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 treated as one subject. Whenever possible, 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

- Verbs (regular and irregular) and tenses, (followed up with past tense texts in Listening and Speaking and Reading and Writing)

- Aspects of nouns: article use, countable/uncountable nouns, plurals

- Determiners

- introduction to word formation (followed up with the relevant analyses of texts in Listening and Speaking and Reading and Writing)

- selected collocations, idiomatic expressions and other vocabulary items associated with e.g. time, abstract and proper nouns etc., integrated with grammatical content

- Revision

The material includes FCE-type tasks for vocabulary and grammar (gap-filling, multiple-choice cloze, paraphrasing, and 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 tasks and texts spoken in different registers and with different accents. Intensive listening will also focus on vocabulary and interesting structures, and through oral reproduction (reporting on the content, using the principle of information gap activities), students will activate them in a discussion (the post-listening stage). B2+ level texts used will represent diverse issues relating to general topics transitioning towards academic content. Through regular test practice, students will acquire a number of listening comprehension and speaking strategies used in popular international English language tests, such as FCE.

Content distribution

- Necessities; identifying aims, hedging; using props in a presentation

- Who Am I? Think again; constructing an argument

- Making peace is a marathon; dealing with disagreement and reaching a consensus; distinguishing between fact and opinion; being personal and relatable in a presentation

- I am not your inspiration, thank you very much; elision, understanding examples; repeating key ideas in a presentation

- Taking Imagination Seriously; inferring meaning from context, speculating, using visuals in a presentation

- Protecting Twitter users; analogies, pace and emphasis

- Knowledge; structuring and signposting a short presentation

- Organisation; perspective and stance; expressing and responding to a stance in a discussion

Reading and Writing

The course is designed so as to provide the foundation for effective critical reading and writing. The aim of the course is to develop students’ language skills and prepare them to understand and create texts from selected academic content areas. 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 and writing strategies which are used in popular international English language tests, such as the IGCSE and FCE.

Content distribution (winter semester):

- Skill focus: identifying and using main ideas and details, making inferences, using context clues and detailed examples

- The Structure of a Paragraph

- Descriptive Paragraphs:

- Process:

- Expressing Opinions:

- Problems and Solution (Part I):

- Problem/Solution Writing (Part II) –

- The basic principles of punctuation, good style and vocabulary development. Critical thinking skills; identifying propaganda

Text attack strategies: skimming , skanning

Identifying and using cohesive devices.

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 (selected fragments).

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

Reading and Writing

Selected parts of:

Anker, Susan. 2009. Real Writing. Bedford/St Martin’s.

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

Zemach, D., Rumisek, L. College Writing. From Paragraph to Essay. 2003. Oxford: Macmillan Publications.

Moodle materials including academic texts for reading practice.

Speaking and listening:

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

Lansford, L. et al. 2015. Keynote Advanced. Cengage Learning.

Moodle materials.

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

Moodle platform will be the basic repository of class materials and channel through which homework will be submitted.

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 (winter semester):

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

Diagnostic and mid-semester tests (W3, U3, U6)

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

Speaking and listening (winter and summer semester):

Active participation in class and preparation for it (K3, U10, W4)

Presentations (W4, U7, U8)

Vocabulary tests (W4)

Mid-term listening test (U11)

Final oral test at the end of the semester (U7, 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.

not applicable