Advanced English

langl1700  2023-2024  Louvain-la-Neuve

Advanced English
3.00 credits
30.0 h
Q1 or Q2
Teacher(s)
Byrne Timothy (coordinator); Denis Philippe (coordinator);
Language
English
Prerequisites
Level B2 of the CEFR
Main themes
Topics relating to the students' future professional life, current affairs. The topics covered are flexible because discussions are based on articles posted on Moodle, which can be changed to keep the course up-to-date. Students can choose topics to cover.
Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

The aim of this course is to develop communication skills (particularly speaking skills) and to reach level C1 of the CEFR in speaking and writing.
     
    1 Reading:
    • be able to read with ease a variety of general and professional texts
     
    2 Listening:
    • be able to understand lectures, debates and interviews
     
    3 Speaking:
    • be able to speak about general subjects and own subject speciality, and
    • to participate in debates and discussions.
     
    4 Writing:
    • be able to write a book review;
    • be able to express an opinion on current topics and participate in an online forum.
     
    Content
    1. LANGL1700P:
    This course, entitled English through Film, given by Timothy J. BYRNE in the first quad, is intended for students who already have a B2+ to C1 level. It aims at a C1+ or even C2 level. The productive skills, speaking and writing, will be worked on in a communicative way: film extracts will be used as a starting point for conversations and written productions, and each student will approach their productions (oral and written) from their own academic perspective.
    2. LANGL1700S:
    This student-driven seminar course, given by Philippe J. DENIS in the second quad, is equally divided into 3 distinctive parts.

    1. SPEAKING & CIVILIZATION
    Half of the sessions will be devoted to the English-speaking world culture through the study of North America. Through reading the teacher's book, AlterNative America in Counterpoint and watching a corpus of related videos, the attendees will get an insight into this leading country . Thought-provoking activities and challenges should give rise to lively discussions and hone the students' writing skills.
    Fostering literacy is the ultimate aim behind this CLIL seminar.

    2. WRITING & ENGLISH AT WORK
    Three two-hour sessions will be scheduled to hone the students' occupational skills through a Writing seminar, entitled English at Work.
    First, authentic, oral and written, sources will expose you to current professional practices. Second, they will acquire the required writing skills to survive and succeed in a demanding environment.
    Their ability to write speech introductions, in/formal emails and letters; briefing notes, memos, and executive summaries; debriefing, information-only and research reports, PP texts, … will be trained and ultimately, assessed. 

    3. STUDENT-LED CLASSES  
    Three two-hour sessions will be given over to their field of expertise. It is their duty to design and conduct an immersion class about their discipline,; i.e. to get the audience interact on a subject of your choice.
    Entry Level B2+ or beyond
    All 4 skills are honed to a similar extent but only productive activities are assessed.
    Originality. Half the sessions, the cultural part, is taught according to the precepts of a CLIL course (Content and Language Integrated Learning)
     
    Teaching methods
    1. LANGL1700P:
    A total number of maximum 15 students will be admitted to this course.
    The student loses 25 % of their grade of they are absent more than twice withour any form of justification.
    2. LANGL1700S:
    The course is highly interactive with a group size of 15-20 students. Lessons consist of discussions, role plays and debates.

    Such contemporary methodologies as CLIL, blended learning, flipped classroom are put into practice.
    The course aims to develop both fluency and accuracy, in both productive skillsThat class participation is crucial to your progress cannot be stressed enough. Attendance is therefore compulsory and personal investment, valued and rewarded.
    Evaluation methods
    1. LANGL1700P:
    Total of 170 points to be accumulated throughout term:
    10 marks: attendance and active participation (formative assessment)
    20 marks: contribution to the visit to the Louvain-la-Neuve Musée L (certificative assessment)
    20 marks: contribution to 5 forums on the Moodle course platform (formative assessment)
    40 marks: writing a review of a film of the student's choice (certificative assessment)
    40 marks: doing a group film presentation (certificative assessment)
    40 marks: oral exam: presentation of the student's final thesis (certificative assessment)
    2. LANGL1700S:
    1. THE ORAL EXAM: READING & CIVILIZATION  (40%)

    In order to keep in touch with the English-speaking world, the students are requested to read the teacher's book, AlterNative America in Counterpoint (PUL, 2023). It is available at LLN's DUC.
    Their 10-minute oral exam consists in presenting one of the first three options in all their complexity for the first 7 minutes and answering the teacher’s questions for the remaining time.

    2. THE WRITTEN EXAM: ENGLISH AT WORK  AND/OR UNIVERSITY (20%)

    The students will be trained as future applicants and/or professionals. They are to submit a modern-style resume by the term's end and discuss it with the teacher acting as a recruiter or promoter, resp. in the professional or academic world.

    3. STUDENT-LED CLASSES (20%)
    The participants are requested to conduct a teaching unit centered on their major discipline or avenue of research, whether as a solo performer or as a team member. The time allocated to their flipped class will be set accordingly.
    4. CONTINUOUS EVALUATION (20%)
    Active participation and personal investment are also highly valued.
    Bibliography
    1. LANGL1700P: plateforme Moodle du cours
    2. LANGL1700S: AlterNative America in Counterpoint. Philippe J. Denis. PUL, 2023
    A free, on-line coursebook is available on the course-specific Moodle platform (LANGL1700, Interfaculty Course)
    Teaching materials
    • LANGL1700P: Plateforme Moodle du cours; LANGL1700S: AlterNative America in Counterpoint. Philippe J. Denis. PUL, 2023
    Faculty or entity
    ILV


    Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)

    Title of the programme
    Sigle
    Credits
    Prerequisites
    Learning outcomes
    Master [120] in Linguistics

    Master [120] in Human Resources Management