English – Mastering the Spoken Language

Teacher(s)

Arblaster Paul; Collins Anne-Marie; Ochsenmeier Erwin; Trincaretto Marie;

Language

English

Learning outcomes

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

This Unit has several components: oral comprehension, oral expression and phonetics (practical or applied exercises). By following this course students learn to recognise and use syllabic stress, rhythm and intonation; to identify specific words, expressions, and information (numbers, names, etc.) ; and to understand and reformulate the gist of an authentic oral, i.e. spoken text. The Unit also provides students with an opportunity to hone their oral skills over the course of the year, with the goal of attaining the European Reference Framework level B1+ (minimum level required to pass the Unit). A range of specific skills are covered, including: making a presentation; understanding and using the cultural components of the English language (usage, polite forms, register, etc.).

Content

In this 2-hour course, students are provided with speaking and listening activities, aimed at helping them to develop their oral communication skills in English. The specific topics covered by each teacher vary, ranging from personal to more general ones.

Teaching methods

Students develop their listening comprehension skills through a variety of activities aimed at identifying both gist and detail; summarising and reformulating; recognising language features such as grammar, vocabulary, expressions, register, and pronunciation; understanding spoken English in a variety of contexts, situations, and accents; etc.
Speaking and oral interaction skills are developed through a range of practical exercises with personalised feedback, including, for example, role play, guided conversations, presentations, group work, games, etc.
The specific activities and methods used by each teacher vary.

Evaluation methods

In order to be awarded the credits associated with this course, students must take part in all the evaluations for the components (speaking and listening) that make up the course in both Q1 (BMHAN1121a) and Q2 (BMHAN1121b). An unjustified absence from any part of the assessment will result in a mark of absence (0A) for the entire course for the relevant session (Q1 and/or Q2). Absence can be justified by the provision within 48 hours of a medical certificate or attestation of public transport disruption. In the event of justified absence, an additional opportunity for assessment will be agreed with the teacher.
Q1 (30% of the year grade)
Continuous assessment comprising:

• two assessed speaking tasks (one task 20%, the other task 30% of the Q1 grade)
• two listening assessments (the better of which will count for 50% of the Q1 grade)

Q2 (70% of the year grade)
Continuous assessment comprising:

• two assessed speaking tasks (one task 20%, the other task 30% of the Q2 grade)
• two listening assessments (the better of which will count for 50% of the Q2 grade)

Attendance and participation
Students are required to attend class regularly and participate actively in the lessons. More than two unjustified absences from class will lead to a mark of 0A for the relevant session (Q1 or Q2). An absence is justified by the timely presentation to the teacher of a medical certificate or attestation of public transport disruption.
Assessments
The dates and requirements of the evaluated speaking and listening tasks will be determined by the teacher at the start of each term and communicated on Moodle.
The use of generative AI and similar technologies is not permitted in the preparation of any of the tasks, unless explicitly allowed by the teacher. Any use of AI allowed by the teacher must be in accordance with university guidelines on the responsible use of AI, a link to which will be provided on Moodle.
Resits
If the grade for Q1 is below 10/20, the student will have an opportunity to be assessed with an oral exam (for speaking skills) and/or a written exam (for listening skills) during the June resit period. If the average grade for the year (Q1+Q2) is below 10/20, the student will have an opportunity to be assessed with an oral exam (for speaking skills) and/or a written exam (for listening skills) during the August resit period. Details of such resit exam(s) will be provided in advance via Moodle.
Oral expression (continuous assessment)
Oral expression during the year
The dates and requirements of the oral assignments will be determined by the teacher and communicated on Moodle at the beginning of each semester.
Oral expression resits
If the continuous assessment mark for oral expression comes to less than 10/20 and the total mark for Q1 and/or Q2 is less than 10/20, or if the student was absent from one of more evaluations without justification, the student may take an oral expression exam during the examination period (June and/or August). The teacher will communicate the details and requirements of this exam in advance on Moodle.
Listening comprehension (continuous assessment)
Listening comprehension is assessed with two evaluations per semester. While and after listening to audio or video files, the student will answer questions concerning what is said. Resit exams in June and August will take the same form if the mark for listening comprehension is lower than 10/20 and the total mark for Q1 and/or Q2 is less than 10/20.

Other information

This course assumes students already possess an elementary (A2) level of English. Those who have not yet reached this level should expect to undertake independent efforts to attain it in order to succeed.

Online resources

Additional materials, resources, and instructions to be provided on Moodle. Students are required to register for the course in Moodle and to check it regularly.

Bibliography

Council of Europe (2020). CEFR Descriptors (Searchable). https://rm.coe.int/cefr-descriptors-2020-/16809ed2c7
Council of Europe (2001). Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment. Strasbourg, Language Policy Unit. https://rm.coe.int/1680459f97
Conseil de l’Europe (2001). Cadre européen commun de référence pour les langues : apprendre, enseigner, évaluer. Strasbourg, Unité des Politiques linguistiques. https://rm.coe.int/16802fc3a8
Listening and speaking activities used in the course are drawn from a variety of sources, including, for example, the BBC, TED, NPR, The Open University, onestopenglish (Macmillan Education), English for Life (Collins), Headway 5th Edition (Oxford University Press), and various YouTube channels. Detailed citations for each activity are provided in the course syllabus.

Teaching materials

• Course syllabus available via Syllanet
• Syllabus du cours, disponible sur Syllanet

Faculty or entity

> TIMB