus adopted for the B2.1 level.

 

6. Demonstration of the coherence between the teaching methodologies and the learning outcomes

In this course unit, the adopted teaching methodologies aim to carry out the objectives set by the CEF with a view to acquiring and developing the linguistic competencies necessary to become a B2.1 independent user. Effective, unstrained communication with native and near-native speakers of different varieties of English about complex texts on concrete and abstract topics will be focused on class work and homework task-based writing, speaking, listening and reading activities leading to an ever-growing familiarity with the social, cultural, and linguistic features of the English-speaking world. These task-based activities comprehend, among others, reading and discussing different text types, dramatised reading of literary texts, a speaking paper about the English-speaking world, watching films and talks on current issues, guided debates with for and against arguments and other independent work and research leading to an ongoing progression of knowledge (i.e. of social, cultural, grammatical and lexical issues). A theoretical/practical teaching approach is therefore adopted starting with content explanation and followed by student practice. Increasing independent work is encouraged and as such task-based activities will be carried out both in teams and individually in accordance with each student's specific needs. Ongoing assessment carried out pursuant to the General Assessment Guidelines currently in force at FLUL is clearly linked to expected high attendance levels for a course unit directed at linguistic interaction with native speakers or near-native speakers on current issues in the English-speaking world. Weighting allotted to different assessment items in line with an ever-growing familiarity in the linguistic interaction carried out by the independent speaker clearly highlights the significance of task-based assignments, on the one hand, and the relevance of research and independent work, on the other.

 

7.Bibliography

Mealha, Isabel Ferro. 2017. B2.1 Workbook (a compilation of short stories by English-speaking writers and other materials). Lisboa: FLUL.

Swan, Michael.  2005. Practical English Usage. 3rd edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

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

The Oxford Phrasal Verbs Dictionary for Learners of English. 2006. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

 

 

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.