English in social communication

general courses

The student shows good knowledge of grammar and vocabulary, and understands English language texts (at least at the level of B2) in audiovisual communications.

Classroom

Students become familiar with the content offered in the form of audiovisual or audial communications in a range of topics. The classes are oriented to practical communication tasks. The course focuses on set phrases in communications representing a range of professional fields. The aim of the class is to hone the skill of adequate reactions in and retaining control over discourse.

The course covers learning of the English language in the remit of professional vocabulary. It aims at preparing students for adequate reactions in varrious professional contexts. The students learn key language skills typical of different professions through the prism of set phrases reflecting professional languages.

During the course various sources are used, including interviews, speeches, conference addresses, dialogues, and monologues. Great weight is attached to the use of adequate register and to adequate use of expressions in professional contexts. Students are encouraged to learning vocabulary on their own and to develop listening skills, note-taking and communicating messages, and also expanding on their knowledge about professional activities. Students are introduced to the rules governing Oxford debates in the last classes of the course. All students are invited to take part in the discussion. Every student has their role. The student learns how to react to arguments offered by the opposing party in an adequate manner.

Students' working hours:

- 30 hrs of learning in class;

- 15 hrs of preparation for classes;

- 10 hrs of preparation for in-class presentations;

- 5 hrs of preparation for tests.

TOTAL: 60 hrs (2ECTS)

Audio and/or audiovisual materials prepared and selected by the teaching instructor. Introduction to Oxford debates is based on free-access sources available from the YouTube service and the official website www.oxford-union.org.

On completion of the course the student:

KNOWLEDGE

- knows to a considerable degree the complex character of the English language and the fact that the language changes over time;

- knows the English language, and their command of the language (both written and spoken) meets the requirements for the level of B2 plus.

SKILLS

- knows how to communicate in English, and this knowledge corresponds to the requirements for the level of B2 plus;

- knows how to plan and organise individual work and team work.

COMPETENCES

- is ready to evaluate their own knowledge.

In order to obtain a passing grade, the student must take the final test in the last but one class of the semester, after having passed all control tests in the course of the semester.

The evaluation of the final test and control tests is based on criteria expressed in percentage thresholds:

99% -100% - 5! (ocena bardzo dobra z wykrzyknikiem)

96% - 98 % - 5 (ocena bardzo dobra)

87% - 95% - 4+ (ocena dobra plus)

78% - 86% - 4 (ocena dobra)

69% - 77% - 3+ (ocena dostateczna plus)

60% – 68% - 3 (ocena dostateczna)

Based on the quality of in-class activity, mainly the student's participation in the Oxford debate, the teaching instructor can add up to 15 percentage points to the result of the final test.

Rules applicable to participants of the course:

1. Presence in classes is obligatory.

2. The student enjoys the right to be absent two times per semester. Unjustified absence in more than two classes results in the obligation to perform additional tasks, e.g. preparing a glossary to cover a topic. Absence in more than 50% of classes will result in a failure to pass.

3. The student ought to be prepared for every class.

4. If the case of a failure to take the final test, the student will not receive the final grade. In that case, the student is allowed to take the test in the examination session and/or the resit session.

5. Failure to pass the test the first time without justification results in the expiration of the first period for passing the test.