IDENTIFYING DATA 2012_13
Subject (*) COMMUNICATION SKILLS: SPEAKING AND WRITING II Code 12274108
Study programme
Graduate in English Studies
 Cycle 1st
Descriptors Credits Type Year Period
6 Compulsory Second Second
Language
Anglès
Department Estudis Anglesos i Alemanys
Coordinator
SUTTON ., SARAH JANE
HRYCKIEWICZ ., OLGA
FRUMUSELU ., ANCA DANIELA
 E-mail sarah.sutton@urv.cat
ancadaniela.frumuselu@urv.cat
olga.hryckiewicz@urv.cat
Lecturers
SUTTON ., SARAH JANE
FRUMUSELU ., ANCA DANIELA
HRYCKIEWICZ ., OLGA
Web
General description and relevant information The ability to communicate proficiently in English is of the utmost importance, as this constitutes “tool of the trade” for the students of this major. Most of the times, much of what students have studied in English language courses so far is related to grammar and vocabulary, and more often than not students have had little opportunity to practise and use the language. Therefore, this subject, together with DESTRESES COMUNICATIVES: SPEAKING AND LISTENING I, tries to offer students ample opportunity to use the language in its oral form.

Competences
Type A Code Competences Specific
 A7 Entendre la llengua anglesa parlada i escrita en profunditat i en una varietat de registres.
 A9 Utilitzar un vocabulari anglès ampli i variat.
Type B Code Competences Transversal
 B4 Autonomy, responsibility and initiative
 B5 Teamwork, collaboration and sharing of responsibility
Type C Code Competences Nuclear

Learning outcomes
Type A Code Learning outcomes
 A7 Desenvolupa la capacitat de comprensió oral i escrita per satisfer les necessitats d'ús instrumental de la llengua anglesa a un nivell avançat
 A9 Mostra un maneig de la gramàtica i el vocabulari de la llengua anglesa a un nivell avançat que permeti comunicar-se de manera correcta, fluida i articulada
Type B Code Learning outcomes
 B4 Manage and organize their work and time as scheduled.
Present results before the stipulated deadlines.
Decideix com gestiona i organitza el treball i el temps que necessita per dur a terme una tasca a partir d'una planificació orientativa
 B5 Help to define, organize and distribute the group’s tasks.
Bear in mind the opinions of others and give constructive feedback.
Take active part in planning the work of the team, and in distributing the tasks and the deadlines.
Type C Code Learning outcomes

Contents
Topic Sub-topic
Listening skills -listen for the gist
-follow extended speech
-deal with difficulties in understanding
-use strategies that help understanding
-infer and recognise moods
Speaking skills -engage in extended conversations
-participate in natural discourse
-express opinions and viewpoints
-give detailed descriptions, accounts of experiences
-summarise
-speculate about causes, consequences and hypothetical situations
-grammatical and lexical accuracy in speaking
-express feelings and emotions through intonation and speed
1. THE MEDIA








2. ARTS












3. SCIENCE




1.1 MEDIA OBJECTIVITY
1.2 CENSORSHIP
1.3 THE INTERNET
1.4 TABOO TOPICS
1.5 ETHICS AND THE MEDIA
1.5 CURRENT NEWS



2.1 THE NOTION AND ITS DEFINITION
2.2 ARTISTS AND THEIR ROLE
2.3 CREATIVE PASTIMES
2.4 POP ART
2.5 HIGH ARTS vs. LOW ART






3.1 NATURE vs. NURTURE
3.2 THE ENVIRONMENT
3.3 EVOLUTION
3.4 MIND & BRAIN
3.5 GENETICS
3.5 HUMANS
NB: The exact course contents are subject to change and will depend on time limitations and students´ needs.

Planning
Methodologies  ::  Tests
  Competences (*) Class hours
 Hours outside the classroom
 (**) Total hours
Introductory activities
2 0 2
Problem solving, classroom exercises
A7
 44 34 78
Problem solving, classroom exercises
A7
 14 20 34
Personal tuition
5 0 5
 
 
(*) On e-learning, hours of virtual attendance of the teacher.
(**) The information in the planning table is for guidance only and does not take into account the heterogeneity of the students.

Methodologies
Methodologies
  Description
Introductory activities Key issues in oral skills. Speaking and Listening.
It is of paramount importance for all the students to attend the first session of practical classes and the lectures
Problem solving, classroom exercises Students will have a total of 4 teaching hours to attend weekly. These will be divided into:

2 hours of listening practice (the whole class working separately in two groups)

2 hours of speaking practice (the lecture plus one hour working in groups)
Problem solving, classroom exercises During the lecture sessions – the students are going to be divided into two groups as well – one having to attend the face-to-face-classes and the other submitting their work three times per week (in a spoken form). The total time of work for all the students is going to be the same – 60 min. All the details are going to be explained upon course start and, hence, the importance of attending those first sessions.
Personal tuition Students´ progress is going to be monitored throughout the course and personal feedback will be given on regular basis.

Since the subject is based on the continuous assessment, the students are required to hand in several different tasks, which have to be supervised by the teacher before they are finally handed in. The students will be also required to perform individual oral presentations in class.

Personalized attention
Description
Students´ progress is going to be monitored throughout the course and personal feedback will be given on regular basis. Since the subject is based on the continuous assessment, the students are required to hand in several different tasks, which have to be supervised by the teacher before they are finally handed in. The students will be also required to perform individual oral presentations in class.

Assessment
Methodologies Competences Description Weight        
Problem solving, classroom exercises
A7
 Attendance + participation – 10%
3 Oral presentations – 30% ( the first one worth 5%, the second 10% and the final one 15%)
Listening activities – 30%
Online(mobile) OR in-class spoken activities – 30%

 100%
Others  

NB: due to the lack of a final exam in this course – students´ regular class attendance, task submission and active class participation are crucial.

 
Other comments and second exam session

Sources of information

Basic

http://www.lets-talk-in-english.com/

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/

 

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/

 

http://lectures.princeton.edu/

 

http://podcasts.ox.ac.uk/

 

http://www.oup.com/oxforddnb/info/freeodnb/pod/

 

http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/subjects/e/english_language/index.html

 

http://www.macmillandictionary.com/

 
Complementary

Recommendations


Subjects that it is recommended to have taken before
COMMUNICATION SKILLS: READING AND WRITING I/12274109
(*)The teaching guide is the document in which the URV publishes the information about all its courses. It is a public document and cannot be modified. Only in exceptional cases can it be revised by the competent agent or duly revised so that it is in line with current legislation.