FACULTADE DE HUMANIDADES DEPARTAMENTO DE FILOLOXÍA INGLESA E ALEMÁ ENGLISH LANGUAGE 1 G JoDee Anderson. Gary Stanley COURSE GUIDE

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1 FACULTADE DE HUMANIDADES DEPARTAMENTO DE FILOLOXÍA INGLESA E ALEMÁ ENGLISH LANGUAGE 1 G JoDee Anderson Gary Stanley COURSE GUIDE 2016/2017

2 FACULTADE DE FILOLOXÍA E FACULTADE DE HUMANIDADES. DEPARTAMENTO DE FILOLOXÍA INGLESA E ALEMÁ AUTORES: JoDee Anderson, Mario Cal Varela, Francisco Xavier Fernández Polo Edición electrónica ADVERTENCIA LEGAL: Reservados todos os dereitos. Queda prohibida a duplicación total ou parcial desta obra, en calquera forma ou por calquera medio (electrónico, mecánico, gravación, fotocopia ou outros) sen consentimento expreso por escrito dos autores. 2

3 Course Guide G Modern Language 1: English Idioma Moderno I (Lingua Inglesa) Academic term Lugo Campus 1. Basic Information: European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) Credits: 6.00 ECTS In class hours Theoretical class sessions: 22 Interactive practical sessions: 22 Tutorial: 01 Total: 45 hours ECTS hours of autonomous preparation: 105 Total student workload: 150 hours 2. Professors Teaching this Course: Two professors will be teaching this subject; their contact information is given below. The English Language Coordinator for this subject is JoDee Anderson. JoDee Anderson English & German Department Faculty of Humanities, Office 103 E mail: jo.anderson@usc.es Gary Stanley English & German Department Faculty of Humanities, Office 104 E mail: gary.stanley@usc.es

4 3. Course objectives Class goals and skills acquired: With the academic work carried out in this course, students should reach level B1.2/B2.1 as established by the Common European Framework Reference (2001). More specifically, students who successfully complete the coursework should be able to carry out these functions: Listening Comprehension: * Can understand the main points of clear standard speech on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure etc., including short narratives. * Can understand main ideas presented in radio and television programs that deal with common everyday personal and/or job related topics, provided speech is clearly articulated in a generally familiar accent. Reading Comprehension: * Can read straightforward factual texts on subjects related to his/her field and interest with a satisfactory level of comprehension. * Can understand description of facts, feelings and hopes in personal letters. Oral exchanges: * Can exploit a wide range of simple language to deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling. * Can communicate with some confidence on familiar routine and non routine matters related to his/her interests and professional field. Oral Expression: * Can connect phrases in a simple manner in order to describe experiences, facts, dreams, hopes and ambitions. * Can explain and briefly justify opinions and projects. * Can narrate a story, and the plot of a book or movie. * Can describe personal reactions to situations. Written expression: * Can write straightforward connected texts on a range of familiar subjects within his/her field of interest, by linking a series of shorter discrete elements into a linear sequence. * Can write personal letters and notes asking for or conveying experiences and impressions. Apart from the specific objectives related to the level of language that should be reached, the practice activities to be carried out in this first English language course allow the students to practice and develop a series of interconnected skills: 4

5 In their utilization of the resources suggested throughout the course, students should consolidate the skill in the use of a series of self learning tools that are available on Internet, thus bettering their capacity for self learning. Carrying out several short projects centered on the resolution of specific problems will allow students to develop their research skills, most particularly those dealing with finding sources of information and the critical evaluation and appropriate use of the information obtained. Students will also develop their ability to put forth their ideas and clearly explain their points of view at the same time that they acquire flexibility to understand different perspectives, it will, thus, better their capacity to participate in debates in a constructive manner. Routine interaction in small groups will help the students to better their interpersonal skills, which are necessary in order to make decisions and organize teamwork. 4. Contents Throughout this course grammar and vocabulary aspects related to the use of the English language on a (high) intermediate level will be studied. The work done will enable students to reach the level and course goals mentioned above, and more particularly, will allow students to reach an acceptable level for the communicative activities in their every day personal and professional life. More specifically, vocabulary and commonly used expressions in the areas of travel, academic life, leisure time and professional activities, technologies in everyday life, home and family, etc, will be studied. The grammar to be covered includes aspects related to the appropriate use of verb tenses (paying special attention to the differences between English and the students' mother tongue), modal verbs, conditionals, negation, reported speech, articles and determiners, among others. In addition, special emphasis will be placed on the study of the structures used in English to carry out basic communicative functions related to the use of language in the contexts of everyday life, such as: expressing opinions, (agreeing and disagreeing), worrying, how to ask for and give advice, expressing a need, giving and understanding a warning, explaining and asking for help to solve a personal problem, asking and giving permission, understanding the opinions and the ideas of others, narrating events in everyday life, etc. 5. Basic and complementary bibliography Bibliography and learning materials: 5

