ECTS credits ECTS credits: 6
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Student's work ECTS: 99 Hours of tutorials: 3 Expository Class: 24 Interactive Classroom: 24 Total: 150
Use languages Spanish, Galician, English
Type: Ordinary Degree Subject RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Departments: English and German Philology
Areas: English Philology
Center Faculty of Philology
Call: First Semester
Teaching: With teaching
Enrolment: Enrollable
General Objectives:
• To achieve the B2.2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). At this level students should be able to understand and produce written and oral texts belonging to different communicative contexts and registers, most especially, to the formal register and the academic context, in which they should be able to speak/write with a high degree of correctness and lexical sophistication.
Specific Objectives:
• To develop the ability to reflect upon the language and to describe and explain the English grammar from the point of view of language use.
• To practise the 4 skills (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening).
(i) Reading and Listening comprehension: to understand the main ideas of linguistically complex speech/writing in both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in their field of specialization (academic language).
(ii) Oral production/interaction: to be able to speak/interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without imposing strain on either party; to show a certain DEGREE OF GRAMMATICAL CONTROL and not make errors which cause misunderstanding; to be able to self-correct most of their mistakes.
(iii) Written production: to write clear and detailed texts on a variety of subjects related to their field of interest; to express viewpoints on most general topics. HIGH DEGREE OF GRAMMATICAL CONTROL.
• To develop their linguistic competences:
1. Lexical competence: to use a high range of vocabulary: on most general topics and on topics belonging to their field of specialization.
2. Grammatical competence: to use the language with a high degree of grammatical control although there may be occasional slips, non-systematic errors and small errors in phrase structure.
3. Phonological competence: to speak with a correct pronunciation and natural intonation, although the influence of the native language may still be present.
4. Orthographic competence: to write following the conventions of text and paragraph organisation and with a high degree of orthographic correction.
• To develop the sociolinguistic competence: to use a language which is sociolinguistically adequate for the different communicative contexts; to understand different dialects; to adapt the language to the medium (oral or written); to understand different registers (neutral, formal, informal).
• To develop the pragmatic competence: to make an effective use of turntaking; to use a range of textual and cohesive elements: connectors, thematic structures and opinion markers.
The actual contents (grammar, vocabulary & skills) will be selected from the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (B2.2).
1) GRAMMAR:
The grammar contents, apart from the basics, include more advanced aspects such as alternative ways of grouping and ordering (written) information. These contents will be implemented by means of Hewings' Advanced Grammar in Use (see below) and will cover the following grammatical issues at an advanced level:
Contents:
1. The basics (self-study; review units*): Review of tenses, auxiliaries; modal verbs; questions; verb complementation; articles, determiners and quantifiers; prepositions, etc.
2. Cohesion and coherence (pronouns, summary nouns)
3. Nouns: agreement; nominalisations
4. Punctuation and paragraphing (common problems: fragment, run-on, comma splice)
5. Showing the relationship between ideas
5.1. Relative clauses (revision*)
5.2. Adverbial clauses (cause, concession, contrast, condition, result); adverbial connectors and conjunctions.
6. Organising old and new information:
6.1. Passives (general and advanced issues)
6.2 Clefting
6.3. Inversion
6.4. Extraposition.
7. The language of prediction: future tenses, verbs of intention, non-verb forms: future-oriented nouns/adjectives and adverbs.
8. Reporting in general (revision*) and in academic English. Reporting with nouns and adjectives.
9. Two-and-three word verbs. Alternatives to phrasal verbs in academic writing.
2) THE FOUR SKILLS
The topics, which will be specified at the beginning of the semester, will include current issues. Possible topics might be: diversity; communication and social media; travelling, living and studying abroad; globalisation, migration, etc.
• Listening to/watching: authentic material including different registers, accents and contexts.
• Reading: fiction, press, academic, etc
• Speaking: informal conversations, interviews, debates, oral reports.
• Writing:narratives, descriptions, articles
BASIC BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Compulsory grammar book:
Hewings, M. 2013. Advanced Grammar in Use with Answers 3rd Edition.
ISBN: 9781107697386
(** NOTE that this title is also available as an ebook:
Advanced Grammar in Use Book with Answers and Interactive eBook. 3rd Edition.
A Self-study Reference and Practice Book for Advanced Learners of English.
ISBN: 9781107539303
Publication date: June 2015)
COMPLEMENTARY BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Grammar:
Biber, D.; Johansson, S.; Leech, Geoffrey; Conrad, S.; Finegan, E. 1999. Longman grammar of spoken and written English. London : Longman.
