English Proficiency I

6 ECTS credits
180 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1009890ANR for all students in the 1st and 2nd semester at a (A) Bachelor - preliminary level.

Semester

1st and 2nd semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Impossible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Taught in

English

Faculty

Academic Language Centre

Department

Academic Center for Language Education

Educational team

Rachel Nye
Louise Holtzem
Moorach-Oona Devaere
Donata Lisaitė
Voorzitter ACTO (course titular)

Activities and contact hours

96 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
84 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study

Course Content

This course consists of two modules, each with a distinct and yet complementary focus, which together allow students to develop their general proficiency in English. The two modules run in parallel throughout the year, and participation in and successful completion of both is required to pass the course. Module 1 pays considerable attention to the concept of register, giving students the opportunity to observe and analyse differences in language use in a range of different text types, and to apply these in the texts, both written and spoken, which they themselves create. As such, it gives scope for developing writing – and, to a lesser extent, speaking – skills, with attention paid to both language range and accuracy of expression, aspects which form the core of Module 2. Module 2 focuses on students’ developing their command of grammar and lexis. The former combines theoretical explanation with extensive opportunities for practice, while the latter offers a range of exercises to stimulate vocabulary development. This includes activities which focus on the use of vocabulary in the context of (written or spoken) texts – both existing and of the students’ own creation – thus providing opportunity to consolidate the skills which form the focus of Module 1.

Module 1: Register and text types

The goal of this module is in the first instance to familiarise students with the concept of register, and in particular the formal/informal continuum. This is achieved by exposure to a diverse range of texts and text types, both spoken and written, drawn from a range of authentic (primarily non-fiction) Anglophone sources (which may include – but is not necessarily limited to – some or all of the following text types: tabloid and broadsheet newspaper articles, public health campaigns, recipes/instruction manuals, book/film reviews, travel guides, academic writing, computer-mediated communication, blogposts, radio broadcasts/podcasts, documentaries, vlogs). In so doing, the primary aim is to train sensitivity to the language features which characterise formal and informal registers, and in particular to increase familiarity with the former.

From early on in the module, students will be encouraged to experiment with the application of the language features typical of different registers in the (spoken and written) texts which they themselves produce, individually or in pairs and/or small groups, with a particular emphasis on developing a command of, and confidence in using, the more formal register which is typical of academic and professional contexts. These tasks will provide students with the opportunity to refine their reading, speaking and writing skills, and to develop their accuracy, fluency and creativity in different registers of the English language, with feedback provided by both their peers and the tutor, and self-reflection encouraged. In terms of close language work, particular attention will be paid to vocabulary range, accuracy and idiomaticity; punctuation; and pronunciation.

Module 2: Grammar and vocabulary

Module 2 focuses on grammar and vocabulary, with as main objectives on the one hand expanding and consolidating the range of syntactic and lexical structures students have at their disposal and, on the other hand, enhancing their level of grammatical and lexical accuracy in using these. Where appropriate, attention is paid to areas where negative transfer (problems of interference) might occur, and contrasts in register at the level of grammar and lexis are explored, the latter intersecting with the focus on this topic in Module 1.

In practice, this means that in Module 2 we will alternate between grammar lessons and vocabulary lessons. Both require a considerable amount of independent study (preparation of grammar exercises and vocabulary study) in addition to the class meetings.

Grammar:

The grammar component of this module comprises theoretical explanations and (integrated) grammar exercises, which aim to consolidate and expand upon the grammatical knowledge acquired by students in secondary education. During class meetings we provide a balance of theory and practice. The exercises range from closed exercises (drill, fill-in-the-gap and rephrase) to more open, integrated ones. The majority of these exercises provided will be at level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). Specific emphasis is placed on the verb phrase (tense and aspect, conditional sentences, modality) but other elements such as adjectives and adverbs, and articles are also addressed. Additionally, we aim to contribute to students’ familiarity with grammatical terminology so that they can recognize and name grammatical structures, including word classes.

Vocabulary:

In order to facilitate vocabulary expansion, these lessons comprise a number of speaking, listening, reading and writing activities involving vocabulary from a range of common topic areas. Students receive a list of units for independent study from the book Vocabulary in Use – Advanced, which are complemented by authentic Anglophone source material on the same themes during class meetings. Special focus will be placed on idiomatic structures (such as idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs) and formal vs. informal vocabulary. Exercises again range from closed exercises (drill, fill-in-the-gap and rephrase) to more open, integrated ones.

Course material

Digital course material (Required) : Material for Module 1 will be made available in class and/or via Canvas
Handbook (Recommended) : Practical English Usage, Michael Swan, 4de, Oxford University Press, 9780194202435, 2016
Handbook (Required) : MyGrammarLab Advanced C1/C2, without key, Mark Foley Diane Hall, Pearson Longman, 9781408299128, 2012
Handbook (Required) : English Vocabulary in Use: Advanced, Michael McCarthy, Felicity O'Dell, 3de, 9781316630068, 2017

Additional info

Material will be made available in class and/or via Canvas

Learning Outcomes

Algemene competenties

For successful completion of this module, the student is expected to be able to perform at B2+ level of the CEFR in terms of their English proficiency, and must be able to demonstrate that they have met the following specific learning objectives:

The student is able to identify and apply language features typical of different registers and text types, in both speech and writing, in controlled contexts.
The student is able to produce written and spoken texts which are appropriate for the context in terms of register and style, and which demonstrate both the necessary range of expression and a sufficient degree of language accuracy.
The student demonstrates ongoing reflection on and insight into their individual trajectory as an advanced learner of English.
The student is able to apply the grammatical theory both in speech and writing.
The student is able to attain an advanced level of grammatical accuracy in speech and writing.
The student is able identify language chunks/idiomatic structures in speech and writing and can use these in new contexts.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 50% of the final mark.
Other Exam determines 50% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Written Exam with a relative weight of 50 which comprises 50% of the final mark.

Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Continuous Assessment with a relative weight of 50 which comprises 50% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

Module 1 and Module 2 each contribute 50% towards the final score for this course. In both the first and the second exam session, a final grade of 10/20 or above has to be achieved for each individual module to pass the course. The maximum final score for the course as a whole which can be awarded to students who do not achieve a final grade of at least 10/20 for one or both modules is 9/20.

Module 1: Register and text types [50% of final course score]

(i) learning journal [25% of final course score]

(ii) speaking assignment(s) [15% of final course score]

(iii) writing assignment(s) [10% of final course score]

In order to be eligible to pass this module in the first exam session, students must have participated in both the writing and the speaking assignments during the year, and have submitted the learning journal at the end of the course by the deadline given.

Second exam session

Evaluation in the second exam session consists of the same three assessment components, with the same weighting. Students who are assessed for this course in the second exam session are required to participate in any assessment components which they did not complete and/or achieve a pass grade for in the first exam session. Students may choose to carry over to the second exam session their total score for any of the three assessment components for which an overall pass grade has been achieved in the first exam session.

Module 2: Grammar and vocabulary [50% of final course score]

Written examination in the January exam period (covering the grammar and vocabulary topics discussed in the first semester) [25% of final course score]
Written examination in the June exam period (covering the grammar and vocabulary topics discussed in the second semester) [25% of final course score]

The final mark of this module is the average of the two written examinations. Students who do not obtain a pass grade take the exam (covering all topics) in the second exam session.

Second exam session

Students who achieve a pass grade for only one of the two modules in the first exam session, and hence who do not pass the overall course in the first exam session, may choose to carry over the combined assessment grade for the module for which they have already achieved a pass grade instead of being reassessed for this module in the second session.

The score for an individual module can only be carried over to a subsequent academic year if the student submits a motivated request to do so to the course tutors and if their approval is granted.

Module 1 en Module 2 dragen elk 50% bij aan de eindscore voor dit vak. In zowel de eerste als tweede zittijd dient een eindscore van 10/20 of meer behaald te worden voor elke individuele module om te slagen voor het vak. Studenten die voor één of beide modules geen 10/20 halen, kunnen een eindscore van maximaal 9/20 halen voor dit vak.

Module 1: Register and text types [50% van de eindscore voor dit vak]

(i) schrijfopdracht(en) [25% van de eindscore voor dit vak]

(ii) spreekopdracht(en) [15% van de eindscore voor dit vak]

(iii) ‘learning journal’ (10% van de eindscore voor dit vak]

Om te kunnen slagen voor deze module tijdens de eerste examenzittijd, moet de student deelgenomen hebben aan de schrijf- en spreekopdrachten gedurende het jaar en het ‘learning journal’ hebben ingediend op het einde van de cursus tegen de opgegeven deadline.

Tweede examen zittijd

De evaluatie in de tweede examensessie bestaat uit dezelfde drie beoordelingscomponenten, met dezelfde weging. Studenten die voor deze cursus worden beoordeeld in de tweede examensessie zijn verplicht om deel te nemen aan alle beoordelingsonderdelen die zij niet hebben afgerond en/of waarvoor zij in de eerste examensessie geen voldoende hebben behaald. De student kan ervoor kiezen om zijn totale score per evaluatiecomponent over te dragen naar de tweede examensessie voor elk van de drie beoordelingsonderdelen waarvoor die in de eerste examensessie een voldoende totaalcijfer heeft behaald.

Module 2: Grammar and vocabulary [50% van de eindscore voor dit vak]

Schriftelijk examen in de januari zittijd (over de inhoud (grammatica + woordenschat) die tijdens het eerste semester gezien wordt) [25% van de eindscore voor dit vak]
Schriftelijk examen in de juni zittijd (over de inhoud (grammatica + woordenschat) die tijdens het tweede semester gezien wordt) [25% van de eindscore voor dit vak]

Het eindcijfer van deze module is het gemiddelde van de twee schriftelijke examens. Studenten die niet slagen voor de module in de eerste zittijd kunnen het schriftelijke examen (over alle topics) afleggen tijdens de tweede zittijd.

Tweede examen zittijd

Studenten die voor maar één van de twee modules slagen in de eerste zittijd en die dus niet voor het vak slagen in de eerste zittijd kunnen ervoor kiezen om hun gecombineerde score voor de module waarvoor ze al een voldoende haalde, over te dragen naar de tweede zittijd in plaats van opnieuw te moeten deelnemen aan de evaluatie voor deze module in de tweede examen zittijd.

De score voor een individuele module kan alleen overgedragen worden naar een volgende academiejaar indien de student hiervoor een gemotiveerde verzoek bij de docenten indient en indien de docenten dit goedkeuren.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context