This learning unit is not open to incoming exchange students!
Teacher(s)
Language
English
Prerequisites
The prerequisite(s) for this Teaching Unit (Unité d’enseignement – UE) for the programmes/courses that offer this Teaching Unit are specified at the end of this sheet.
Main themes
The course aims to guide students in acquiring the basic concepts of UK/US legal terminology and discovering their legal system and culture (origins, foundations and principles of Common Law) by addressing certain general themes of public and private law through various legal sources (scholar articles, case law, legislation) and current events.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to : | |
In view of the program’s learning outcomes framework, the course contributes to the development and acquisition of the following skills:
- acquiring a general education;
- acquiring specifically legal knowledge;
- developing analytical, reflective, and argumentative skills based on concrete situations;
- mastering written and oral communication.
The course also aims to develop transferable skills: developing a sense of autonomy in carrying out various tasks (organizational skills, work planning, meeting deadlines, etc.); refining a personal ethic, both in pursuing one’s studies and in interactions with others (a personal stance consistent with one’s own values, a sense of the common good, respect for others, etc.).
More specifically, by the end of the year, this active course should enable students to:
- acquire a basic knowledge of UK/US structures, major concepts and terminology ;
- consult, understand and synthesise legal documentation in English;
- explain and discuss in understandable language and using appropriate terminology, simple legal situations and the basic structures and concepts of the legal systems taught.
The aim of the course is thus to achieve both passive and, as far as possible, active understanding and knowledge of legal English. In this way, the student who has completed the English Language and Legal English courses will have acquired the necessary skills to attend a legal course in English in BLOC 3, thus fulfilling the language learning objectives of the Faculty of Law. |
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Content
At the start of the course, students complete a self-assessment form to determine their English proficiency.
The course is structured in two parts:
- The first aims to allow students to strengthen their general language skills and acquire the basic concepts and terminology of English and American law, mainly through reading comprehension and oral expression exercises.
- The second covers the study of a selection of key legal topics in order to understand English-speaking legal systems (contract law, tort law, criminal law, constitutional law, etc.) and the analysis of case law (English, American, international, etc.).
Students are required to read and prepare texts and exercises in advance.
Some resources on general English grammar and vocabulary will be made available on Moodle. During the semester, additional reading materials may also be provided on Moodle
The course is structured in two parts:
- The first aims to allow students to strengthen their general language skills and acquire the basic concepts and terminology of English and American law, mainly through reading comprehension and oral expression exercises.
- The second covers the study of a selection of key legal topics in order to understand English-speaking legal systems (contract law, tort law, criminal law, constitutional law, etc.) and the analysis of case law (English, American, international, etc.).
Students are required to read and prepare texts and exercises in advance.
Some resources on general English grammar and vocabulary will be made available on Moodle. During the semester, additional reading materials may also be provided on Moodle
Teaching methods
Lectures which require active preparation and student participation in and outside of class.
After an introduction to the English and American legal systems and their main characteristics, a specific legal theme – such as issues related to current events – will be addressed and explored in depth through exercises. These exercises focus on a critical reading of texts, namely structure, meaning, factual data, and opinions.
It is a practical course aiming at understanding legal language, built around structured lectures, practical learning of legal terminology, written exercises (writing, translation), and oral exercises (discussions, short presentations).
Both lectures and assessments are held on university campus.
After an introduction to the English and American legal systems and their main characteristics, a specific legal theme – such as issues related to current events – will be addressed and explored in depth through exercises. These exercises focus on a critical reading of texts, namely structure, meaning, factual data, and opinions.
It is a practical course aiming at understanding legal language, built around structured lectures, practical learning of legal terminology, written exercises (writing, translation), and oral exercises (discussions, short presentations).
Both lectures and assessments are held on university campus.
Evaluation methods
The evaluation consists of two parts:
- a practical and collaborative [oral] assignment on a court decision to be presented during the semester in which the course is taught (20% of the final grade);
- a written exam during the exam session (80% of the final grade).
Students are responsible for registering for their oral presentation via Moodle before the deadline indicated at the beginning of the semester by the teacher. Except in administrative or justified circumstances, students who do not register on Moodle in time will receive a grade of 0 for their presentation and will not be allowed to reschedule it for another session. A student who has not completed an oral presentation will forfeit 20% of the final grade but may still register for the written exam.
The written exam is held without any documents, dictionaries, or assistance from any artificial intelligence tools. The written exam includes:
1. A set of vocabulary questions based on texts studied in class and the basic vocabulary list.
2. A set of questions on course content.
3. A set of questions testing comprehension of new texts (genre, structure, scope, or content), possibly requiring comparison with material covered in class. These new texts are of a similar type and theme to those studied in class, and the questions are comparable to those discussed in class.
Active participation is strongly encouraged.
Language of assessment
English and French
- a practical and collaborative [oral] assignment on a court decision to be presented during the semester in which the course is taught (20% of the final grade);
- a written exam during the exam session (80% of the final grade).
Students are responsible for registering for their oral presentation via Moodle before the deadline indicated at the beginning of the semester by the teacher. Except in administrative or justified circumstances, students who do not register on Moodle in time will receive a grade of 0 for their presentation and will not be allowed to reschedule it for another session. A student who has not completed an oral presentation will forfeit 20% of the final grade but may still register for the written exam.
The written exam is held without any documents, dictionaries, or assistance from any artificial intelligence tools. The written exam includes:
1. A set of vocabulary questions based on texts studied in class and the basic vocabulary list.
2. A set of questions on course content.
3. A set of questions testing comprehension of new texts (genre, structure, scope, or content), possibly requiring comparison with material covered in class. These new texts are of a similar type and theme to those studied in class, and the questions are comparable to those discussed in class.
Active participation is strongly encouraged.
Language of assessment
English and French
Online resources
Moodle is the preferred platform for sharing information, and students are encouraged to consult it regularly
Bibliography
Des documents de travail peuvent être disponibles et des références bibliographiques communiquées et commentées en cours d’année.
Faculty or entity
