Conducted in terms: 2022/23L, 2023/24L, 2024/25L, 2025/26L

ISCED code: 0231

ECTS credits: 9

Language: English

Organized by: Faculty of Humanities

Practical English 2510-f1ENG1S-PE

The components of integrated Practical English (Use of English, Speaking and listening, and Reading and writing) are still treated as one subject. Each component supports, continues and builds on the themes and linguistic content of the other constituents. The successful completion of all three is obligatory in order to receive a composite positive grade, which is calculated on the basis of the mean from the constituent components.

Use of English
During the course we will discuss and practice the selected problems of the practical grammar and vocabulary of the English language at B2 level.
The list of topics may be slightly altered depending on the results of initial and ongoing diagnosis.

Content distribution:
- Modal verbs (followed up with advice giving in Listening and Speaking and Reading and Writing)
- Conditionals and unreal past(followed up with the production of relevant texts in Listening and Speaking and Reading and Writing)
- Reported Speech (followed up with the relevant text production in Listening and Speaking and Reading and Writing)
- Passive vs. Active Voice and causative structures (followed up with the production of relevant texts in Listening and Speaking and Reading and Writing)
- selected collocations, idiomatic expressions and other vocabulary items associated with e.g. ability and possibility, hypothetical scenarios, reporting and quoting etc., integrated with grammatical content.
- word formation (continued)
The material includes FCE-type tasks for vocabulary and grammar (gap-filling, multiple-choice cloze, paraphrasing, or introduction to word formation) for an objective assessment of progress.

Speaking and listening
The aim of the course is to develop students' aural-oral skills through accuracy-focused speaking exercises (the accuracy of grammar, vocabulary and communication) and fluency in order to establish students' average language proficiency level at B2.
The objective will be achieved through various types of English for Academic Purposes tasks and texts.

Content distribution:

1. Taking detailed notes on explanations and examples, participating in a seminar discussion
2. Identifying supporting arguments, using reporting verbs to refer to points in a presentation
3. Identifying and discussing stance in source material, forming a stance based on a reading
4. Using notes to write a summary, understanding and using references to visual information, referring to other people’s ideas
5. Analysing descriptions of similarity and difference, comparing and contrasting different pieces of research
6. Examining evidence to prepare for a debate, presenting arguments for and against
7. Identifying and using the language of problems and solutions, selecting and synthesizing information
8. Recognizing and noting down cause and effect relations in a lecture, identifying related ideas

Reading and Writing
The course is designed so as to consolidate the skills learned in the previous semester for effective critical academic reading and writing.
The aim of the course is to develop students’ language skills and prepare them to understand and create multi-paragraph academic text.
Upon successful completion of the course, students will master reading and writing skills at B2 level.
The students will also acquire a number of reading comprehension strategies.

Content distribution

Reading strategies
- Analyzing text organization: summaries, reports and essays (introductions, conclusions, refutation paragraphs)
- Recognizing cohesive language
- Reading critically a number of academic texts: understanding stance, implicit language, and objectivity (vs.incl. propaganda and logical fallacies)
- Understanding the significance of citing and referencing
- Understanding hedges and developing hedging skills
- Identifying and using general, academic, and technical vocabulary and working with reference books

Writing strategies
- Practising writing: paragraphs developed by definition, summaries, reports and essay elements (thesis statements, introductory paragraphs, refutation paragraphs)
- Taking a stance : expressing disagreement
- Using in-text references
- Using paraphrases
- lncluding quotations
- Using an academic style
- Eliminating common writing problems: run-on sentences, comma splices, etc

Total student workload

Contact hours with the teacher: - participation in classes (Reading and Writing, Speaking and Listening, Use of English)- 90 hrs Self-study hours: - home assignments, preparation for tests and the final tests - 135 hrs Total Student workload (225h = 9 ECTS)

Learning outcomes - knowledge

Use of English The student W1: can define and apply the selected English grammar rules pertaining to modal verbs, conditionals, wishes, reported speech and passive voice at B2 level. (K_W02) W2: has the practical knowledge of selected vocabulary items, such as reporting verbs and ways to express certainty and possibility, at B2 level. (K_W02) Reading and Writing The student W3: has the practical knowledge of grammar, vocabulary and spelling, making it possible to understand and create formally and linguistically accurate formal and academic texts on selected topics at B2 level (K_W02) Speaking and listening The student W4: has the practical knowledge of grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation, making it possible to comprehend and create accurate and fluent oral texts in formal and academic register at B2 level (K_W02)