Biber, D.; Johansson, S.; Leech, Geoffrey; Conrad, S.; Finegan, E. 2002. Longman Student Grammar of Spoken and Written English. London : Longman,
Carter, R. & M. McCarthy. Cambridge Grammar of English: A comprehensive guide. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006. x + 973 pp., optionally with CD-ROM.Hashemi, L. & B. Thomas. 2003. Cambridge Grammar for First Certificate. Cambridge: C.U.P.
Raimes, A. 2004. Grammar Troublespots: A guide for Student Writers. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Swan, M. & C. Walter. 2011. Oxford English Grammar Course. Advanced. Oxford: O.U.P.
Dictionaries:
Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (with CD ROM).. Cambridge: C.U.P.
Oxford Spanish-English, English-Spanish Dictionary. Oxford: O.U.P.
Cambridge International Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Cambridge: C.U.P.
Collins Cobuild English Dictionary. London: Harper Collins.
Cowie, A.P. & R. Mackin. 1993. Oxford Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Oxford: O.U.P.
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (with CD ROM). 2000. Oxford: O.U.P.
Online Oxford Collocations Dictionary (http://www.freecollocation.com/)
Oxford Learner’s Wordfinder Dictionary. 1997. Oxford: O.U.P.
Other materials:
MacCarthy, M. & F. O'Dell. 2016. Academic Vocabulary in Use Edition with Answers.
ISBN: 9781107591660
MacCarthy, M. & F. O'Dell. 2017. English Collocations in Use: Advanced. Book with Answers.
ISBN: 9781316629956
MacCarthy, M. & F. O'Dell. 2017. English Phrasal Verbs in Use Advanced Book with Answers.
ISBN: 9781316628096
Publication date: July 2017
MacCarthy, M. & F. O'Dell. 2017. English Vocabulary in Use: Advanced. Book with Answers and Enhanced eBook.Third Edition.
The student taking this subject is supposed to achieve a B2.2 level (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). This involves the development of the linguistic, sociolinguistic and pragmatic competences and of the four functions or skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening), with a special emphasis on their use in academic contexts.
Please check CB1, CB2, CB3, CB4, CB5, CG1,CG7, CG8, CG9, CE1, CE5 in the Memoria de Verificación do Grao en Lingua e Literatura Inglesas (http://www.usc.es/export9/sites/webinstitucional/gl/servizos/sxopra/mem…)
In the main, our didactic approach will be communicative and practical, even though we will also pay attention to the grammatical component, which we consider essential. Face-to-face classes will be of two types:
LECTURES (1 hour a week): The focus will be on grammar and vocabulary activities. Students will be encouraged to actively reflect upon the use of the English grammar in different styles, contexts and registers (most especially, in academic English). Considerable emphasis will be placed on the detection of errors and on the use of academic vocabulary (notably, academic collocations and formulae).
SEMINARS (2 hours a week): The focus will be on the practice (individually or in groups) of the four skills. The topics will include current issues that may prompt active discussion. The activities will include:
• Listening to/watching authentic material including different registers, accents and contexts.
• Reading texts of different genres: fiction, press, academic, etc
• Speaking: informal conversations, interviews, debates, oral reports.
• Writing:narratives, descriptions, articles
Apart from face-to-face lessons, there will be online activities in the VIRTUAL CAMPUS to be carried out individually or in groups: grammar, vocabulary, listening, reading, speaking and writing activities; interactive activities using the online discusion forum etc
The Teaching Methodology described above applies to “Scenario 1: Adapted Normality” as described in the “Plan de continxencia para a organización da docencia no curso 2021-2022" (Consello de Goberno USC, 30 abril 2021).” (“Contingency plan for the organisation of teaching during Academic Year: 2021-2022”; Consello de Goberno of the USC, 30th April 2021). In the event of a change of scenario, both the Assessment System and the Teaching Methodology will undergo the changes described in the section below: “COMMENTS: CONTINGENCY PLAN”.
The standard evaluation system has two components:
1) CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT (30%):
• Participation in class and in the teaching platform: 5%
• 2 in-class compositions: 10% (dates to be announced at the beginning of the semester)
• Project: (15%) different e-activities designed to practice the four skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking) and to develop a number of competences connected with carrying out research on a topic and producing an audiovisual report which will incorporate the results of that research.
2) A FINAL EXAM (70%) consisting of:
• USE OF ENGLISH (30%): grammar, vocabulary, reading and listening tests; official exam date
• WRITING (20%): official exam date
• AN ORAL EXAM (20%) (format and date to be announced at the beginnning of the semester).
