Academic Language Skills: Listening and structures 1

obligatory courses

Course description

The course includes advanced and proficiency grammar, use of English, and academic vocabulary and listening-oriented activities. It aims at preparing students for their C2-Level Practical English Exam.

ECTS points in relation to student’s duties

1 ECTS pt – 30 class participation hours

1 ECTS pt – 15 hours of consultation and/or exercise preparation for in-class discussion; 15 hours of extensive listening and/or grammar exercises as take-home assignments.

Contact: sutarzewicz@uni.opole.pl

Course objectives

The course is addressed to students who begin composing their MA theses. It improves their C2-level competence. Through practical analysis of exam-oriented tasks with reference to the structures and vocabulary of English, and the language skill of listening, the course guides students towards their Practical English Exam. The course focuses on:

- developing students' command of vocabulary with special reference to the academic discourse,

- understanding authentic texts while listening and paraphrasing,

- improving students' knowledge of English grammar and structures used on the C2 level,

- developing exam task-solving techniques.

Course content

Recognising and using phrases and idioms, recognising and using phrasal verbs, understanding parts of speech, rephrasing and transforming, understanding confusable words, understanding grammatical structure; listening: general gist, details, specific information, interpreting context; listening to understand the meaning of a range of spoken material, including lectures, radio broadcasts, speeches and talks.

Reading list

A. obligatory reading (to get a credit):

A.1. used in class

Gude, K. & M. Duckworth. (2008). Proficiency masterclass: Student book. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Mann, M. & S. Taylore-Knowles. (2014). Use of English for Advanced. London: Macmillan.

A.2. used for self-study

Gude, K. & M. Duckworth. (2009). Proficiency masterclass: Exam practice workbook. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

B. supplementary reading

More, J. (2005). Common mistakes at proficiency and how to avoid them. Cambridge: University Press.

Knowledge

Graduate knows and understands:

1.(k_W02) grammatical and lexical rules of C2-Level academic English, in particular, word formation, reported speech, conditional sentences, rephrasing and transforming, confusable words (P7S_WG)

2. (k_W06) rare expressions and idioms, phrasal verbs and confusable words(P7S_WG)

Skills

Graduate can

3. (k_U05) apply grammatical, lexical and stylistic rules of C2-Level academic English, in particular students can identify and use parts of speech in a sentence (P7S_UK)

4. (k_U05) use conditional sentences, reported speech, apply reporting verb patterns, rephrase and transform sentences (P7S_UK)

5. (k_U05) understand, use and match rare expressions, idioms, and phrasal verbs to a given context (P7S_UK)

6. (k_U05) understand a range of spoken material and use English as a foreign language at the level of C2 (P7S_UK)

Forms of evaluation of effects

1. active participation in class and preparation to class – 1,2,3,4,5,6

2. listening tests – 2,3,5,6

3. tests in advanced grammar and vocabulary of English – 1,2,3,4,5,6

Criteria of evaluation

1. Active participation in class and preparation to class – 20% - continuous assessment

2. One listening test – 40%

3. One test in advanced grammar and vocabulary of English – 40%

Informed, participation in classes (pluses for informed participation in discussions and exercises: 2-3 pluses 3,0; 4-5 pluses 3,5; 6-7 pluses 4,0; 8-9 pluses 4,5; 10 pluses and more 5,0)

To get a credit students need to pass all tests.

Test marks are granted according to the following framework:

grade 2,0 (fail): 0–59%

grade 3,0 (average): 60 - 68%

grade 3,5 (plus average): 69–76%

grade 4,0 (good): 77–84%

grade 4,5 (plus good): 85–92%

grade 5,0 (very good): 93–100%