English: reading and listening comprehension of scientific texts [ LANG1861 ]

> https://moodleucl.uclouvain.be/course/view.php?id=130

A2 level (in reading) of the « Common European Framework of References for Languages ».

The studied themes are connected with biology, chemistry, geography, physics, mathematics, veterinary science, and various scientific issues.

At the end of the course, students should have developed the following skills:

1. Reading comprehension: reading and understanding of authentic texts concerning general scientific topics and pertaining to the different disciplines within the Faculty of Science.

B1-B2 level of the « Common European Framework of References for Languages »

2. Listening comprehension: listening and understanding of authentic television programmes concerning general scientific topics and pertaining to the different disciplines within the Faculty of Science.

B1 level of the « Common European Framework of References for Languages »

• Possibility to be exempted from classes (but not from the exam) for students scoring 10/20 at the placement test held during the first semester.
• Written exam on reading and listening skills.

In order to allow for advanced learning despite the limited number of class hours the course is organized as a 'flipped classroom':
 

• -Extensive home-reading of texts, with assistance from a set of questions aimed at developing the students' reading strategies.
• In class, checking of the student's reading strategies as well as analysis and comments.
• Systematic approach of discourse cohesion and coherence, of recurrent grammatical structures and other lexical and structural difficulties impairing comprehension.
• Listening comprehension: extensive and intensive work on understanding video programmes at home. Various comprehension exercises, such as questions, syntheses, diagrams etc. Questions and answers time as well as spot checks of understanding in class.
• Consolidation of new material through exercises on e-learning platform Moodle.

• Reading comprehension: articles from the New Scientist, Scientific American etc. oriented towards the various diciplines of the Faculty of Science.
• Listening comprehension : BBC and PBS science programmes on subjects pertaining to the students' specific fields of study.
   

• Course notes
• E-learning platform Moodle