In order to pass the subject you will need to obtain at least a 5 out of 10 in each of the three components of the final exam: i.e., Use of English, Writing and Oral exam. If this were not the case, even if your arithmetic final grade were 5 or higher, the maximum grade you might obtain in that case would be 4.5.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
1) This system applies to course assessment both in the first and in the second chance exams. Those students who have passed a section of the 1st chance exam may retain it for the second chance exam. In this case, the continuous assessment grade will be the same as the one they got for the first opportunity. This means that if they have failed or not submitted any component of the continuous assessment it will not be possible to submit them for the 2nd opportunity.
2) Students who are exempt from class attendance will just take the final exam representing 100% of the final grade, with the following distribution:
• Use of English (40%)
• Writing (30%) (official exam date).
• Oral exam (30%) (format & date to be announced at the beginning of the semester).
Remember that in this case, you also need to obtain at least a 5 out of 10 in each of the three components of the final exam: i.e., Use of English, Writing and Oral exam. If this were not the case, even if your arithmetic final grade were 5 or higher, the maximum grade you might obtain in that case would be 4.5.
3) Students who failed the subject in previous in academic years and are retaking this subject in 2021/21 will be evaluated following the general system described above (i.e. continuous assessment (30%) + final exam (70%)), unless they are unable to attend classes. In this case, they will need to inform the teacher at the beginning of the semester that they wish to be evaluated following the system that applies to students exempt from class attendance (i.e., with an exam worth 100% of the grade).
4) Given the nature of oral exams, these will be carried out at a date different from the official one. Please bear in mind that these dates will be duly announced in class and will be considered oficial.
5) THERE WILL NOT BE ALTERNATIVE DATES FOR ANY PART OF THE EXAM EXCEPT IN CASE OF ILLNESS.
6) PLAGIARISM: If fraudulent practices are detected in assignments or exams of any kind, this will bring about a direct fail in the subject, in application of article 16 of “Normativa de avaliación do rendemento académico dos estudantes e de revisión de cualificacións” :
“A realización fraudulenta dalgún exercicio ou proba exixida na avaliación dunha materia implicará a cualificación de suspenso na convocatoria correspondente, con independencia do proceso disciplinario que se poida seguir contra o alumno infractor. Considerarse fraudulenta, entre outras, a realización de traballos plaxiados ou obtidos de fontes accesibles ao público sen reelaboración ou reinterpretación e sen citas aos autores e das fontes”.
The Assessment System described above will be valid for SCENARIO 1. For SCENARIOS 2 & 3 please follow the indications included below in the section ‘COMMENTS: CONTINGENCY PLAN’
This subject is a six-credit subject. One ECTS credit is worth 25 hours work, so 6 x 25=150 hours. Students must devote at least 75 hours to personal work by themselves.
It is strongly recommended that students have a B2.1 level at the beginning of the autumn term. They should also have passed the subjects LINGUA INGLESA 1 & LINGUA INGLESA 2.
In general, we recommend that students increase their exposure to the English language, not restricting themselves to the exposure provided by all the academic courses: watching movies, listening to songs, reading journals and magazines, and establishing contact with English-speaking people are some highly beneficial activities one can do on one´s own time.
1) CONTINGENCY PLAN:
1.1. Methodology:
If the health authorities decree the application of “Scenario 2: Distancing” or “Scenario 3: Lockdown”, the methodology will be adapted to the guidelines establised by the University of Santiago de Compostela, and to the parameters set by our faculty. This means that those activities that cannot be carried out in a face-to-face manner will be carried out online, using the institutional tools made available by the USC, which may involve using synchronous activities (mainly, via TEAMS) and/or asynchronous activities (mainly via TEAMS or Moodle), depending on the type of activity.
1.2. Assessment:
If we are obliged to adopt a blended teaching modality (in Scenario 2), the assessment system will be the same as for Scenario 1. If this is not posible in Scenario 2, and, obviously, in Scenario 3, face-to-face activities and exams will be replaced by online activities and exams (synchronous and/or asynchronous; oral and/or written) using the above mentioned insitutional tools.
2) Students are expected to complete all assignments and readings suggested by the lecturer(s), and to come to the sessions prepared to discuss them.
3)Students must visit the eLearning platform for the course regularly. Students are expected to check their university email on a regular basis: announcements and last-minute changes will be notified via the teaching platform.
4) No emails using a non-institutional account will be replied by the teachers, so students must contact the teachers using their USC email account and, preferably, via the teaching platform.
