Teaching directory

Course 2024-2025

Introduction to Scientific English (level B1 and above) [SELVB103]

3 credits
30h
1^st and 2^nd quarter
Language of instruction: English
Teacher: Trefois Cindy

Learning outcomes

The course aims at level B1+ of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in the following skills:

Written and oral comprehension

Understanding documents related to one's field of interest and discipline if the language is clearly articulated: identifying the structure of a document, distinguishing main ideas from details, understanding simple technical information, and inferring the meaning of a word from its context.

Oral production (alone and in interaction)

Producing simple and coherent speech (with or without preparation) on familiar topics and in one's areas of interest: telling about an event while providing the necessary details for understanding, describing feelings and reactions, explaining a problem and presenting solutions, developing an argument/explanation that is sufficiently clear and easily understood most of the time, and verifying comprehension by asking questions.

Written production

Writing simple texts on a range of topics in one's field by linking a series of discrete elements into a linear sequence: summarizing experiences by describing feelings and reactions, adopting a simple formal style, presenting the main ideas of a document clearly and coherently, and taking notes during a simple presentation, provided the topic is familiar, the language is direct, and the diction is clear in everyday language.

Objectives

The foreign language skills reference frameworks for secondary education indicate the English language proficiency level between B1- and B1+ (depending on the first or second foreign language). The priority of Bloc 1 is to confirm each student's B1+ level at the end of Bloc 1 in the selected skills for the Bachelor's degree exit profile: written, oral, and audio-visual comprehension; written and oral production.

This course also serves as an introduction to formal and scientific English. By the end of the year, students should be able to:

Discuss their university environment and write a formal email to a professor.
Work with scientific documents (simplified or not) to popularize a scientific concept or present a summary.

Content

Diagnostic Test: September

A mandatory diagnostic test is available on WebCampus at the beginning of the academic year. Some skills (written comprehension, oral comprehension, vocabulary, and grammar) are assessed according to the CEFRL descriptors.

If you are a beginner or diagnosed as not having the minimum required level for the SELV B103 course (= B1 level), you can also take a beginner module in addition to the SELV B103 course during the first semester. We strongly advise you to attend all classes and work regularly.

This diagnostic test is mandatory for all students, regardless of their level. Your grade for the SELV B103 course will only be validated if you have completed the whole test within the specified deadlines. Otherwise, a maximum grade of 6/20 will be assigned for the SELV B103 course.

Course SELV B103: Semesters 1 + 2

The course is divided into 4 modules:

Module 1 - University Life: Discussing your new environment and becoming familiar with academic language.
Module 2 - It's not Rocket Science: Introduction to science popularization (project developed as part of the « Printemps des Sciences » event).
Module 3 - Let's Talk about Science: Introduction to reading techniques necessary for reading scientific texts and writing summaries.
Module 4 - Budding Researchers: Introduction to scientific English through the study of simplified research articles in English.

See course programme on WebCampus.

Exercises description

Exercises and tools are available on the Webcampus platform.

Teaching methods

The course is conducted in person and in small groups. It is presented in the form of interactive seminars in English and is organized around 4 modules, each ending with a final assessment.

Regular attendance in class is essential and necessary for progress. Opportunities to work on oral and written production are provided in each class.

The objectives and activities are designed in accordance with the philosophy of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Language communication is worked on considering linguistic skills (vocabulary, syntax, phonology), sociolinguistic skills (social markers, politeness rules, etc.), and pragmatic skills (organization, adaptation, discourse structure) necessary for the target tasks. The course goes beyond mere linguistic knowledge.

Evaluations

The final grade for the course is calculated as follows:

Continuous assessment in Q1 (20%):
- Module 1: GVP 1 (grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation test) + Task 1 (write an email).
- Module 2: GVP 2 + Task 2 (Rocket Science Project = submit a video explaining a scientific concept).
Continuous assessment in Q2 (20%)
- Module 3: GVP 3 + Task 3 (write a summary of a scientific magazine article).
- Module 4: GVP 4 + Task 4 (submit an "elevator pitch" video based on a simplified scientific article).
June session exam (60%)
- GVP (10%)
- Listening and reading (20%)
- Writing (15%)
- Speaking (15%)
August session exam (100%)
- GVP (30%)
- Listening and reading (20%)
- Writing (25%)
- Speaking (25%)

The final tasks (at the end of each module) must comply with the instructions provided in class. Failure to comply with these instructions will result in a failure.

The oral exam will cover various topics from the course, about which the student must speak either alone or in interaction, such as their first year at university (module 1), their experience with the « It's not Rocket Science » project (module 2), and their experience and/or opinion on the various topics covered in the texts and videos seen in class (modules 3 and 4).

The written exam will cover:

Vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation of the material covered throughout the year (modules 1 to 4).
Written tasks of the same kind as those worked on during the year (email and summary).
Comprehension of documents (written and audiovisual) related to the themes studied in the course during the year.

According to Article 79 §1 of the « Décret Paysage », all learning activities that took place in Q1 must be evaluated. The grade given in January will reflect the student's progress in modules 1 and 2. Therefore, there will be no exam in the January session.

Note: The final grade for the course will only be validated if the following conditions are met.

The student took the diagnostic test in September. Otherwise, the final grade will be 6/20.
The student completed all parts of the course (including each final task and test for each module). In case of non-submission of a task or absence from any of the continuous assessment tests, the final grade (in June) will be capped at 8/20. An absence or attendance grade for any part of the exam (in June or August) will result in a 0A (absence) or 0SG (attendance) for the entire evaluation.
The student scored at least 10/20 in each part of the course (= GVP, Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking). In case of failure in any part, a final grade of a maximum of 8/20 will be awarded.

For the following session (August), if the final grade (in June) is lower than 10/20, each student will retake the parts for which they did not score 10/20. There will be no partial deferral of a grade from one academic year to another.

Warning : please note that the success of this teaching unit does not lead to certification.

Language of instruction

English

Location for course

NAMUR

Organizer

Faculté des sciences
Rue de Bruxelles, 61
5000 NAMUR

Degree of Reference

Undergraduate Degree

	Block	Credits
Bachelier en sciences géographiques, orientation générale	1	3
Bachelier en sciences géologiques	1	3