The course aims to achieve level B1+ of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in the following skills:
Written and oral reception: Can understand material related to their 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 (Monologue and in interaction) : Can produce a simple text with connectors (with or without preparation) on familiar topics and areas of interest, recall an event in details, describe their feelings and reactions, explain a problem and present solutions, develop a clear argument/explanation and be understood without difficulty most of the time, check by asking questions whether they have been understood.
Written production: Can write simply articulated texts on a range of topics in their field, linking a series of elements in a linear sequence; report experience, describe feelings and reactions, adopt a simple formal style, present the main ideas of a document clearly and coherently, and take notes in a simple presentation, provided the topic is familiar, the formulation direct and the enunciation clear in everyday language.
The secondary school frameworks state that the level of proficiency in English is between B1- and B1+ (depending on the first or second foreign language). The priority of Block 1 is to enable each student to be confirmed at the end of Block 1 in a B1+ level in the selected skills for the Bachelor's degree exit profile: written, oral and audio-visual reception; written and oral production. This course also serves as an introduction to formal and scientific English. At the end of the year, students should be able to talk about their university environment, write a formal email to a professor, and process documents with a scientific coloration (simplified or not) with the aim of either popularising a scientific concept or presenting a summary of it.
Start of the course: DIAGNOSTIC TEST
A diagnostic test is available on Webcampus and compulsory for all students. Some skills (reading, listening, vocabulary and grammar) are tested according to the CEFR descriptors. On the basis of the result of this test, students who do not have the required level (B1) are advised to follow a remedial module (ENSTARTER on WebCampus); students who have the required level are exempted from the remedial module.
SELVB102
This course is open to all (including those who take the remediation module). The course is divided into 4 modules:
1) Module 1 - University Life: talking about one's new environment + becoming familiar with the academic register
2) Module 2 - It's not Rocket Science: introduction to science popularisation (project developed within the framework of Printemps des Sciences)
3) Module 3 - Let's Talk about Science: introduction to the reading skills needed to read scientific texts and write summaries
4) Module 4 - Budding Researchers: introduction to the scientific English genre through the work of simplified research articles in English.
See WebCampus
The final grade for the course is calculated as follows:
A) Continuous assessment (60%) At the end of each module, students are required to submit a final task and take a grammar/vocabulary test on the subject matter of the module in question.
1) Module 1 - University Life: writing an email + grammar/vocabulary test 1
2) Module 2 - It's not Rocket Science: submit a video explaining a scientific concept + grammar/vocabulary test 2
3) Module 3 - Let's Talk about Science: writing a summary of a science magazine article + grammar/vocabulary test 3
4) Module 4 - Budding Researchers: Submit an elevator pitch video based on a simplified scientific article + grammar/vocabulary test 4
The final tasks must follow the instructions given in class. Failure to do so will result in failure.
B) Final exam (June session; 40%) In June, students will have to take an oral and a written exam.
1) The oral exam will consist of an informal conversation with their teacher about their first year at university (see module 1), their experience of the It's not Rocket Science project (see module 2) and their opinion on the topics covered in the texts and videos seen in class (see modules 3 and 4).
2) The written exam will cover vocabulary, grammar and written tasks worked on during the year. Specifically, students will be asked to (1) comment on and edit an email and a summary, (2) identify and correct errors in excerpts from texts (error-detection exercises) and (3) complete sentences with the appropriate word.
According to article 79 §1 of the Landscape Decree, all learning activities that took place in Q1 must be assessed. The grade given in January reflects the student's progress on modules 1 and 2.
Please note: the final grade of the course will only be validated if the student has: 1) taken the diagnostic test 2) presented all parts of the course (this includes every final task and test in every module) 3) obtained at least 10/20 in the continuous assessment AND in the final examination. If the student fails to do so, a maximum mark of 6/20 will be awarded.
For the following session (September), if the overall average of the AA does not reach 10/20, each student repeats the parts for which he/she did not obtain 10/20.
An exemption from this course is only possible on presentation of an official document confirming the mastery of the 5 skills (oral reception, written production, written and oral monologue and interaction) at a minimum level of B1+ on the Common European Framework of Reference scale. Student must then make the request to the teacher in charge of the course
The documents needed to follow the course are available on WebCampus.
- Stuart Redman. English Vocabulary in Use - Pre Intermediate/Intermediate 4th edition. Cambridge University Press (2017).
- Application to improve English pronunciation (optional): Flowchase
Both will be available at the university's sales outlets.
| Training | Study programme | Block | Credits | Mandatory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor in Chemistry | Standard | 0 | 3 | |
| Bachelor in Chemistry | Standard | 1 | 3 |