English

B2.1 (Vantage) level (TP12)

2nd semester 2020/2021

Lecturer: Isabel Ferro Mealha

Email address: isabelmealha@campus.ul.pt

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, newspaper articles, talks, and films) to develop linguistic writing competencies (e.g. English academic essay writing; connectors; formal and informal letter 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 reading and discussing texts, dramatised reading, 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 20%; 
• second writing test 30%; 
• oral and written task-based assignments 50% consisting of 

• individual oral presentation 20%; 
• written and oral assignments and active participation 25%; 
• attendance 5%

First test: 23rd March 2021

Second test: 4th May 2021

The oral presentation is an individual assignment that will consist in a 6-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.

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.Bibliography

Mealha, Isabel Ferro. 2021. 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 https://www.letras.ulisboa.pt/pt/documentos/sobre-a-flul/legislacao/normas-e-regulamentos/faculdade-de-letras-da-universidade-de-lisboa/5077--1867/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).

Please be punctual and do not use cell phones, headphone and earphones in class. Exceptions will be negotiated one-on-one. Texting, emailing, surfing the web, posting on social media in class is extremely disrupting to other students, and a waste of your time in class. Students who are found disruptive of other students' learning will be asked to leave the room.

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. 

A weekly tutorial is available on Thursday between 16:00-17:00.

The Zoom link for the one-hour tutorials will be provided to all students by email. Please note that tutorials are made by request. This means that you must email your teacher beforehand saying on which Thursday you would like to have a tutorial.

Semester plan*

*This plan is just indicative of the work we will carry out throughout the semester. Alterations shall be made in accordance with the work done in each class.

Carnival holidays: 15-17 February 2021

Easter holidays: 29 March to 4 April 2021

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