Acquiring and Teaching English for Legal Purposes

elective courses

Classroom

Acquiring and teaching English for legal purposes (ELP) can be a challenge because the student's individual needs, the specificity of the legal sector, and the development of all language skills need to be simultaneously considered.

In this course, participants will learn about the specificity of ELP, legal terminology, methods of teaching ELP, how to conduct an analysis of student needs, and how to prepare curricula and lesson plans for ELP. Research findings in ELP will also be discussed.

The course is for MA full-time students.

This is an elective course within the teacher training programme.

Information on office hours - on the IAUW's office

In the era of universal globalization, students’ needs are now specific and often associated with their studies, professional life, or future careers. Therefore, the interest in learning a foreign language for a specific purpose is growing.

Acquiring and teaching ELP is a challenge. The specificity of the legal sector and the individual needs of students do not often go hand in hand, so during the course participants will learn how to reconcile the student's specific needs with the development of specific language skills in EFL.

During the course, participants will learn about the characteristics of ELP, different methods of conducting the needs analysis and ELP teaching methods. In addition, teaching resources available on the market will be discussed and how to use them to develop knowledge in ELP as well as listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in a foreign language. Participants will also have the opportunity to create schemes of work, teaching and learning resources, and lesson plans.

Participants will learn about the specificity of legal English, including its terminology, which may be useful for translating legal documents.

Participants will also learn about the methods of conducting research in ELP. They will develop different academic skills such as analysing and interpreting research findings, presenting arguments and a topic in the form of an oral presentation.

Allum, V. (2012). Teaching English for Medical Purposes. Lulu Press.

Dudley-Evans, T., & St John, M. J. (1998). Developments in English for Specific Purposes: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach. Cambridge University Press.

Hartig, A. J. (2014). Connecting Language and Disciplinary Knowledge in English for Specific Purposes. Case studies in Law. Bristol: Multilingual Matters.

Hutchinson, T., & Waters, A. (1987). English for Specific Purposes. A learning-centred approach. Cambridge University Press.

Kırkgöz, Y., & Dikilitaş, K. (2018). Key Issues in English for Specific Purposes in Higher Education. Cham: Springer.

Long, M. H. (2005). Second Language Needs Analysis. Cambridge University Press.

Sierocka, H. (2014). Curriculum Development for Legal English Programs. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

West, R. (1997). Needs analysis in language teaching, Language Teaching, 27(1), 1-19.

Woodrow, L. (2017). Introducing Course Design in English for Specific Purposes. New York: Routledge.

Knowledge: the graduate will be able to

Identify and characterize on an advanced level the place and status of linguistics within the humanities in regard to the topics concerning law (K_W01)

Describe on an advanced level the current trends in linguistic research within English studies in regard to the topics concerning law (K_W02)

Abilities: the graduate is able to

Apply advanced terminology and notions pertinent to linguistics in regard to the topics concerning law (K_U01)

Apply knowledge obtained during the course of studies to account for and solve a problem, thereby completing a research task related to the discipline linguistics in regard to the topics concerning law (K_U03)

Analyze linguistic phenomena and draw generalizations on their basis in the context of different factors on an advanced level in regard to the topics concerning law (K_U04)

Use modern technology in the process of learning and communicating with academic teachers, colleagues, representatives of various institutions and fellow participants in classes and projects, applying various channels and techniques of communication (K_U07)

Participate in group projects, collaborate with others and be a team leader in conducting collaborative research, presentations and other tasks included in the curriculum (K_U08)

Present knowledge in a coherent, precise and linguistically correct manner in English on level C2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, ensuring an appropriate register and form (K_U09)

Social competences: the graduate is ready to

Take responsibility for performing one’s professional duties, with due respect for the work of others, obey and develop the ethical norms in professional and academic settings related to the disciplines included on the curriculum of English studies (K_K03)

Assess critically one’s own knowledge and skills related to the studies (K_K04)

The final grade is calculated on the basis of:

- writing tasks (50%),

- a final exam (50%).

Attendance - min. 80%

Re-sit examination - rewriting the work(s) for which the student has received an unsatisfactory grade.

The form and criteria of the assessment may change depending on the current epidemic situation. Equivalent credit conditions will be established in consultation with the course participants and in accordance with the guidelines in force at the University of Warsaw.