Practical English

The course consists of the following components:

USE OF ENGLISH:

The course consists of practical exercises related to such skills as use of grammar and use of vocabulary. The materials to be covered during the course include a selection of C1 tests, which combine thorough development of advanced level language skills and systematic training in exam techniques used in Cambridge English Qualifications, such as C1 Advanced

Content distribution

- revision regarding tenses and time clauses, passive voice, adverbial clauses, nouns and articles

- C1 Advanced Tests – use of English

- vocabulary building through authentic texts

- academic register

ACADEMIC WRITING

The module develops students’ academic writing skills on C1 level and focuses on the skills required to write a BA thesis. Throughout the semester, paraphrasing, summarising, citing, and referencing will be practised in shorter texts, with particular attention paid to the ability to work with academic sources and to document their use in accordance with the Department of English stylesheet.

Content distribution:

- principles of ethical use of sources and issues related to citing sources, and creating lists of references,

- paraphrasing,

- summarising,

- integrating quotations with the text,

- introduction to the Department of English BA stylesheet and the structure of the BA thesis,

- introduction to argumentation in academic texts (cohesion and coherence – in short texts)

- formal register

SPEAKING AND LISTENING

During class, students will practice formal speaking skills through accuracy-based exercises (grammatical, lexical and communicative) and fluency-based exercises in order to achieve C1 level, expand abstract vocabulary and activate it in a discussion, where the emphasis will be on the ability to specify and defend one's own opinions in a group discussion. Advanced authentic (intellectually stimulating) texts used will represent a variety of current topics and cover key areas of academic and professional practice.

Content distribution :

- C1 Advanced Tests – speaking and listening comprehension

- academic presentations

- urban myths

- culture and identity

- resolving arguments

- science and research

READING

The course is designed so as to provide the foundation for effective critical reading in selected academic content areas. Upon successful completion of the course, students will master reading comprehension skills required to decode written texts at C1 level.

The students will also acquire a number of reading comprehension strategies which are used in Cambridge English Qualifications, such as C1 Advanced, so as to build real-life English skills required for academic study.

Content distribution:

- reading textbooks and authentic materials

- CAE Tests for the 2008 exam specifications - reading comprehension strategies

- guessing the meaning from context

- outlining main ideas, important details, and examples

- building academic vocabulary and understanding collocations

- understanding the organization of а research paper

- an analysis of selected BA-seminar reading materials

ASSESSMENT METHODS:

USE OF ENGLISH:

Observation of participation, preparation and homework as well as Moodle assignment completion documented in an activity log (U1, U2, K1)

Mid-semester tests and end-of-semester test (W1, U1, U2)

ACADEMIC WRITING:

Written assignments created in class and as homework. (U3, U4)

Observation of participation documented in an activity log (K2, K3)

Mid-semester tests and end-of-semester writing test (W2, U3, U4)

SPEAKING AND LISTENING:

Continuous assessment of student activity in group work (U5, U7, K4)

Assessed prepared and improvised presentations (U6, U7, K4)

Mid-semester tests (including vocabulary and listening comprehension) and end-of-semester oral test (W3, U8)

READING

Observation of participation, preparation and homework as well as Moodle assignment completion documented in an activity log (U9, U10, U11, K5)

End-of-semester and mid-semester tests (W4, U9, U10, U11)

Assessment criteria:

Practical English course grades will be given in reference to the following criteria:

fail – 0 – 59%

satisfactory - 60 – 69%

satisfactory plus - 70 – 75%

good - 76 – 85%

good plus - 86 – 90%

very good - 91 – 100%

The final grade in the course is assigned to the average of the three components’ percentages.

The final test in every Practical English module is administered to determine the extent to which students have met the assumed learning outcomes.

The final test has to be passed for the successful completion of the course. Students who have failed a test are allowed one retake, which in the case of the final test is administered in the retake examination session.

The students are evaluated in accordance with university regulations, and they must attend all course meetings. Informed participation in class discussions – based on completion of the assigned reading and supportive collaboration with classmates – is also required. Each class absence has to be excused in the first week after the lesson missed. The final grade percentage will be reduced for every unexcused absence.

A grade average of at least 60% must be achieved to pass each Practical English module, so the students who have passed the final test but failed to obtain the required cumulative grade point average have to retake the final test and achieve a result sufficient to make up for the points lost due to unexcused absences.

Instructors are authorized to refuse credit when the student’s absenteeism rate is around 50%.

Timely completion of assigned tasks is obligatory. In the case of assignments submitted after the deadline or re-submitted, the grade is lowered.

NOTE: all the above principles apply to all kinds of classes: traditional classroom and all forms of remote teaching. In case of online teaching, the tests may likewise be administered remotely in a form facilitating the verification of the achievement of learning outcomes.

As in part A

As in part A

As in part A

As in part A

In 2020/2021, the class is conducted remotely with the use of remote teaching and testing methods, primarily through the Moodle platform and MS Teams

READING: https://moodle.umk.pl/WHUM/course/view.php?id=1680 and on Teams Team code: whwsq9j

ACADEMIC WRITING

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/channel/19%3a992d5fd50d12465daa8cfbdae0d63231%40thread.tacv2/General?groupId=65fc61ed-d450-4162-912e-1ec487897404&tenantId=e80a627f-ef94-4aa9-82d6-c7ec9cfca324

USE OF ENGLISH

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/team/19%3a387deeaa60824159a8186d1a74b8d88f%40thread.tacv2/conversations?groupId=e5a86067-d852-464f-addb-a2f924ef7c36&tenantId=e80a627f-ef94-4aa9-82d6-c7ec9cfca324

https://moodle.umk.pl/WHUM/course/view.php?id=1759

SPEAKING AND LISTENING

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/team/19%3aff1eeda9048f44c59d59f5c862adfe02%40thread.tacv2/conversations?groupId=c7cc2d12-0909-4d17-a093-4a4dd18d6566&tenantId=e80a627f-ef94-4aa9-82d6-c7ec9cfca324

https://moodle.umk.pl/WHUM/course/view.php?id=1759

See above