Susana Maria Doval Suarez
Coordinador/a- Department
- English and German Philology
- Area
- English Philology
- Phone
- 881811855
- susanamaria.doval [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
Elsa Maria Gonzalez Alvarez
- Department
- English and German Philology
- Area
- English Philology
- Phone
- 881811860
- elsa.gonzalez [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
Sergio López Sande
- Department
- English and German Philology
- Area
- English Philology
- sergio.sande [at] usc.es
- Category
- Xunta Pre-doctoral Contract
Eithne Mary Keane
- Department
- English and German Philology
- Area
- English Philology
- Category
- Professor: Reader
Idoya Cancelas León
- Department
- English and German Philology
- Area
- English Philology
- idoya.cancelas.leon [at] usc.es
- Category
- Ministry Pre-doctoral Contract
Daisy Teresa Waite
- Department
- English and German Philology
- Area
- English Philology
- Category
- Professor: Reader
| Thursday | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_02 (M-Z) | English | C12 |
| 11:00-12:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 (A-L) | English | C12 |
| Friday | |||
| 09:00-10:00 | Grupo /CLIL_06 (S-Z) | English | C01 |
| 09:00-10:00 | Grupo /CLIL_04 (M-O) | English | D08 |
| 09:00-10:00 | Grupo /CLIL_05 (P-R) | English | D10 |
| 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLIL_06 (S-Z) | English | C01 |
| 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLIL_04 (M-O) | English | D08 |
| 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLIL_05 (P-R) | English | D10 |
| 11:00-12:00 | Grupo /CLIL_03 (G-L) | English | C08 |
| 11:00-12:00 | Grupo /CLIL_01 (A-C) | English | D08 |
| 11:00-12:00 | Grupo /CLIL_02 (D-F) | English | D10 |
| 12:00-13:00 | Grupo /CLIL_03 (G-L) | English | C08 |
| 12:00-13:00 | Grupo /CLIL_01 (A-C) | English | D08 |
| 12:00-13:00 | Grupo /CLIL_02 (D-F) | English | D10 |
| 01.24.2022 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLIL_04 (M-O) | C10 |
| 01.24.2022 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLIL_06 (S-Z) | C10 |
| 01.24.2022 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLE_02 (M-Z) | C10 |
| 01.24.2022 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLIL_01 (A-C) | C10 |
| 01.24.2022 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLIL_02 (D-F) | C10 |
| 01.24.2022 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLIL_03 (G-L) | C10 |
| 01.24.2022 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLIL_05 (P-R) | C10 |
| 01.24.2022 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 (A-L) | C10 |
| 01.24.2022 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLIL_05 (P-R) | C11 |
| 01.24.2022 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 (A-L) | C11 |
| 01.24.2022 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLIL_04 (M-O) | C11 |
| 01.24.2022 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLIL_06 (S-Z) | C11 |
| 01.24.2022 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLE_02 (M-Z) | C11 |
| 01.24.2022 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLIL_01 (A-C) | C11 |
| 01.24.2022 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLIL_02 (D-F) | C11 |
| 01.24.2022 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLIL_03 (G-L) | C11 |
| 01.24.2022 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLIL_01 (A-C) | C12 |
| 01.24.2022 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLIL_02 (D-F) | C12 |
| 01.24.2022 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLIL_03 (G-L) | C12 |
| 01.24.2022 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLIL_05 (P-R) | C12 |
| 01.24.2022 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 (A-L) | C12 |
| 01.24.2022 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLIL_04 (M-O) | C12 |
| 01.24.2022 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLIL_06 (S-Z) | C12 |
| 01.24.2022 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLE_02 (M-Z) | C12 |
| 06.17.2022 09:30-13:30 | Grupo /CLIL_04 (M-O) | C12 |
| 06.17.2022 09:30-13:30 | Grupo /CLIL_06 (S-Z) | C12 |
| 06.17.2022 09:30-13:30 | Grupo /CLE_02 (M-Z) | C12 |
| 06.17.2022 09:30-13:30 | Grupo /CLIL_01 (A-C) | C12 |
| 06.17.2022 09:30-13:30 | Grupo /CLIL_02 (D-F) | C12 |
| 06.17.2022 09:30-13:30 | Grupo /CLIL_03 (G-L) | C12 |
| 06.17.2022 09:30-13:30 | Grupo /CLIL_05 (P-R) | C12 |
| 06.17.2022 09:30-13:30 | Grupo /CLE_01 (A-L) | C12 |