English B2.2
Code
711121045
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Línguas, Culturas e Literaturas Modernas, Secção de Estudos Ingleses e Norte-Americanos
Credits
4
Teacher in charge
Allyson Jane Roberts, David Philip Rowlands, Joana Rabinovitch
Weekly hours
4
Teaching language
English
Objectives
The student should be able to :
a) attain level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference (Independent user)
b) continue to increase intercultural awareness gained at B2.1 and further develop knowledge of the culture/language relationship
c) write clear, coherent and well structured texts of varying genres relating to personal experience and opinion with a greater degree of grammatical and lexical accuracy than at B2.1
d) understand the essential message in a wider range of written texts than at B2.1 on contemporary and current matters
e) express themselves spontaneously in a range of everyday situations, with few grammatical or lexical errors, and contribute actively to discussion
f) understand a wider range of spoken discourse than at B2.1, with few difficulties
g) understand and control the grammatical system of English more than at B2.1
h) take responsibility for their own learning and continue to develop competences that lead to autonomy.
Prerequisites
Pass in Inglês B2.1.
Subject matter
The course addresses current social and cultural topics of interest. A course book, dictionaries, grammar reference and online sources provide the course basis, supported by a Reading Portfolio, which allows for the analysis of a range of literary, cultural and journalistic texts. In addition, TV films and online media focus on socio-cultural aspects of the English-speaking world which help to decode local and cultural references. Learning and assessment tasks provide regular opportunities for written and spoken expression and development of language skills and knowledge:
Writing - discursive texts of different genres, creative writing
Speaking - conversational strategies, discussion skills both formal and informal
Lexis - American/British words and spelling, word formation, noun phrase, collocations, developing autonomous strategies for expanding lexical range Grammar - verb phrase analysis, adverbials, complex sentences
Editing/reviewing - identifying and correcting errors.
Bibliography
Carter, R., McCarthy, M. (2006, with CD). Cambridge Grammar of English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Gillett, A. Hammond, A. & Martala, M. (2009). Successful Academic Writing. Harlow: Longman.
Longman Dictionary of Language and Culture (2005, Third Edition). Harlow: Longman. Macmillan English Dictionary of Advanced Learners. (2006). Oxford: Macmillan.
Reading Portfolio. A portfolio of literary, cultural and media extracts. [Colectânea de leituras seleccionadas – artigos, textos literários, culturais e mediáticos]
Teaching method
Communicative method with a task-based, intercultural approach, all of which seek to stimulate interaction and promote increasingly autonomous learning, revolving around a series of topics. Discussion is a key element often preceded by reading or listening input and/or analysis and followed up by written work/further research by students. Skills-based tasks require both linguistic and extra-linguistic competences. Inductive approach for extending grammatical and lexical knowledge. Frequent use of the internet and audio-visual means.
Evaluation method
Assessment is continuous and formative consisting of:
4 written texts of different types (2 written in class) – 60%
2 spoken tasks (discursive) – 25%
General coursework mark: active participation (including attendance) and evidence of autonomous learning development – 15%
Minimum attendance: 66% of classes