Teaching directory
Course 2024-2025

English : Debating Science (level B2 minimum) [SELVB303]

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

Learning outcomes

The course aims for a B2+ level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in the following skills:

 

Listening Comprehension (B2+)

·     Understand audiovisual materials (e.g., "Ted Talks") related to their field of interest and discipline: understand the main ideas of complex presentations, both in content and form, on concrete or abstract topics, in standard language, including technical discussions in their field of specialization.

·     Be able to follow the gist of a lecture, speech, and other forms of academic/professional presentations, which are complex in content and form.

·     Be able to follow an active conversation among speakers of the target language; identify the main arguments for or against an idea in a discussion using clear and standard language.

·     Understand the speaker's perspective on common topics or those related to their specialization, provided that the pace is normal, and the language used is standard.

 

Oral Production, Alone and in Interaction (Minimum B2)

·     Give detailed descriptions and presentations on a wide range of topics related to their field of interest by developing and justifying ideas with supporting points and relevant examples.

·     Develop a clear argument, expand and support their viewpoints with secondary arguments and relevant examples, and link arguments logically.

·     Explain a viewpoint on an issue, providing pros and cons for various options.

·     Deliver a clear, prepared presentation, presenting reasons for or against a particular viewpoint, and presenting the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

·     Handle a series of questions, following the presentation, with a degree of ease and spontaneity that does not cause tension for the audience or themselves.

·     Express opinions and defend them effectively by providing explanations and arguments.

·     Understand in detail what the conversation partner is saying in standard language, even in a noisy environment.

·     Actively participate in discussions on topics related to their field and understand the details emphasized by the speaker.

Objectives

The purpose of this course is to enable students to progress from a B1+ level to a B2/B2+ level in the selected skills for the Bachelor's degree exit profile: listening comprehension (B2+) and oral production, alone and in interaction (B2).

 

By the end of the year, students should be able to:

·     Give a presentation in their field of specialization.

·     Follow a lecture or presentation in their field of specialization.

·     Chair and participate in a debate in their field of specialization.

Content

Course materials posted on WebCampus.

Table of contents

See course programme on WebCampus.


Teaching methods

The course is delivered in-person through interactive seminars in English. Regular attendance in class is essential and necessary for progress. Opportunities to work on oral production are provided in each class.

 

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

 

Particular attention is given to the workload of students, including the distribution of in-person class hours and credits allocated to the course. Approximately one-third of the course credits (= 1 credit/3 = +/- 30 hours) will be in-person with the teacher, while the remaining credits (= 2 credits = +/- 60 hours) will be completed remotely using resources available on the WebCampus platform.

 

In practice: students review the scheduled texts (videos and/or articles) and complete the assigned tasks before coming to class (see course schedule).

Evaluations

The final course grade is calculated as follows:

·     Continuous assessment in Q1 (8%): 4 micro-presentations (related to the topics of different modules).

·     January exam (15%): grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation test (material from Q1).

·     Continuous assessment in Q2 (12%): 1 micro-presentation (module 5) and the first presentation of a chosen specialty topic ("mock" presentation, for feedback and improvement before the June exam), followed by a debate.

·     June exam (65%): 

o  Grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation test covering the material of the whole year (15%).

o  Listening comprehension: new audiovisual document (20%).

o  Oral production (30%) alone (improved oral presentation of the chosen specialty topic) and in interaction (debate on one of the topics presented by the students in Q2).

 

All tasks and presentations must comply with the instructions provided in class. Non-compliance with these instructions will result in failure.

 

Absence or attendance grade for any part of the evaluation will result in an absence or attendance grade for the whole assessment.

 

In case of failure in one of the 3 parts (GVP, Reception, Oral Production), the final grade will be capped at 8/20.

 

For the August session, a student who scores below 10/20 in the final grade will retake the part(s) for which they did not get 10/20. Each part is then weighted as follows:

·     Linguistic skills (vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation; material of the whole year): 30%.

·     Listening comprehension: 20%.

·     Oral production (alone and in interaction): 50%.

 

Continuous assessment will no longer be considered.

 

Absence or a grade of absence for any part to be retaken will result in an absence or grade of absence for the whole assessment.

 

In case of a new failure, all parts of the exam must be retaken the following academic year; there will be no partial deferral of grade from one academic year to the next.

 

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

 

 

Recommended readings

  • Syllabus: course documents are posted throughout the year on WebCampus.
  • Recommended grammar and vocabulary book: "Bled Anglais Tout-en-un," B. Lallement, N. Pierret-Lallement, Hachette-Educ, 2014 (or a later edition).
  • Supplementary materials on WebCampus.

Language of instruction

English

Location for course

NAMUR

Organizer

Faculté des sciences
Rue de Bruxelles, 61
5000 NAMUR

Degree of Reference

Undergraduate Degree