ECTS credits ECTS credits: 4.5
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Student's work ECTS: 74.25 Hours of tutorials: 2.25 Expository Class: 18 Interactive Classroom: 18 Total: 112.5
Use languages Spanish, Galician, English
Type: Ordinary Degree Subject RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Departments: English and German Philology
Areas: English Philology
Center Higher Technical Engineering School
Call: First Semester
Teaching: With teaching
Enrolment: Enrollable | (Yes)
The chief aim of this subject is to help students to develop the oral and written production and comprehension skills. At the end of the semester students are expected to achieve a B1+ level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
In addition, the subject sets out to:
- Encourage linguistic correction at the levels of grammar, technical vocabulary, orthography and pronunciation.
- Reinforce the knowledge of basic structures and functions of technical English.
- Strengthen the vocabulary which allows students to cover a variety of topics related to the scientific field.
- Promote critical thinking about the use of language in scientific fields.
The contents of this subject cover a variety of grammatical, lexical and phonological aspects selected on the basis of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) for the B1 level. Likewise, the course will put into practice the oral and written production and comprehension skills, focusing always on the field of Chemical Engineering.
BASIC REFERENCES:
IBBOTSON, M., 2009. Professional English in Use: Engineering. Technical English for Professionals. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN9780521734882
MCCARTHY, M. & F. O’DELL, 2017. English Vocabulary in Use – Upper-Intermediate. 4th edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN9781316631744
MURPHY, R., 2019. English Grammar in Use: A Self-Study Reference and Practice Book for Intermediate Students of English. 5th edition. Cambridge:Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781108457651
FURTHER REFERENCES:
IBBOTSON, M., 2008. Cambridge English for Engineering. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9783125342866
SWAN, M., 2016. Practical English Usage. 4th edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780194202411
SWAN, M. & C. Walter. (2011). Oxford English Grammar Course: Intermediate. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780194420822
ONLINE RESOURCES:
Dictionaries (English and English-Spanish)
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ (English)
http://www.lexico.com/ (English and English-Spanish)
http://www.ldoceonline.com/ (English)
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/ (English)
http://www.wordreference.com/ (English and English-Spanish)
http://www.learnersdictionary.com/ (English)
http://dictionary.reference.com/ (several languages, in English)
http://sli.uvigo.es/CLIG/index.html (English-Galician)
http://visual.merriam-webster.com/ (visual in English)
Synonyms, antonyms etc.:
http://thesaurus.reference.com/
Grammars:
http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/index.cfm (with exercises)
http://www.englishpage.com/grammar/ (con ejercicios)
Miscellany (grammar, vocabulary, activities, tests, reading, writing, podcasts...):
English Test Net (http://www.english-test.net/)
About.com (http://esl.about.com/)
Easy English (http://www.easyenglish.com/)
A4esl.org (http://a4esl.org/)
UsingEnglish.com (http://www.usingenglish.com/)
English Page (http://www.englishpage.com/)
BBC Learning English (http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/)
British Council - Learning English (http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/)
University of Victoria - Language Center (http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/index.htm)
General competences:
CG.10.- Ability to work in a multidisciplinary and multilingual environment
Cross-curricular competences:
CT.3 Oral and written communication in native and foreign languages
CT.10 Interpersonal relationship skills
CT.17 Creativity
The subject consists of two different parts:
A) Theoretical part (competences CG.10, CT.3): the lectures will combine presentations by the lecturer(s) about grammatical, lexical and phonological aspects, with practical exercises by the students. As far as grammatical aspects are concerned, subjects tackled could include the revision of verbal tenses; modal verbs; relative clauses; the passive voice and causative structures. As for the lexical aspects, the course will deal with technical vocabulary related to Chemical Engineering and Mathematics, among others numbers and figures, mathematical operations, chemical elements or laboratory equipment. As far as pronunciation is concerned, the course will provide guidelines as to improve the students’ pronunciation skills.
B) Practical part (competences CG.10,, CT.3, CT.10, CT.17): these sessions will include a wide variety of activities designed to put into practice the different skills (reading and oral comprehension, written and oral expression). Students are expected to participate actively in the different sessions in English.
