Learning outcomes

The following two competences were achieved in Bloc 2. The Bloc 3 course will aim to maintain these competences.

  • Reading comprehension (B2): Students can read with a high degree of independence by adapting the mode and speed of reading to different texts and objectives and by using appropriate reference materials selectively. Students have a broad and active reading vocabulary but may encounter difficulties with infrequent expressions.
  • Listening comprehension (B2): Students can understand spoken language on both familiar and unfamiliar topics normally encountered in personal, social, academic, or professional life. Only very strong background noise, inappropriate discourse structure, or the use of idiomatic expressions may affect the ability to understand. They can also understand the main ideas of complex speech in terms of both content and form, on concrete or abstract subjects and in standard language, including technical discussions in their field of specialization, and follow extended speech and complex argumentation provided the subject matter is reasonably familiar and the overall structure of the presentation is clearly indicated by explicit markers.

The following competences will be central in Bloc 3:

  • Oral production (B2): Students will be able to deliver a detailed description and presentation on a range of subjects related to their field of interest, developing and justifying ideas with supporting points and relevant examples. They will also be able to interact clearly and in a structured way on subjects that are familiar to them and related to their field of study.
  • Written production (B2): Students will be able to produce clear, well-structured, and coherent texts on topics related to their field of study. They will also be able to write in accordance with the conventions of scientific English.

Goals

The aim of the course is to support third-year students in preparing scientific presentations. Students will also take part in discussions and debates on scientific topics, during which they will be expected to argue their point of view. The course will also provide an opportunity to further develop their command of scientific English through writing exercises. The sessions will therefore focus on enhancing both presentation skills and scientific writing.

Content

Students will develop various language and linguistic skills through workshops, where they will be encouraged to analyze professional practices, put into practice the skills covered in class, and carry out self-assessment.

Teaching methods

The course is held in class and in small groups. The course takes the form of interactive seminars in English and is structured around several modules including formative activities and continuous assessment tasks.

Attendance is compulsory. Each session offers opportunities to practice production.

The objectives and activities are aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Language communication is developed with attention to linguistic competences (lexis, syntax, phonology), sociolinguistic competences (social markers, rules of politeness, etc.), and pragmatic competences (organization, adaptation, structuring of discourse) required for the target tasks. The course therefore goes beyond a focus on linguistic knowledge alone.

Assessment method

1. Continuous Assessment

Continuous assessment accounts for 70% of the final grade. It includes:

  • Formative tasks during the course: These tasks are not graded as such. They are designed to prepare students for summative assessments. Even though they are not graded, they must be completed diligently in order to validate the course.
  • Grammar and vocabulary tests (30%): One test will be organized at the end of Q1 and another at the end of Q2. Each test will cover all grammar and vocabulary points studied in class and through independent work during the semester.
  • Written task in Q2 (10%): An in-class written task focusing on scientific English.
  • Technical group presentation (30%): A presentation, prepared in pairs, to be delivered during Q2 classes. Part of the grade will be individual, and part will be collective.

Note: All components of continuous assessment must be completed in order to validate the final grade.

2. Oral Exam in the June Session

An individual oral exam will be held in the June exam session, accounting for 30% of the final grade. It will include:

  • Pronunciation test of a list of words studied in the course.
  • Discussion with the teacher, based on a portfolio including two chosen TED Talks and two short reports written on classmates’ presentations. The portfolio itself will not be graded, but it must be validated in order to access the oral exam. Failure to submit the portfolio on time may lead to denial of access to the oral exam.

3. August/September Session

If students do not achieve an overall average of 10/20 in June, they will have to retake the exam in the August/September session, but only for the components in which they failed.

Absorbing failure rule (automatic 9/20) may apply in two specific cases:

  • If the student achieves a general average of at least 10/20, but obtains a significant fail (below 8/20) in either continuous assessment OR the oral exam.
  • If the student achieves a general average of at least 10/20, but fails both continuous assessment AND the oral exam (below 10/20).

Therefore, it is essential to take all parts of the assessment seriously in order to validate the course. If one component of the assessment is not completed, the final grade will not be validated.

For students who fail in June: if a component graded below 10/20 is not retaken in August/September, the grade is not carried over, and a 0 will be awarded for that component.

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

Sources, references and any support material

Materials available on the WebCampus page for the course: SCDLB305 - English III (B2)

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

Language of instruction

English
Training Study programme Block Credits Mandatory
Bachelor in Physics Standard 0 3
Bachelor in Physics Standard 3 3