6 Course books and other materials used during the year As the program states, a textbook and corresponding workbook (level B1.2/B2.1 (CERF) will be used. For Lugo these Course books will be: TEXTBOOKS: Empower English for Spanish Speakers B1+ Student s Book (Cambridge University Press) Empower English for Spanish Speakers B1+ Workbook with Answers (Cambridge University Press) READER: Things Fall Apart, Heinemann Reader edition. (available at the Intercentros Library) Recommended dictionaries: Gran diccionario Oxford Español Inglés/Inglés Español. Oxford University Press. Collins Cobuild English Dictionary for Advanced Learners (Paperback). Harper Collins Publishers. All of the course books and the dictionaries recommended here can be consulted at the Intercentros Library on the Lugo Campus. There is also a large selection of book to use when students have questions about grammar and/or vocabulary use in this library. Online resources for consultation, practice and self learning: Dictionaries (English and English Spanish): (English Galician) (English Spanish English) 6

7 (English) webster.com/ Synonyms, antonyms and related ideas: Grammar books: (with exercises) (with exercises) Miscellanea (activities, tests, reading, podcasts and such): English Test Net test.net/ About.com: Easy English: A4esl.org: UsingEnglish.com: English Page (grammar, exercises, vocabulary, writing...) BBC Learning English (grammar, tests, reading activities, listening comprehension, podcasts...) British Council Learning English (grammar, tests, reading activities, listening comprehension, podcasts...) University of Victoria Language Center 7

8 6. Skills & abilities to be achieved Apart from the specific objectives related to the level of language being sought, the practical activities done in this class will allow students to practice and develop a series of transversal skills, more particularly: When using the materials and resources throughout the course, the students will consolidate their ability to manage certain self teaching tools that a freely available on the Internet, and thus will demonstrate and better their capacity for autonomous learning. Doing small written and oral exercises of certain problem solving activities will allow students to develop the research skills, especially those related to finding information sources as well as the extraction, critical evaluation and appropriate use of the data obtained. Students will also develop their ability to present their reasons and arguments in a clear manner, at the same time that they acquire flexibility to admit different perspectives; thus, they will be able to better their ability to participate in debates in a constructive manner. The day to day interaction in small groups will help students to better their interpersonal skills which are necessary for decision taking and in order to organize their work as a team. For students studying this subject as part of the Cultural Science and Cultural Communication Degree program, the skills that they will be developing in class are: BASIC & GENERAL SKILLS CG1 Students should prove that they possess, in the area of the Humanities and Culture, the relative basic knowledge as acquired during their secondary education and that they are able to expand upon this base and develop it by means of contact with skilled texts and recent findings. CG2 Students should know how to apply their knowledge to their profession or vocation of a professional form, as well as possess the skills that are commonly shown in the preparation and defense of arguments and in their problem solving capacity for the areas of Humanities and of Culture. CG3 Students should have the capacity to gather and interpret significant data (relative to the contents of the Degree in Cultural Science and Cultural Communication) so as to make judgments which involve reflection on important topics of social, scientific or ethical character. 8

9 CG4 Students should be able to transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions to a specialized as well as non specialized audience. CG5 Students should have developed the learning skills necessary so as to undertake future studies with a high degree of autonomy. TRANSVERSAL CT1 Students should have developed their capacity to correct and coherently use a foreign language in diverse communicative situations. CT2 Students should have knowledge to conduct suitable edition of texts, with the corresponding formal presentation as per the required parameters for computer processing in today s world. CT3 Students should possess skill in the use of the new technologies. SPECIFIC CE1 Students should have acquired the basic knowledge that allows them to understand the distinct components that form part of linguistic activity and the main methods and resources for the scientific study of this field. CE2 Students should have developed a reflexive and critical perspective about how science influences today s world. CE3 Students should reasonably understand the interest of intercultural dialogue and the need to respect cultural differences. For more detailed information see: _Cultura_e_Difusion_Cultural_modif_2014.pdf 7. Teaching methodology As part of the theoretical explanation the professor will give short presentations on grammar, vocabulary and English usage. The students attending this class session will then do individual and group practice activities in the classroom. The professor in charge of these practical sessions will propose complementary activities to be done outside the classroom on those linguistic aspects which require more intense practice, as well as short activities on linguistic or other aspects that are related to the topics presented in class, or the participation in group activities such as debates. All of the activities mentioned above should help the students to put their English into practice. In order to carry out the activities done outside the classroom, the USC Virtual platform will be used. It will also be used as an additional means of evaluation and tutorials for students. 9

