This learning unit is not open to incoming exchange students!
Teacher(s)
Cipolla Gerlanda; Fontana Milena; Longrée Françoise (coordinator); Ochsenmeier Erwin (coordinator); Uzumcuoglu Melissa;
Language
English
Learning outcomes
At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to : | |
The minimum level of English to be achieved at the end of the year is B1+ as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
The lessons and the work that students must do at home are an integral part of mastering the language in terms of vocabulary and grammatical structures.
By the end of the course, students should be able to quickly grasp the general meaning of authentic texts and produce a structured oral summary. Students should also be able to understand and explain passages dealing with important information accurately, avoiding the pitfalls of ‘false friends’ and using structures specific to the English language, in particular the basics of legal vocabulary. There will be reading and listening comprehension tests, vocabulary and grammar questions, a composition in English and an oral examination in the form of an oral presentation.
Preparation for the second year specialised language course (legal).
A written exemption test will be organised at the beginning of the academic year and only very good results (16/20+) will be taken into account for exemption from the course. |
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Content
As the course is primarily aimed at developing the ability to understand texts that have not been simplified, the material is drawn from the British and American press and covers general topics, as well as issues relating to the social and legal organisation of society. These texts also serve as a basis for expanding vocabulary, revising grammar, and practising oral summarisation and conversation.
Furthermore, students will need to be able to understand and explain accurately passages dealing with important information, whilst avoiding the pitfalls of ‘false friends’ and using structures specific to the English language, in particular the basics of legal vocabulary.
Preparation for the second-year Legal English course.
Furthermore, students will need to be able to understand and explain accurately passages dealing with important information, whilst avoiding the pitfalls of ‘false friends’ and using structures specific to the English language, in particular the basics of legal vocabulary.
Preparation for the second-year Legal English course.
Teaching methods
The faculty administration places students into groups. Students may only change groups with the express authorisation of the faculty administration, and only for very limited reasons.
The English course takes place every week and consists of one hour of compulsory tuition in small groups of 20–25 students, which allows for interactive teaching methods (active participation by everyone is constantly encouraged during written and oral exercises and in discussions). In addition to this one-hour lesson, there is one hour of grammar tutorial (for all students, in a large lecture theatre, with Wooclap and Kahoot exercises designed to ensure everyone feels involved), throughout the year.
In Q2, students who scored less than 10/20 in the January exam session are required to attend the grammar tutorial.
Attendance is taken at every tutorial session as well as at compulsory lectures. In the event of unauthorised absences, points will be deducted from the active participation mark (in Q1 and Q2).
Announcements, topics covered in class and homework assignments are posted weekly on the course’s Moodle page. Students must check this page every week.
During Q2, students will have the opportunity to experience ‘Reading Week’ in mid-March, during which a variety of teaching methods will be used: ‘traditional’ lessons will be suspended for that week; there will be one-to-one sessions with the teacher for personalised remedial support, assignments involving reading or viewing a complex text, and class discussions on the topic once lessons resume, staff meetings, proposals for exhibitions or cultural activities for students, and activities in the Babbel Room.
The English course takes place every week and consists of one hour of compulsory tuition in small groups of 20–25 students, which allows for interactive teaching methods (active participation by everyone is constantly encouraged during written and oral exercises and in discussions). In addition to this one-hour lesson, there is one hour of grammar tutorial (for all students, in a large lecture theatre, with Wooclap and Kahoot exercises designed to ensure everyone feels involved), throughout the year.
In Q2, students who scored less than 10/20 in the January exam session are required to attend the grammar tutorial.
Attendance is taken at every tutorial session as well as at compulsory lectures. In the event of unauthorised absences, points will be deducted from the active participation mark (in Q1 and Q2).
Announcements, topics covered in class and homework assignments are posted weekly on the course’s Moodle page. Students must check this page every week.
During Q2, students will have the opportunity to experience ‘Reading Week’ in mid-March, during which a variety of teaching methods will be used: ‘traditional’ lessons will be suspended for that week; there will be one-to-one sessions with the teacher for personalised remedial support, assignments involving reading or viewing a complex text, and class discussions on the topic once lessons resume, staff meetings, proposals for exhibitions or cultural activities for students, and activities in the Babbel Room.
