Practical English 2510-f1ENG2S-PE

The course consists of the following components:
Use of English:
The course will cover selected issues connected to practical English grammar and vocabulary, focusing on aspects relevant to language production of both texts and speech at upper-intermediate level over time proceeding towards advanced level (B2+ with elements of C1).
Content distribution (which may be subject to modifications depending on students’ expressed needs or ongoing diagnosis conducted in all components of the Practical English course):
- Revision regarding conditionals and the unreal past, nouns and articles
- Linkers, linking phrases and other types of linking clauses
- Passive voice and causative
- More complex sentence structures (continued)
- Inversion and emphasis
- Reported speech; reporting verbs and phrases used in reported speech
- Formal academic English – grammatical and lexical aspects; academic vocabulary
- Collocations and fixed phrases, academic idioms (continued)
- Synonyms and words easily confused (continued)
- Word formation practice (continued)
- Selected prepositional phrases, phrasal verbs and their one-word alternatives
Throughout the semester, students will improve their overall grammar and vocabulary skills through a variety of exercises (open and multiple choice lexical and grammatical cloze, transformations, and error correction) at the B2+/C1 level.

Reading and Writing
The course is designed so as to provide the foundation for effective critical reading and writing in selected academic content areas. Upon successful completion of the course, students will master reading and writing skills as well as key vocabulary required to decode written academic texts and complete written assignments at B2+/C1 level, using a formal academic register.
Content distribution:
- Building academic vocabulary and dictionary activities (continued)
- Developing academic reading skills
- Writing effective paragraphs (continued), and ensuring coherence between paragraphs
- Writing and evaluating a concluding paragraph in an academic essay
- Synthesizing citations, evidence and explanation; referencing and formatting the text in accordance with the NCU BA Stylesheet (continued)
- Using hedging in academic writing (continued)
- Using classification language, and recognizing the classification of information in a text
- Activities for integrated reading and writing
- Editing for correct grammar, spelling, and use of mechanics.

Speaking and Listening
During the course the students will exercise their skills regarding speaking formally in the academic register with regard to accuracy and fluency at B2+/C1 level. They will practise further their abstract vocabulary and their ability to activate such vocabulary during discussions with emphasis on the ability to specify, defend and modify their own opinions in discussion. In addition, the students will improve their skills with regard to academic discourse. The students will practice listening comprehension skills, including the understanding of longer oral academic texts and the comprehension of different varieties of spoken English. The advanced (intellectually stimulating) materials will represent varied society- and academia-related themes.
Content Distribution:
- Listening to confirm predictions, recapping/taking part in a seminar discussion
- Perspective and stance language/interpreting and using intonation
- Recognizing argument support, different strategies of emphasizing
- Evaluating arguments, responding to them
- Speculating and reflecting
- Recognising and exploring connections between phenomena
- Recognising analysis and evaluation stages
- Giving a presentation

Total student workload

Contact hours with the teacher: - participation in classes (Use of English, Reading and Writing, Speaking and Listening) – 90 hours Self-study hours: - preparation for tests, completing homework and classroom or online assignments - 110 hours Altogether: 200 hours (8 ECTS)

Learning outcomes - knowledge

USE OF ENGLISH The student W1: knows grammar rules with a focus on academic register as regards topics including emphasis, inversion and complex sentences at a B2+/C1 level (K_W02) W2: knows academic English vocabulary and rules governing its use, including word formation, selected phrasal verbs and prepositions at B2+/C1 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 multi-paragraph academic texts on selected topics at B2+/C1 level (K_W02) SPEAKING AND LISTENING The student W4: has the practical knowledge of grammar, vocabulary and spelling, making it possible to comprehend and create accurate and fluent oral texts on selected topics at B2+/C1 level texts in academic register (K_W02)

Learning outcomes - skills

Use of English The student U1: is capable of communicating in speech and writing with the teacher and with other students in order to discuss and describe selected grammatical and lexical aspects of the English language used in the main research areas within Philology (K_U05) U2: has B2+/C1-level skills consisting in using structures and lexis correctly and following grammar rules pertaining to the successively covered aspects of the English language, such as complex sentences, emphasis and inversion with a focus on academic language (K_U17) U3: can work in a team taking on various roles in order to complete assigned tasks pertaining to using grammatical structures and formal and academic lexis at a B2+/C1 level (K_U08) Reading and Writing The student U4: can search for, analyse, evaluate, select, and apply information required for philological research and create their own text on a given subject at the B2+/C1 level using various sources and strategies (K_U01) U5: has the ability to read and comprehend academic texts from English-language cultural area at B2+/C1 level (K_U02) U6: understands differences between a formal and informal register and can use impersonal formal English writing texts at B2+/C1 level (K_U4) U7: can communicate in English using B2+/C1 level writing skills and adopting basic theoretical approaches (K_U14) U8: can cite other sources either quoting or paraphrasing the original text to prevent plagiarism, referencing and formatting the text in accordance with the NCU BA Stylesheet (K_U16) U9: has language skills which allow them to read and write academic texts at B2+/C1 level (K_U17) Speaking and Listening The student: U10: understands differences between a formal and informal register and can use impersonal formal English in speech at B2+/C1 level (K_U4) U11: has the ability to make effective oral presentations in English and support and defend one’s own claims (K_U15) U12 : has the English academic language skills as described by B2+/C1 level of CEFR (K_U17)

Learning outcomes - social competencies

Use of English The student K1: is aware of the level of their knowledge in respect of grammar and vocabulary as well as their language skills and understands the need for continuous practice (K_K01) Reading and Writing The student K2: is aware of the level of their knowledge and reading and writing language skills and understands the need for continuous practice (K_K01) Speaking and Listening The student K3: is aware of the level of their knowledge and skills, and is able to utilize feedback to comprehend more difficult texts and produce improved utterances at B2+/C1 level (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 On-line teaching methods on the course Moodle site: asynchronous content delivery, evaluation Speaking and Listening Expository teaching methods: informative lecture and discussion Exploratory teaching methods: brainstorming, problem solving, presentation

Prerequisites

A passing grade in the Practical English course in the winter semester

Course coordinators

Term 2024/25L:

Term 2025/26L:

Term 2022/23L:

Term 2023/24L:

Assessment criteria

Assessment methods:
Use of English:
Observation of participation, preparation and homework as well as Moodle assignment completion, documented in an activity log (U1, K1)
Mid-semester grammar and vocabulary tests (W1, U2, U3)
Final grammar and vocabulary test (W1, W2, U1, U2, U3)

Reading and Writing:
Observation of participation, preparation and homework as well as Moodle assignment completion, documented in an activity log (W3, U4, U5, U8, U9, K2)
Mid-semester integrated reading and writing test (W3, U4, U5, U6, U8)
Integrated reading and writing final test (W3, U4, U5, U6, U7, U8, U9)

Speaking and Listening:
Continuous assessment of student activity in class work (W4, U10, U12, K3)
Assessed prepared and improvised presentations (W4, U11, U14)
Mid-semester test (W4, U12)
Final Speaking Assessment (W4, U10, U11, U12)

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.
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

N/A

Additional information

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

Description of 2510-f1ENG2S-PE in USOSweb