10 The personalized tutorials will be carried out in small groups of students and/or will be carried out individually by means of the virtual platform chat and e mail depending on the individual needs of each student. The professor in charge will be the same one who gives the theoretical explanations. These tutorial sessions are an excellent occasion for the professor and students to maintain direct contact. This, in turn, will permit the evaluation of the student's progress during the course, including his/her level of interiorization of the content and the skills focused on in the classroom, and provide an opportunity to ask for/give personalized advice that will allow each student to better reach the course goals. The professor will also use the tutorials to confirm that the students have carried out the assigned complementary tasks that have been planned for study outside the classroom. Finally, during the first weeks of class, the reading of certain articles and books may be proposed so that they can be done together with another complementary activity for reading comprehension, research, etc. These readings will also be addressed during the tutorial sessions mentioned above. 8. Assessment system 8.1 Assessment will be based on the continuous evaluation of the student throughout the year and in accordance with the following examination periods. 1st Chance Exam / Ordinary Exam period (January): For the students who are able to attend class sessions and/or participate in the virtual classroom activities: Continuous evaluation of supervised activities: 25% Oral exam 15% Final written exam 60% Written exams will be held in the dates officially set by the Faculty (see 8.2) and will constitute, alongside the activities done during the year, a single unit that will be awarded 85% of the overall grades. The remaining 15% will depend on the Oral exam, to be held on the date scheduled and confirmed in the Virtual classroom. Students will pass if they do so on both the written and oral sections. Should they pass only one of them, they will be entitled to keep this mark for the second exam period in July; therefore they will retake only the section previously graded as Fail. **The written and oral exams will be carried out at the Faculty at the official time and date established and require the physical presence of the student and proof of identity, (DNI, passport, etc.). 10

11 2nd Chance Exam (June) For those students who have passed a section of the 1st chance Exam they may retain it for this exam, in which case the evaluation system is the same as above. ORAL EXAM: Remember students should have a minimum of 60% on their final exam in order to obtain a passing mark. For practical purposes, the oral exam date will be scheduled in class, since it is not physically possible to attend to all the students in the time established by the Faculty for the official Final exam date. Four areas of skill level are taken into account on the Oral Exam: Pronunciation 25% Fluency 25% Vocabulary 25% Grammar 25% Given the nature of oral exams, these may have to be carried out at a date different from the official one. Please bear in mind that these dates will be duly announced in class and will be considered official. Students who need to RETAKE this course: Students who need to redo this course, and who have passed the continuous evaluation part of the course from the work done in class during the academic term may keep this part of their mark accordingly. However, if they have not passed the continuous evaluation part of the course, their final exam will count as 100% of their final mark (30% oral + 70% written). 8.2 Official exam dates as published by the Humanities Faculty: Final Written Exam: Grado en Ciencias da Cultura e Difusión Cultural: Idioma Moderno I (Lingua Inglesa) (G ) & (G B) 23/01/ :00 Aula 16 (January 1st Option Exam) 23/06/ :00 Aula 16 (June 2nd Option Exam The Oral Exams may take place on these dates as soon as the written exam has finished or may be scheduled at another time agreed on during the Final Exam. 11

12 **The written and oral exams will be carried out at the Faculty at the official times and dates established and require the physical presence of the student and proof of identity, (DNI, passport, etc.). 9. Study time and individual work This course consists of 15 weeks of class in which there will be 45 hours of possible class attendance; students will also be responsible for their own autonomous work outside the classroom for a total of 150 hours. This class meets on Wednesdays from 10:00 11:30 and Fridays from 9:30 11:00. 9b. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT INDIVIDUAL STUDY Studying a foreign language on one s own requires a student to be patient as well as dedicated. In order to help you organize your learning, in this section, you will find more specific information about the work required of you during the fifteen week semester. 1. VOCABULARY For each Unit of study from the textbook you should decide which new vocabulary words to add to your own personal vocabulary list. Then you should practice using these words while speaking and writing so as to interiorize and incorporate them into your real working English vocabulary. A good way to do this is to take a section of the list and practice it every day. Try writing each word out several times. As you are writing the words out, it is a good idea to try and pronounce them with a correct ENGLISH accent, as this will help you to interiorize them better. There are also vocabulary resources, like games, that are available. It is highly recommended that you try and do some of the on line exercises as well, since it is good practice. In a foreign language one new vocabulary is extremely important, since this is the only way one can communicate one s needs and desires. Learning the new vocabulary will help you in all the stages of this exciting journey. 2. TEXTBOOK & WORKBOOK EXERCISES For each exercise that we go over in the textbook, you should try to re read through it and study it as much as you can at home, or in your study area. Then, as we do the work in the textbook for each Unit, you should also read through and do the corresponding exercises in the Workbook as well. The workbook comes with an answer key so that you can do and then correct your own work. If you have any questions about corrected work you should go ask those questions in class. 3. GRAMMAR /PRONUNCIATION For each Grammar point presented in the book, there is a corresponding section that explains the point and provides some exercises about it. You should make sure that you have read through and understand the corresponding grammar section at each time a point of grammar is revised. In addition, you will also find posts in the virtual classroom that explain certain grammar points in detail. You should read through these additional points as they are made 12

