COURSE SYLLABUS: ENGLISH LANGUAGE IV Year 2010-2011

COURSE SYLLABUS FOR THE SUBJECT English Language IV

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

Subject: English Language IV

Code 35326
Type: Compulsory
Degree: English Studies
Year / Semester: Second/Second
Department: Departament de Filologia Anglesa i
Alemanya
Lecturers: Dr. Miguel Fuster Márquez (Group AA/BA)
Dra. Ana Belén Cabrejas Peñuelas (Group AB)
Dra. Nuria Edo Marzá (Group AB)
Beatriu Cardona i Prats (Group AC)
Dra. Begoña Clavel Arroitia (Group BA)
Dr. Sergio Maruenda Bataller (Group BB)
Class Schedule: Group AA – Monday & Wednesday 8.00-10.00
Group AB – Monday & Wednesday 8.00-10.00
Group AC – Monday & Wednesday 8.00-10.00
Group BA – Monday & Wednesday 15.00-17.00
Group BB – Monday & Wednesday 15.00-17.00

2. INTRODUCTION TO THE SUBJECT

- English Language IV is a second-year (second semester) compulsory

subject that is part of the module English Language & Linguistics and
the sub-module English Language (II-VIII). This subject is related to
other subjects in the English Linguistics sub-module: History of the
English Language, English Morphology and Lexis, English Syntax and
Second Language Acquisition.
- The aim of the course is to develop communicative skills in English
(listening and reading comprehension and written and oral expression,

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 COURSE SYLLABUS: ENGLISH LANGUAGE IV Year 2010-2011

communicative interaction and mediation) at the B2+ level in multiple

contexts.
- At the same time, the course aims to promote autonomous learning,
self-assessment, and remedial work with the lecturer.
- Recommended previous knowledge and competences: Students will
need a minimum B2 level of English according to the Common
European Framework (CEF).

3. WORKLOAD

Activities # hours
Practice with the 5 skills as defined by the CEF and 33
other competences.
Attendance at seminars 6
Sitting examinations 12
Preparation of papers, projects, group work, etc. 32
Class preparation 32
Preparation for examinations 32
Attendance at tutorials 3
Workload: total 150
Total ECTS credits 6

4. COMPETENCES (GENERAL AND SPECIFIC) AND LEARNING

OUTCOMES

General

• The development of interpersonal skills and the capacity for teamwork (C11).
Participating in small groups (tutorials, seminars) and in group work and group projects.
Being involved in activities where consensus is sought (making decisions with others)
(C11).
• The development of the capacity for individual work, independent learning,
organizational skills and time management. Taking responsibility for one’s own
learning with some monitoring on the part of the lecturer. Being confident and flexible in
identifying and defining problems and being able to apply the appropriate knowledge,
tools / methods to solve them (C12).
• The ability to design and manage projects and write high-quality reports,
presentations and papers within a variety of work environments. The students will
be able to examine and develop: text organisation, point of view, register and style,
editing skills, paraphrasing, summarising, descriptive composition and argumentative
composition (C13).

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 COURSE SYLLABUS: ENGLISH LANGUAGE IV Year 2010-2011

Specific

• The acquisition of communicative and social competence in the English language

(listening and reading comprehension and written and oral expression,
communicative interaction and mediation, including grammatical and stylistic
correction) at the B2+ level of the Common European Framework of Reference for
Languages. (C14)
• The ability to relate the geographical and historical aspects of the English-
speaking world and its most relevant institutions with contemporary culture and
society: Consolidation of the contents of introduced in History and Culture of
English-Speaking Countries. Through the analysis of media discourse and other
relevant written and audiovisual material, the students will become familiar with the
most relevant aspects and events of English-speaking countries in order to better
understand their evolution and current situation. (C16)
• An awareness of the theoretical and practical aspects of the following disciplines
in English: phonology, lexicology, morphology, syntax and textual and discursive
analysis. Students will concentrate on the theoretical and practical aspects of the
English language. Consolidation of the competences included in English
Language I. Practical activities that promote the use of English to explain linguistic
phenomena. Acquisition of specific vocabulary including its pronunciation. Practical
activities designed so that students can recognize different grammatical categories and
their corresponding functions. (C18)
• An awareness of and ability to identify geographical, social and gender varieties
of English, including non-literary registers. Students will be given the opportunity to
indentify different geographical, social and gender varieties of English. In English
Language IV we will focus on the mainstream varieties and some common registers,
etc. (C28)
• The ability to use tools, programs and software designed specifically for the
study of the English language and its literatures. Practical activities to learn how to
communicate in English using web-based platforms. Activities in English to learn how to
look for information using the university’s electronic resources. Learning how to use the
Aulavirtual: questionnaires, resources, forums, etc. (C30)

5. CONTENTS

Reading: The world of entertainment

Writing: An article
Unit 9 Listening: Listening for detail. TV shows
Speaking: Talking about likes and dislikes
Grammar: Reported speech 1. Linking words for contrast
Reading: Stories on personal experiences
Writing: Stories. Ways of organising ideas
Unit 10 Listening: Extracts on different subjects
Speaking: Speculating. Using appropriate vocabulary
Grammar: Modal verbs to express certainty and possibility
Reading: Reporting on extreme situations
Writing: Reports on improvements. Making suggestions and recommendations
Unit 11 Listening: Intensive listening
Speaking: Speculating
Grammar: Modals expressing ability. As and Like. Look, seem, appear
Unit 12 Reading: Modern lifestyles and health

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 COURSE SYLLABUS: ENGLISH LANGUAGE IV Year 2010-2011

