Advanced English - American realities (level C1) [EELVM413]

Learning outcomes

Students will develop the following English language skills relating to level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR):

The student will be able to

    General reading comprehension:

Understand long, complex texts in detail, whether or not they relate to his/her field, provided that he/she can reread the difficult parts.

    General listening comprehension:

Follow a speech of some length on abstract or complex subjects, even outside his/her field, but needing to have some details confirmed, especially if the accent is unfamiliar.

Recognise a wide range of idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms, noting changes of register.

Follow a speech of some length even if it is not clearly structured and even if the relationships between ideas are only implied and not explicitly stated.

Follow most lectures, discussions and debates with relative ease.

    General written production:

Write well-structured texts on complex topics, highlighting the most salient relevant points and confirming a point of view in an elaborate way by integrating secondary arguments, justifications and relevant examples to reach an appropriate conclusion.

    General oral production:

Gives a presentation or description of a complex subject, incorporating secondary arguments.

Objectives

Through the prism of a course based on American realities, develop and improve both oral and written production skills so that students can express themselves with ease and spontaneity on a variety of subjects (academic, abstract, technical, etc.) while respecting the standards of academic English.

Reception: Students will be able to search for information in reliable sources and identify (and understand) relevant information (the essential vs. the superfluous, a piece of data, an interpretation/elaboration of data or an argument). Sources will include grammatically and lexically complex documents such as historical documents, official reports, book chapters, etc. Key words: distinguish the essential from the superfluous, distinguish descriptive-explicative-argumentative information, recognise an elaborate statement.

Oral production monologue: On the basis of prior preparation (gathering information and structuring content), the student will be able to give a complex presentation on a key concept/character/etc. from the themes covered, articulating a complex point of view on the issues addressed. Key words: mastering the structure of a presentation (introduction, body, conclusion), juggling specific vocabulary, presenting objective data, constructing an argument.

Oral production interaction: Students will be able to understand their interlocutor easily, clearly and fluently.

Content

To introduce students to the political, historical, economic, social and cultural realities of the United States.

Aimed at students with a very good command of basic English, this course aims to introduce them to the political, economic, sociological and cultural realities of the United States. The course is not so much an English course as a course in English in which the language is used as a tool to tackle a variety of themes.

The course will focus as much on written expression (reports and drafting of opinions/analyses based on the oral activities proposed) as on oral expression, which will be worked on in three ways: individual presentation on a key figure in the history of the United States, technical presentation in groups of two or three on a subject related to the United States, various oral activities (discussions, debates) to enable you to practise your English in a variety of contexts.



 

Table of contents

This course does not include the use of a syllabus. Working documents will be provided to students over the weeks via Webcampus.

Exercises description

Formative assessment in the form of written and oral tasks to be completed during the year, with feedback.