13 available on line. If you have any questions about them you should ask us in class. A small number of pronunciation explanations will also be made available. It is up to you to read through these points and make sure you understand them. Furthermore, when a pronunciation point is explained there may also be a recording that you can use to practice your pronunciation. When they are available, you should practice listening and repeating the words and phrases with the selected text in front of you so that your brain can interiorize it more efficiently. 4. READER Apart from the textbook, we will be reading a Reader for this course. This required reading will be included as the Composition section of the Final Exam, so make sure you read it, and pay close attention to the vocabulary presented so that you are able to discuss the plot and characters of this reader in an appropriate fashion. If you have not done so already, you may now acquire the Reader for this course: Things Fall Apart, Heinemann edition. 5. WRITING Writing assignments will be given from time to time. It is your responsibility to prepare these assignments according to the instructions given to you and also to turn them in on time. In order to be graded, all assignments should be typed in Times New Roman 12, and double spaced. You will turn them in to us in class. They will be corrected and returned to you. If you have any questions about how the exercise has been corrected, you should ask for further explanation. 10. Class schedule According to the official schedule published by the Humanities Faculty this class will meet on: Wednesdays 10 11:30 am Room 13 Fridays 9:30 11:00 Room 13 As mandated by the ANECA, the English language classes are organized into two types of teaching/learning sessions: theoretical sessions and practical sessions. The majority of foreign language specialists do not recommend this type of teaching/learning situation since it is understood that the most natural type of learning experience is to receive an explanation and then put it into practice and, thus better the process of interiorizing the material being learned. Therefore, the theoretical sessions will also have a practical component that seeks to shed more specific light on each of the theoretical points presented. What we are able to accomplish in the classroom each day will depend on the students who participate; hence we prefer to give a general outline of what will be done. This course starts on September 14 th, 2016 and ends on December 21st, 2016, and the work done in the course textbook will follow this outline: September October November December Unit 1 Textbook & Unit 1 Workbook Unit 2 & Unit 3 Textbook & Unit 2 & Unit 3 Workbook Unit 3 & Unit 4 Textbook & Unit 3 & Unit 4 Workbook Unit 5 Textbook & Unit 5 Workbook 13

14 11. Recommendations for the study of the subject Class Attendance: Class attendance is mandatory; moreover, students should be capable of doing the work involved in this course on their own. Thus, those not attending class must turn in the work assigned during the course. In order to promote this, a certain percentage of the Final Mark will reflect students' participation in the classroom and virtual classroom. In addition, a certain emphasis will be placed on oral work done throughout the course and this oral work is best done in the classroom itself. However, if you are not able be physically present in the classroom, you should be responsible for this oral practice on your own. In any case, as a University student you are responsible for preparing the work assigned in class whether you attend class or not. Class work & Home study: Active participation in class will help the students to improve their performance in both written and oral English. After the completion of a Unit of study in the Textbook, students are expected to continue their preparation with the corresponding Unit in the Workbook as well as, when necessary, some of the other bibliographical sources provided in the program. During the year several compositions will be assigned to allow you to practice writing in English. In order for this practice to be evaluated, the compositions must be typewritten and double spaced and turned in ON TIME. 12. Other Comments Course Description: Subject: Numerical code: Credits ECTS: Type: Year of study and semester: Idioma Moderno I (Lingua inglesa) G (Campus de Lugo) 6 ECTS, 150 hour workload for students Basic First year, Fall semester IMPORTANT NOTICE: In the USC Rules for Academic Performance (DOG 21 from 21 July, 2011, Art. 16) 1 presenting fraudulent academic work for any type of final evaluation is penalized with a Fail in the corresponding exam period. Turning in this type of work may also result in a disciplinary process for the offender 1. Hence, any detection of plagiarism in any of the academic work turned in for grading in this subject will be penalized with a Fail in this subject, even when the student has passing marks in other areas of evaluation. As plagiarism we understand when an academic paper includes any partial or complete copy, in literal form or not, of content, or ideas published in other academic papers or in any other type of published format (paper or Internet), and where the student does not cite the source from which the said content or idea was taken. Students who fail because of plagiarism will not be allowed to take part in the second chance exam period. All of the activities which are turned in should include the bibliographical sources that were consulted, as per an established academic method of bibliographical (and digital) quotation