Writing: An essay
Listening: Attitudes to health
Speaking: Discussing health issues
Grammar: Relative pronouns and relative clauses
Reading: On advice and recommendations
Writing: Giving advice
Unit 13 Listening: Animal world
Speaking: Discussing nature
Grammar: Third conditional. Wish / If only / Hope
Reading: Descriptions: new homes
Writing: An article
Unit 14 Listening: Describing experiences with host families
Speaking: Language of description. Talking about options
Grammar: Causative have. Expressing obligation and permission
Reading: Reading tourist information
Writing: E-mail giving information, inviting and accepting
Unit 15 Listening: Festivals
Speaking: Turn-taking
Grammar: The passive. The passive with reporting verbs
Reading: Review of new technologies and developments
Writing: A Review
Listening: Discussing uses of new devices
Unit 16
Speaking: Discussing new technology
Grammar: Linking words: when, if, in case, even if, even though, whether. Reporting 2:
Reporting verbs

6. COURSE SCHEDULE

# UNITS WEEKS
1 Unit 8 & Unit 9 3
2 Unit 10 & Unit 11 2
3 Unit 12 & Unit 13 2
4 Unit 14 & Unit 15 2
5 Unit 16 2
10 Oral tests 2
Total 13

7. METHODOLOGY AND ACTIVITIES

Class Methodology
Students are encouraged to learn as autonomously as possible, acquiring
the knowledge and skills targeted in each unit of the course book and of
additional material used in the classroom.

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 COURSE SYLLABUS: ENGLISH LANGUAGE IV Year 2010-2011

Theory-based classes:
Grammar points will always be presented in context. Case studies and
problem-solving learning will be used to deal with these and other
concepts related to English language and culture.

Practical classes:
Students will work with a set of materials aimed to provide them with the
necessary skills to comprehend and produce written and oral ‘texts,’ and
also build on their active knowledge of lexical resources and grammar in
English. Students will also be given the opportunity to acquire
competences other than C14 in class.

Other activities

Seminars and tutorials will focus on all the work produced by the students,
which includes case studies and problem-solving activities.

For continuous assessment, students will be required to produce a

Portfolio designed to evaluate their improvement and exploitation of
resources at their disposal. The Portfolio must include materials from
dossiers, writing assignments, contributions to forums and blogs, and any
other additional material. This work will be revised and evaluated in
individual or group tutorials. Students will also be given the opportunity to
acquire competences other than C14 in these seminars and tutorials.

8. LEARNING ASSESSMENT

There are two types of assessment: type A and type B. They are mutually
exclusive (i.e. students can do one or the other but not both). If a student does
any of the work for assessment type A, he/she cannot then do the final
examination for students doing assessment type B.

Type A is for students who attend classes on a regular basis. For them,
assessment will be made up of 3 parts:

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 COURSE SYLLABUS: ENGLISH LANGUAGE IV Year 2010-2011

Type of assessment % of final grade

a) Individual written theory and practice examination (use of
70%
English, writing, reading, listening, speaking).
b) Portfolio 20%
c) Tutorials (group or individual) 10%

To pass the subject students need to get at least 5 out of 10 in each part.
Otherwise, the rest of the marks will not be calculated for the final mark. The
final mark will be the average of parts a, b and c.

Type B assessment is for students who cannot come on a regular basis. They
will have the opportunity to do a final exam. The assessment for that exam will
be:

Type of assessment % of final grade

a) Individual written theory and practice examination (use of
80%
English, writing, reading, listening, speaking).
b) Examination will also include questions on competences
20%
other than C14.

To pass the subject students need to get at least 5 out of 10 in parts a and b.
The final mark will be the average of parts a and b.

Assessment Criteria

Theory
Students will need to show that they have grasped the theoretical
concepts that have been explained in the theory classes, as well as the lexical
and functional items to be used in the multiple contexts seen in class.

Practice

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 COURSE SYLLABUS: ENGLISH LANGUAGE IV Year 2010-2011

Students will need to show that they have attained a B2+ competence
level in the productive and receptive skills, as described in the learning
outcomes (section 4) and in the course contents (section 5).

9. MATERIALS

a) Course Syllabus: Online in Aula Virtual

b) Notes: Online in Aula Virtual
c) Activities dossier: Online in Aula Virtual.

10. BIBLIOGRAPHY AND SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Basic texts for the preparation of discipline-specific content

a. General bibliography (Manuals)

Coursebook
Brook-Hart, Guy. 2008. Complete First Certificate. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press. [Student’s book + Workbook]

Reference
Hashemi, Louise & Barbara Thomas. 2009. Grammar for First Certificate
(with answers). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Thomas, Barbara & Laura Matthews. 2009. Vocabulary for First Certificate.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Tayfoor, Susan. 2009. Common Mistakes at First Certicate…and How to

Avoid Them. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

b. Specific bibliography (regarding content or units)

McCarthy, M. & F. O’Dell. English Vocabulary in Use (Intermediate to Upper

Intermediate). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Murphy, Raymond. 2009 (3rd ed). English Grammar in Use

(Intermediate/Upper-Intermediate). Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press.

McCarthy, M. & F. O’Dell. English Phrasal Verbs in Use (Intermediate to

Upper Intermediate). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

McCarthy, M. & F. O’Dell. English Idioms in Use (Intermediate to Upper

Intermediate). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

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 COURSE SYLLABUS: ENGLISH LANGUAGE IV Year 2010-2011

c. Complementary bibliography

Collins diccionario español-inglés, inglés-español, Harper Collins

Publishers.

Collins English Dictionary and Thesaurus. Harper Collins Publishers, 1999.

Diccionario Oxford Español-Inglés/Inglés-Español, Oxford.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (New Edition). Longman.

Swan, Michael, Practical English Usage, Oxford, 2000.