Learning outcomes - skills

Use of English U1: The student can use accurate grammar and appropriate lexis of the English language when it comes to modal verbs, passive voice, reported speech, conditional structures, and the unreal past, with language skills matching the description of B2 level. (K_U17) U2: The student can work with a group, negotiating solutions to usage problems relating to passive voice, reported speech, modal verbs and conditional structures in English. (K_U08) Reading and Writing The student U3: has the ability to read and comprehend academic texts at B2 level (K_U02) U4: understands differences between a formal academic and informal register and can use impersonal formal English writing texts at B2 level (K_U4) U5: can cite other sources either quoting or paraphrasing the original text to prevent plagiarism (K_U16) U6: has language skills which allows them to read and write academic texts at B2 level (K_U17) Speaking and listening The student U7: understands British and American English and differences between a formal and informal register and can use academic English in speech at B2 level (K_U4) U8 : has the ability to make effective academic presentations in English and support and defend one’s own arguments (K_U15) U9 : has the English academic language skills as described by B2 level of CEFR (K_U17) U10: can work with a group, negotiating solutions to discussion oriented tasks and problems (K_U08)

Learning outcomes - social competencies

Use of English The student: K 1: is aware of the level of their knowledge and skills in English grammar and lexis and understands the need for continuous practice and development. (K_K01) Reading and Writing The student K2: is aware of the level of their academic knowledge and skills in reading and writing and understands the need for continuous practice (K_K01) Speaking and listening The student K3: is aware of the level of their academic knowledge and speaking and listening skills and understands the need for continuous practice (K_K01)

Teaching methods

Use of English Expository teaching methods: description, participatory lecture Exploratory teaching methods: practical, brainstorming, problem-solving Reading and Writing Expository teaching methods: description, discussion Exploratory teaching methods: brainstorming, individual consultations, problem-solving, practical Speaking and Listening Expository teaching methods: informative lecture and discussion Exploratory teaching methods: brainstorming, problem solving, presentation Additionally, depending on course component specificity, all the classes may also utilize a range of other TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) techniques, such as mediation, reading aloud, paraphrasing terms and sentences, oral and written description, storytelling, mini-lecture, student project preparation, language lab work, standardised test taking, etc.

Observation/demonstration teaching methods

- staging
- drama

Expository teaching methods

- participatory lecture

Exploratory teaching methods

- brainstorming
- project work
- practical

Online teaching methods

- methods developing reflexive thinking
- content-presentation-oriented methods
- integrative methods
- exchange and discussion methods
- cooperation-based methods

Prerequisites

The successul completion of the the winter semester, with passing results in all the components of Practical English, as it is an integrated subject.

Course coordinators

Term 2023/24L:

Nelly Strehlau

Term 2022/23L:

Nelly Strehlau
Krzysztof Strzemeski

Term 2025/26L:

Nelly Strehlau

Term 2024/25L:

Krzysztof Strzemeski

Assessment criteria

All the components will use the system of mid-semester and semester-final tests or assignments to prove the attainment of a consistent B2 level in all the areas.

Use of English
Observation of participation, preparation and Moodle assignments or other homework completion, documented in an activity log (U1, U2, K1)
Mid-semester test and end-of-semester test (W1, W2, U1)

Reading and Writing:
Observation of participation, preparation and homework completion, Moodle assignments, documented in an activity log (W3, U4, U5, K2 )
Mid-semester test (W3, U3, U6)
End-of-semester test in the summer semester (W3, U3,U6)

Speaking and listening:
Observation of participation, preparation and homework completion,
documented in an activity log (K3, U10, W4)
Mid-semester test (U9, W4)
Final assignment (U7, U8, U9, W4)

Assessment criteria:
Practical English course grades will be given in reference to the following criteria:
fail – 0 – 59%
satisfactory - 60 – 69%
satisfactory plus - 70 – 75%
good - 76 – 85%
good plus - 86 – 90%
very good - 91 – 100%

The final grade in the course is assigned to the average of the three components’ percentages.
The final test in every Practical English module is administered to determine the extent to which students have met the assumed learning outcomes. This test has to be passed for the successful completion of the course. Students who have failed a test are allowed one retake, which in case of the final test is administered in the retake examination session.

The students are evaluated in accordance with the university regulations, and they must attend all course meetings in a classroom or a distance learning platform. Informed participation in class discussions – based on completion of the assigned reading and supportive collaboration with classmates – is also required. Each class absence has to be excused in the first week after the lesson missed. The final grade percentage will be reduced for every unexcused absence from physical or virtual class or assignment that a student has failed to complete (homework or asynchronous learning).

A grade average of at least 60% must be achieved to pass each Practical English module, so the students who have passed the final test but failed to obtain the required cumulative grade point average have to retake the final test and achieve the result sufficient to make up for the points lost due to unexcused absences or failing course assignments.

Instructors are authorized to refuse credit when the student’s absenteeism rate is around 50% even if the absences have had valid reasons.
Timely completion of assigned tasks is obligatory. In the case of assignments submitted after the deadline or re-submitted, the grade is lowered.
Assignments created with the use of AI (generated or edited) will receive a failing grade.

NOTE: all the above principles apply to all kinds of classes: traditional classroom and all the forms of remote teaching situations. In case of online teaching, the tests may likewise be administered remotely in a form facilitating the verification of the achievement of learning outcomes.

Practical placement

not applicable

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 2510-f1ENG1S-PE in USOSweb