Evaluation methods
| Type of assessment (and any arrangements): assessment through written and oral examinations outside the examination periods, as well as continuous assessment (accounting for 10 per cent per four-month term), except during the August examination period, when continuous assessment is no longer taken into account. There will be no exemption tests, except that at the start of the academic year, before 30 October, students may contact the Faculty of Law Administration to find out which official tests qualify for exemption, without, however, receiving marks for this course unit. Language of assessment: English (therefore, the rules regarding French spelling do not apply, as test and exam questions require answers in English). Assessment criteria: The assessed tests or EXAMS are as follows: - In Q1, accounting for 40% of the overall mark: a written exam, marked out of 30, held during the final week of Q1 classes, covering the grammar and vocabulary studied in Q1. Active participation (discussions, assignments, the instructions and deadlines for which are published on Moodle at least one week before the class) accounts for 10 per cent. If Q1 is not passed in January (with a minimum of 10/20), the student must retake this exam in May and the weighting will remain the same as in January. - In Q2, accounting for 60% of the overall mark: 1. a written examination held during the final week of Q2, covering Q2 vocabulary and grammar, including a written expression exercise and a listening comprehension exercise based on an unpublished text; this is marked out of 30 and accounts for 30% of the overall mark. 2. an oral examination consisting of a group presentation, for which each student receives an individual mark; this is marked out of 20 and accounts for 20 per cent of the overall mark. The instructions and assessment criteria are set out in the introduction to the syllabus posted on Moodle. Each student must register for a presentation by 1 March of the current academic year. 3. Active participation (discussions, assignments, the instructions and deadlines for which are published on Moodle at least one week before the lecture) accounts for 10 per cent. If a student has not achieved a final mark of 10/20 in June, they must sit an exam in the August resit session, which will cover either only the Q2 material (written and oral) if the student passed the January exam, or the material for the whole year if the student failed the January exam. PS: Students must sit all the written and oral examinations specified in the course assessment to pass the BDROI1140 module. If a student has an unauthorised absence (A) or a authorised absence (M) for one part, this results in a final mark of A or M, whilst retaining the marks for the other parts passed with a minimum of 10/20 for the next sitting, within the same academic year. Very important note: Regarding the use of generative artificial intelligence (or any other online tool, such as translation tools, spell-checkers and grammar checkers, etc.): We ask every student to sign the ‘integrity pledge’ on the last page of the syllabus and to submit it with all written work. Students must systematically indicate all sections where one or more AI tools (or any other online tool) have been used, for example in a footnote. Students must specify whether the AI was used to search for information, to draft the text, or to improve or correct it. Students must also state the AI (or other online tool) used (ChatGPT, Bing, Bard, Chatsonic, DeepL, etc.) and the date on which it was used. Sources of information must always be cited in accordance with bibliographic referencing standards. Students remain responsible for the content of their work, regardless of the sources used. To ensure that the student’s written work is their own, criteria such as originality, critical thinking, creativity and the use of examples (for example, drawn from their own experience) will be taken into account. In the event of absence: An absence is considered justified if the student submits: A medical certificate ‘or any other document, the probative value of which is left to the sole discretion of the chair of the examination board’; By email; To the lecturer responsible for the module AND to the faculty administration (droit-slb@uclouvain.be); No later than the day following the end of the impediment (for example, for a medical certificate, the day after the last day covered by the certificate). Special case: if that day is a Saturday, a Sunday, 27 September or a public holiday, the deadline for submitting the documents is postponed to the next working day. In the event of a justified absence from a session, students must check the timetable and the tasks to be completed for the next session on the course’s Moodle page, in the section for their practicals tutor. Any delay of arrival at an exam, exceeding 20 minutes, will lead to the non-participation of the student to that exam. |
Online resources
Course syllabus, portfolio, documents and instructions posted on MOODLE.
Bibliography
1. Un syllabus de textes et d'exercices. S'y trouvent également la Fiche de cours, ainsi que le programme des matières à préparer pour chaque cours et examens ; posté sur Moodle ;
2. Un recueil de textes PDF posté sur Moodle nommé PORTFOLIO.
3. Documents distribués au cours ; postés sur Moodle.
4. Syllabus de Grammaire (Théorie et exercices). Posté sur Moodle.La bibliographie du syllabus est intégrée à chaque chapitre du syllabus de ce cours;
Pour écrire cette fiche, l'IA www.deepl.com fut utilisée pour les traductions en anglais.
1. A syllabus of texts and exercises. It also includes the course outline and the programme of topics to be prepared for each class and exam; posted on Moodle.
2. A collection of PDF texts posted on Moodle called PORTFOLIO.
3. Documents distributed during class; posted on Moodle.
4. Grammar syllabus (theory and exercises). Posted on Moodle.
The syllabus bibliography is included in each chapter of the course syllabus.
2. Un recueil de textes PDF posté sur Moodle nommé PORTFOLIO.
3. Documents distribués au cours ; postés sur Moodle.
4. Syllabus de Grammaire (Théorie et exercices). Posté sur Moodle.La bibliographie du syllabus est intégrée à chaque chapitre du syllabus de ce cours;
Pour écrire cette fiche, l'IA www.deepl.com fut utilisée pour les traductions en anglais.
1. A syllabus of texts and exercises. It also includes the course outline and the programme of topics to be prepared for each class and exam; posted on Moodle.
2. A collection of PDF texts posted on Moodle called PORTFOLIO.
3. Documents distributed during class; posted on Moodle.
4. Grammar syllabus (theory and exercises). Posted on Moodle.
The syllabus bibliography is included in each chapter of the course syllabus.
Faculty or entity
