Course 2024-2025

English for Legal Professionals (level B2) [DRHDB142]

  • 5 credits
  • 30h
  • 1st quarter
Language of instruction: English
Teacher: Hansel Aude

Learning outcomes

This module aims at mastering the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, with the acquisition of basic legal vocabulary. It includes a review of the structures, grammar and vocabulary of the English language through the reading of texts and listening to authentic and legal audio documents; an extension of the receptive legal vocabulary is also aimed at, with a view to specialisation.

Objectives

The priority of Block 1 is to enable each student to be confirmed at the end of Block 1 at a B2 level in the skills selected for the Baccalaureate degree exit profile.

Content

The course involves working with written and audio documents in English. These documents are authentic texts/audios with a legal focus. The aim is (i) to master reading comprehension of texts; (ii) to master listening comprehension of audio documents; (iii) to acquire basic legal vocabulary (receptive mode only) and (iv) to understand common grammatical structures. To a lesser extent, the course includes oral expression with the aim of improving communication and interaction in English up to level B2, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Exercises description

See course notes. 


Teaching methods

Beginning of the year:

PLACEMENT TEST: A placement test is available on Webcampus. Some skills (reading comprehension, listening comprehension, vocabulary and grammar) are tested according to the CEFR descriptors. Students will be divided into two groups. Students who are identified as weaker on the basis of the placement test will receive more adapted support (the subjects to be mastered at the end of the term is however identical for both groups).

This test is MANDATORY for all students. If the test is not taken before the second course, weaker students will not be placed in the specific group. The prerequisite for the English course is level A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference. The English course is given in the first term as a practical course requiring prior preparation by the student. Wherever possible, communication in English by the teacher is preferred in order to expose the student to as much discourse in the target language as possible.

Evaluations

The final examination will cover:

(i) in-context understanding of the vocabulary covered during the course and contained in the syllabus and Webcampus glossaries;

(ii) in-context understanding of the grammar points covered;

(iii) reading and listening comprehension of texts and audio documents seen in classes, and

(iv) reading and listening comprehension of texts and audio documents not seen in the course but whose topic has been covered in classes. The examination is identical for both level groups. The exam can be resit in the June and August sessions. The modalities remain the same.

Recommended readings

The course notes are available for sale; they can also be found in PDF on the Webcampus platform. The videos worked on in class are available on Webcampus. Webcampus will also be used to make complementary materials available to students and for general communication between the lecturer and students.

Language of instruction

English

Location for course

NAMUR

Organizer

Faculté de droit
Rue de Bruxelles, 61
5000 NAMUR

Degree of Reference

Undergraduate Degree