Learning outcomes

The second-year course naturally follows the first-year course. In first-year, students reached the B1+ level and are now starting to work towards the B2 level. Receptive skills are emphasized at the B2 level, while productive skills remain at B1 but gradually shift towards B2, which will be confirmed in third year.

  • Reading Comprehension (B2): Students can autonomously read factual texts on topics related to their field and interests. They have a fairly extensive reading vocabulary, but may encounter difficulties with less common expressions.
     
  • Listening Comprehension (B2): Students can understand factual information on various topics or related to their specialized field. They can also grasp the main points of a lengthy presentation, lecture, or argument on a subject related to personal, academic, or professional life, as long as the spoken language is standard and articulation is clear.
     
  • Writing Production (B1+/B2): Students are capable of writing brief essays. They can confidently summarize a source of factual information on topics related to their field, report on it, and provide their opinion.
     
  • Oral Production (B1+/B2): Students can explain their point of view with some ease. They can also exchange information confidently on a wide range of factual topics related to their field. Finally, they can give a short, simple prepared presentation on a topic related to their specialty, with the main points explained precisely.

Goals

In this course, students will work with documents related to their field of study in order to (1) discuss them orally and (2) write a scientific magazine article as well as a research article abstract. Students will also develop their oral skills through conversation exercises and mini-presentations on scientific topics related to their field of study.

Content

Reading and listening comprehension will be developed using authentic documents (simplified or not) on specialized topics. Students will gradually become familiar with the "scientific" style (Scientific English).

Written production will be practiced through written tasks during the year, with the goal of producing a scientific magazine article and a research article abstract.

Students will work on oral production in class to (1) improve their skills and (2) prepare for the oral exam, where they will present a portfolio of scientific articles.

Assessment method

For the June session, the course is assessed based on both continuous evaluation throughout the year and a final evaluation during the June session.

  • Continuous Evaluation (20%): Students must complete two mini-presentations (one per semester) and write a magazine article (Q1) and an abstract (Q2).
     
  • Two Out-of-Session Tests (20%): Test #1 in December covers material from Q1 (grammar and vocabulary); Test #2 in May covers material from Q2 (grammar and vocabulary).
     
  • Written Exam during the June Session (30%): Students will need to comment on and revise a scientific magazine article and/or a scientific abstract.
     
  • Oral Exam during the June Session (30%): Discussion based on a portfolio of scientific articles.

Students must complete all parts of the assessment to pass. Failure to do so will result in a failing grade.

For the August/September session, if the overall grade is below 10/20 in June, students must retake all parts for which they scored below 10/20. If any evaluation scoring below 10/20 in June is not retaken in August/September, the grade for that evaluation will not be retained, and a 0 will be assigned for that part.

The principle of "absorbing failure" (automatic 9/20) will apply in two specific cases:

  • If the student has an overall average of 10/20 or higher but scores below 8/20 in either the written exam OR the oral exam.
     
  • If the student has an overall average of 10/20 or higher but scores below 10/20 in both the written and oral exams.

Note: Successful completion of this course does not lead to CEFR certification.

Sources, references and any support material

WebCampus Page: SELVB205 - Anglais 2

Grammar Book: Raymond Murphy. English Grammar in Use 4th edition. Cambridge University Press (2012) (optional)

Pronunciation App: Flowchase (optional)

Language of instruction

Français
Training Study programme Block Credits Mandatory
Bachelier en sciences physiques Standard 0 3
Bachelier en sciences physiques Standard 2 3