Teacher(s)
Language
English
Prerequisites
To have passed LANGL1881
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.
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 studied themes are connected with current environmental issues and general scientific topics such as water shortage, earth summits, renewable energy, deforestation, etc.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to : | |
| 1 | Reading comprehension
|
| 2 | Listening comprehension
|
| 3 | Oral expression
|
Content
- Reading comprehension: portfolio of articles from the New Scientist, Scientific American, Nature, etc.
- Listening comprehension : set of authentic videos on scientific topics (climate change, sustainable development, labs, etc.)
- Phonetics and pronunciation exercises
- Speaking skills : short speaking activities
- scientific vocabulary
- grammar
Teaching methods
Course organised on a weekly basis (2h/week). Attendance is compulsory.
- Extensive reading of texts at home, using questions to practise and systematise reading strategies.
- Checking the application of reading strategies to the text, as well as analysis and comments during the course, involving the active and interactive participation of students.
- Systematic approach to discourse cohesion and coherence, recurring grammatical structures, and other lexical and structural issues that hinder comprehension of the message.
- Expansion of students' academic, scientific, and discipline-specific vocabulary.
- Listening comprehension : various language exercises to ensure a thorough understanding of the message.
- Short speaking activities in preparation for the Bac 3 course.
Evaluation methods
An exemption test is organised during the first term. This exam – open only to students who have obtained a minimum grade of 14/20 in the LANGL1881 course – exempts students from the course and exam if they obtain a minimum grade of 13/20. Students who obtain a mark lower than 13/20 in this exemption test will attend the course and take the exam.
The assessment aims to measure the acquisition of the skills worked on during the term, namely
The written exam, which accounts for 50 % of the final grade, usually takes place at the end of the semester (week 13). It tests reading and listening comprehension skills, as well as precise knowledge of the vocabulary covered in the course notes.
Please note: absence (whether justified or not) from the exam will result in a final mark of absence (justified or not).
For the second session (during the same academic year), the written exam will include questions on reading and listening comprehension, specific vocabulary and linking words.
Continuous assessment is only taken into account if it is to the student's advantage (using the same weighting as for the first session). Otherwise, the exam will count for the total number of points.
Please note that continuous assessment cannot be carried over to a subsequent academic year !
The assessment aims to measure the acquisition of the skills worked on during the term, namely
- reading comprehension of scientific texts,
- listening comprehension of scientific programmes, scientific vocabulary, targeted grammar points
- and communication skills.
The written exam, which accounts for 50 % of the final grade, usually takes place at the end of the semester (week 13). It tests reading and listening comprehension skills, as well as precise knowledge of the vocabulary covered in the course notes.
Please note: absence (whether justified or not) from the exam will result in a final mark of absence (justified or not).
For the second session (during the same academic year), the written exam will include questions on reading and listening comprehension, specific vocabulary and linking words.
Continuous assessment is only taken into account if it is to the student's advantage (using the same weighting as for the first session). Otherwise, the exam will count for the total number of points.
Please note that continuous assessment cannot be carried over to a subsequent academic year !
Other information
An exemption test is organised during the first term. This exam – open only to students who have obtained a minimum grade of 14/20 in the LANGL1881 course – exempts students from the course and exam if they obtain a minimum grade of 13/20. Students who obtain a mark lower than 13/20 in this exemption test will attend the course and take the exam.
Online resources
https://moodle.uclouvain.be/course/view.php?id=587
Bibliography
Nature
New Scientist
Scientific American
BBC
ABC
et autres sources
New Scientist
Scientific American
BBC
ABC
et autres sources
Teaching materials
- LANGL1882 English for Bioengineers BIR12
- Moodle LANGL 1882 https://moodle.uclouvain.be/course/view.php?id=587
- CORAL https://moodle.uclouvain.be/course/view.php?id=9202
- Gram&U https://moodle.uclouvain.be/course/view.php?id=4552
Faculty or entity