All the materials required for this subject will be available on the Learning Management System.
Both in the ordinary (December/January) and in the extraordinary (June/July) exam period, the degree of achievement of the course objectives by the students will be assessed as indicated below:
1) FINAL EXAM (60%), which will comprise the following parts (competences CG.10, CT.3):
- Listening comprehension (20%)
- Reading comprehension (20%)
- Grammar and vocabulary (20%)
2) CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT (40%): the continuous assessment will take into account both oral and written activities to be done either individually or in group, in class or through the virtual platform. The corresponding percentages are distributed as follows:
- Written expression (20%): students will do 2 individual tasks of written production over the semester (competences CG.10, CT.3, CT.17);
- Oral presentation (20%): this task will be done in small groups. Presentations must be on a topic related to Chemical Engineering, which will be previously agreed upon with the lecturer(s). The dates for the oral presentations will be announced in due course by the lecturer(s) (competences CG.10, CT.3, CT.10, CT.17).
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS:
- In order to pass this subject, the sum of the different gradable components must be of 5 out of 10. In addition, students must obtain a minimum mark of 4 out of 10 in the following parts: 1) written production tasks (continuous assessment – 20%); 2) final exam (60%). Students who do not obtain a minimum mark of 4 out of 10 in the two aforementioned components will fail the subject, even if the overall mark is 5 or over. In this case the mark registered in the Official Record will be 4.5.
- The students who will not sit the final exam on the set date will obtain the mark ‘NP’ (absent), even if they have completed all the continuous assessment activities. The mark for continuous assessment will be maintained for the second opportunity (June/July).
- The students who do not submit the continuous assessment tasks will lose the corresponding percentage in the final mark.
- The assessment system is the same both for the first (December/January) and second (June/July) opportunity.
STUDENTS EXEMPT FROM CLASS ATTENDANCE:
Those students who are exempt from class attendance will have to do the final exam on the official date. The exam is worth 100% of the mark and the percentages are distributed as follows:
1.- Written part (80%), covering a grammar and vocabulary test (20%), a reading comprehension (20%), a listening comprehension (20%), and a written production test (20%). Competences CG.10, CT.3, CT.17.
2.- Oral exam (20%). Competences CG.10, CT.3, CT.10, CT.17.
In order to pass this subject, the sum of the different gradable components must be of 5 out of 10. In addition, students must obtain a minimum mark of 4 out of 10 both in the overall written part of the exam (grammar and vocabulary; reading comprehension; oral comprehension; written production) and in the oral exam. Students who do not obtain a minimum mark of 4 out of 10 in the aforementioned components will fail the subject, even if the overall mark is 5 or over. In this case the mark registered in the Official Record will be 4.5.
STUDENTS RESITTING THE SUBJECT:
Those students resitting the subject in the academic year 2021/2022 and attending class regularly may opt for the continuous assessment system. By contrast, if they cannot attend class on a regular basis, the same assessment system as to the students exempt from class attendance will be applied.
ACTIVITY CLASS HOURS INDIVIDUAL WORK TOTAL
Lectures 28 25 53
Seminars 9 44 53
Students’ presentations 2 18 (guided work) 20
A prior knowledge of English at the B1 level (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is necessary.
If fraudulent practices are detected in assignments or exams of any kind, art. 16 of “Normativa de avaliación do rendemento académico dos estudantes e de revisión de cualificacións” will apply, which will bring about a direct fail in the subject:
“A realización fraudulenta dalgún exercicio ou proba esixida 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. Considerarase 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”.
Ruth Murias Roman
Coordinador/a- Department
- English and German Philology
- Area
- English Philology
- ruth.murias.roman [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: Temporary supply professor to reduce teaching hours
Pedro Ivorra Ordines
- Department
- English and German Philology
- Area
- English Philology
- Category
- Posdoutoral_outros
Yolanda Fernandez Pena
- Department
- English and German Philology
- Area
- English Philology
- Category
- Professor: LOU (Organic Law for Universities) PhD Assistant Professor