Interactive Communication
[ANGL2414]
[30h] 2 credits
This course is taught in the 1st & 2d semester.
Teacher(s): Philippe Denis
Language: English
Level: Second
Aims
. Individual :
- The teacher's American Culture & Language website is used for that purpose at both levels. Seven sessions a
year.
- The students will be trained to
1. report on articles, radio and TV programs
2. give a short talk on music, film or theater
3. discuss historical events and current news
4. argue about the American way of life
5. plan out a trip to the USA
6. take part in quizzes
. Interactive :
- In the traditional Course, the students have to master enough grammar, vocabulary and phonetics to successfully
take part in discussions, debates or language-focused activities.
- In the more advanced courses, spontaneous and more sophisticated expression is encouraged through a
minimal-input-maximum-output methodology. The method is devised around can-do objectives.
. By the end the successful students are to reach a lower C1 level of competence when dealing with the themes
covered in class. These include : socializing, telephoning, the language of argumentation, travelling abroad,
applying for a job and discussing American culture and language.
Reading Comprehension
The learners will be able to read the following rather fluently
1. the American website articles, forum contributions, encyclopaedia entries, quiz-related questions, clues and
explanations, quotes and odd facts, ¿
2. any course-notes worksheets used as a basis for discussion.
A lower C1 level is the aim though this skill is not assessed anymore this year.
Listening Comprehension
. Individual :
To understand authentic English radio, TV and on-line recordings.
. Interactive :
To follow a conversation among native speakers as long as it is about course-related subjects.
. A B 2 level is a realistic objective for a skill that is no longer honed and only serves as a starting point for
conversational activities.
Writing Skills
. The students are required to contribute articles on the Culture & Language website. These contributions have to
meet certain stylistic requirements.
. A B2 level is aimed at but developing this aptitude is not this course's main priority.
Main themes
. Grammar and phonetics are practised in class during targeted activities.
. A self-teaching guide is also enclosed in the course-notes and the students are tested on their grammatical
knowledge of it.
. Individual tuition is offered once a week for weaker students.
. The terminology related to these socio-professional topics are activated in class : socializing, telephoning, the
language of argumentation, traveling abroad and applying for a job.
Culture
The American Language and Culture website is integrated into the course through home assignments and seven interactive sessions, approximately once every four weeks
Content and teaching methods
Year of studies : Bac 3
Rhythm: 30 hours, 1 hour a week
Objectives: developing spoken English communicative skills in current socio-professional situations.
Assessment: continuous assessment, oral and written exam.
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)
. This course is interactive and conversation-oriented regardless of the level.
. The teacher resorts to various techniques and media to help the learners hold a conversation, participate in debates
and take the floor.
. The students are strongly encouraged to prepare before class, especially for the more advanced course where
improvisation and creativity are the orders of the day.
Workload
. The course is made up of about 26 class hours.
. Homework should amount to roughly 34 hours a year for an average student.
1. Studying the grammatical guide : 16 hours
2. Working on the website : 10 hours.
3. Studying the thematic vocabularyand preparing for the end-of-year role-play : 8 hours.
Pedagogical Accompaniment
. The number of participants range from 15 to 20..
. The teacher is available a hour a week and by appointment for individualized tuition and guidance.
. Weaker or stronger students can also improve their language in the ILV multimedia and the self-tuition centers.
Support(s)
. Three course-notes are available according to the students' level and speciality.
1. 2410-12: " INTERACTIVE ENGLISH WORKSHOP "
2. 2411-14 : " INTERACTIVE ENGLISH SEMINAR
3. 2410-11-12-14 : " STRICTLY SPEAKING " : advanced level :
. The course's website : www.ilv.ucl.ac.be/ilv-us
. Audio and video recordings of films, documentaries, songs, and commercials.
Assessment Requirements
. The final mark is based on four criteria, each of which worth 25%.
1. Class attendance and active participation.
2. The written grammar and vocabulary test at the end of the first term.
3. The website-related homework.
4. The June role-play.
Level
. Two levels are offered : Lower B2 and Upper B2 according to "the Common European Framework for Languages". . The more advanced course is meant to enable the better students to attend classes worthy of their levels of
proficiency.
. Whatever the level chosen, the workload and requirements are strictly identical, even though the assessment format
can slightly differ.
Credits
2,5 ECTS
Teacher
Philippe DENIS
Prerequistes
To have passed the 1810 course taught in the second year or a similar course.