Practical English

Practical English is an integrated subject, as demonstrated in the accompanying Moodle course. The aim of the three constituent classes is to improve students’ language proficiency with reference to all the language competencies viewed holistically, to a consistent B2 level (according to the CEFR – the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). The students' level and progress will be regularly assessed against the benchmark of the First Certificate in English exams.

The components of integrated Practical English (Use of English, Speaking and listening, and Reading and writing) are still treated as one subject. Each component supports, continues and builds on the themes and linguistic content of the other constituents. The successful completion of all three is obligatory in order to receive a composite positive grade, which is calculated on the basis of the mean from the constituent components.

Use of English

During the course we will discuss and practice the selected problems of the practical grammar and vocabulary of the English language at B2 level.

The list of topics may be slightly altered depending on the results of initial and ongoing diagnosis.

Content distribution:

- Modal verbs (followed up with advice giving in Listening and Speaking and Reading and Writing)

- Conditionals and unreal past(followed up with the production of relevant texts in Listening and Speaking and Reading and Writing)

- Reported Speech (followed up with the relevant text production in Listening and Speaking and Reading and Writing)

- Passive vs. Active Voice and causative structures (followed up with the production of relevant texts in Listening and Speaking and Reading and Writing)

- selected collocations, idiomatic expressions and other vocabulary items associated with e.g. ability and possibility, hypothetical scenarios, reporting and quoting etc., integrated with grammatical content.

- word formation (continued)

The material includes FCE-type tasks for vocabulary and grammar (gap-filling, multiple-choice cloze, paraphrasing, or introduction to word formation) for an objective assessment of progress.

Speaking and listening

The aim of the course is to develop students' aural-oral skills through accuracy-focused speaking exercises (the accuracy of grammar, vocabulary and communication) and fluency in order to establish students' average language proficiency level at B2.

The objective will be achieved through various types of English for Academic Purposes tasks and texts.

Content distribution:

1. Taking detailed notes on explanations and examples, participating in a seminar discussion

2. Identifying supporting arguments, using reporting verbs to refer to points in a presentation

3. Identifying and discussing stance in source material, forming a stance based on a reading

4. Using notes to write a summary, understanding and using references to visual information, referring to other people’s ideas

5. Analysing descriptions of similarity and difference, comparing and contrasting different pieces of research

6. Examining evidence to prepare for a debate, presenting arguments for and against

7. Identifying and using the language of problems and solutions, selecting and synthesizing information

8. Recognizing and noting down cause and effect relations in a lecture, identifying related ideas

Reading and Writing

The course is designed so as to consolidate the skills learned in the previous semester for effective critical academic reading and writing.

The aim of the course is to develop students’ language skills and prepare them to understand and create multi-paragraph academic text.

Upon successful completion of the course, students will master reading and writing skills at B2 level.

The students will also acquire a number of reading comprehension strategies.

Content distribution

Reading strategies

- Analyzing text organization: summaries, reports and essays (introductions, conclusions, refutation paragraphs)

- Recognizing cohesive language

- Reading critically a number of academic texts: understanding stance, implicit language, and objectivity (vs.incl. propaganda and logical fallacies)

- Understanding the significance of citing and referencing

- Understanding hedges and developing hedging skills

- Identifying and using general, academic, and technical vocabulary and working with reference books

Writing strategies

- Practising writing: paragraphs developed by definition, summaries, reports and essay elements (thesis statements, introductory paragraphs, concluding paragraphs, refutation paragraphs)

- Taking a stance : expressing disagreement

- Using in-text references

- Using paraphrases

- lncluding quotations

- Using an academic style

- Eliminating common writing problems: run-on sentences, comma splices, etc

All textbooks listed below are used on the basis of chapters or shorter excerpts selected by the instructors.

Integrating materials:

Content subject-related texts for linguistic analysis.

Moodle materials.

Triggs, Tony D. FCE Testbuilder. 1996. Macmillan Heinemann.

Component-specific literature

Use of English

Virginia Evans, FCE Use of English 1. Express Publishing: 2008.

Debra Powell, Elaine Walker and Steve Elsworth, Grammar Practice for Upper Intermediate Students. Pearson Longman, 2005.

Michael Vince, Macmillan English Grammar in Context: Intermediate. Macmillan Education, 2008.

Michael Vince and Paul Emmerson, First Certificate Language Practice. English Grammar and Vocabulary. Macmillan Education, 2003.

Luke Prodromou. 2004. Grammar and Vocabulary for First Certificate. Pearson Education Limited.

Additional reading:

M. Swan, Practical English Usage, Oxford 2005.

Virginia Evans, FCE Use of English 2. Express Publishing: 2009

Mark Foley, Diane Hall, My Grammar Lab B1/B2. Pearson Education, Limited, 2012.

Reading and Writing

Chazal, de Edward and Rogers Louis. 2013. Oxford EAP. English for Academic Purposes. Level B2. OUP.

Sowton, Chris and Martin Hewings. 2012. Cambridge Academic English. Level: B2. CUP.

Moodle materials.

Speaking and listening:

Chazal, de Edward and Rogers Louis. 2013. Oxford EAP. English for Academic Purposes. Level B1+. OUP.

Moodle materials.

All the components will use the system of mid-semester and semester-final tests or assignments to prove the attainment of a consistent B2 level in all the areas.

Use of English

Observation of participation, preparation and Moodle assignments or other homework completion, documented in an activity log (U1, U2, K1)

Mid-semester test and end-of-semester test (W1, W2, U1)

Reading and Writing:

Observation of participation, preparation and homework completion, Moodle assignments, documented in an activity log (W3, U4, U5, K2 )

Mid-semester test (W3, U3, U6)

End-of-semester test in the summer semester (W3, U3,U6)

Speaking and listening:

Observation of participation, preparation and homework completion,

documented in an activity log (K3, U10, W4)

Mid-semester test (U9, W4)

Final assignment (U7, U8, U9, W4)

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

The students are evaluated in accordance with the university regulations, and they must attend all course meetings in a classroom or a distance learning platform. 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 from physical or virtual class or assignment that a student has failed to complete (homework or asynchronous learning).

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 the result sufficient to make up for the points lost due to unexcused absences or failing course assignments.

Instructors are authorized to refuse credit when the student’s absenteeism rate is around 50% even if the absences have had valid reasons.

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 the forms of remote teaching situations. In case of online teaching, the tests may likewise be administered remotely in a form facilitating the verification of the achievement of learning outcomes.

not applicable

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Use of English Moodle: https://moodle.umk.pl/course/view.php?id=5472