English II

Recommended Prerequisites

Students should have reached Level B1 in English according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Learners who have achieved B1 level:
• can understand the main points of clear texts in standard language if they are about topics with which they are familiar, whether in work, study or leisure contexts
• can cope with most of the situations that might arise on a trip to areas where the language is used
• can produce simple, coherent texts about topics with which they are familiar or in which they have a personal interest
can describe experiences, events, wishes and aspirations, as well as briefly justifying opinions or explaining plans

 

Teaching Methods

1. discussion of vocabulary/reading exercises
2. focus on problem areas that arise, e.g. phrasal verbs
3. students conduct social research by mingling, interviewing others and writing down responses while standing
4. all listening exercises followed by discussion and analysis of transcripts
5. students improve English grammar and academic writing skills at home with recommended material
6- learning vocabulary and collocations for long-term improvement in understanding and production of the language

 

Learning Outcomes

1. Satisfactory use of Level B1+ English (aiming towards B2) in all aspects of language assessment (reading, use of English, listening, speaking, and writing);
2. Increased personal knowledge of vocabulary, including that required to discuss statistical information depicted graphically as might be appropriate in a formal presentation;
3. Fostered motivation and methods for self-led learning and improvement in reading, grammar and academic writing;
4. Objective oral analysis, via discussion with peers, of matters arising in international news;
5. Confident use of the English language as a valuable tool for studying and working in Sociology
6. Demonstrable ability (e.g. correct use of topic-specific vocabulary) in a variety of common topics, such as the environment, travel, careers and entertainment.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Activities will include speaking, listening, reading, writing, vocabulary development and grammatical clarification.

Each class, centred around a unifying thematic or linguistic topic, will involve a number of activities as listed above, with a keen emphasis on fostering dialogue amongst students. English 2 aims to consolidate a minimum level of competence and confidence in all students, and introduces more subject-specific, academic content.

1. Listening/conversation/reading/writing/vocabulary exercises.
2. Guided instruction: key word transformation; word formation; prepositions; collocations; phrasal verbs; idioms; American and British English; modal verbs; the second passive voice; comparative adjectives and phrases; perfect verb tenses.
3. Techniques aimed at independent command of the language: false cognates; prefixes and suffixes; discourse markers.

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Mini Tests: 20.0%
Other: 20.0%
Frequency: 60.0%

Bibliography

All materials required for lessons will be provided by the teacher.
MURPHY, Raymond - English Grammar in Use: a self-study reference and practice book for intermediate students: with answers. 4th ed., reprint.. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012. [801 SLD] [Ed. de 1995: 801 SLE]
Essential, general reading practice from printed versions of: Newsweek, Time, The Economist, The Times, The Financial Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Independent, The Guardian and/or their corresponding websites.
Podcasts for listening practice and vocabulary development, such as The Guardian Long Read; Intelligence Squared debates (US and UK); and Simple Politics.