English for Communication - Entry to Professional life

Teacher(s)

Brabant Stéphanie (coordinator); Gouverneur Céline (coordinator); Neyt Philippe; Schrijvers Lutgarde;

Language

English

Prerequisites

The student should have followed an interactive course corresponding to the B2 level of the « Common European Framework » (Council of Europe) - LANGL 2433- or a course of a similar level.

Main themes

Students will be asked to take part in various activities allowing them to develop their communicative skills (mainly oral skills) in the following situations:

• Job interview  (including a CV and a letter of application)
• Organising and covering an event (including invitations, programmes, surveys, questionnaires, video and audio documents ..)
• Presenting a project, surveys etc ..
• Writing articles on specific subjects related to their field of studies
• Preparing, presenting and coveringa press conference (as well as writing the questions)
• Participating in a meeting, workshop, news bulletin '
• Using electronic mail
   

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

The main objective of the course is the development of skills that will enable the students in the communication business (public relations, journalism,') to function in the daily situations of their future professional activities.

By the end of the course, the student should have reached the B2 level of the « Common European Framework » (Council of Europe) for the following skills : reading comprehension listening comprehension oral expression written expression

Content

EJL

After Bachelor courses which were primarily based on building solid receptive and productive skills as well as general vocab, this course is based on project learning.
Through integrated skills teaching (reading comprehension, listening comprehension, written production, oral production, vocabulary, grammar, phonetics and pronunciation), the students' job is to design an online magazine in English. The level of this magazine should be upper-intermediate.
This magazine is the overarching project for the year and everything the students produce is a part of it. To do this, in groups of 4, they

• Decide and work as a team on a magazine that they would like to create in English;
• Learn how to write news or feature articles, opinion pieces and columns for a magazine;
• Create and integrate a podcast in a magazine;
• Create video content;
• Prepare a surprise element;
• Learn how to pitch a project in front of a jury.

MCOM/STIC

After Bachelor courses, which were primarily based on building solid receptive and productive skills as well as general vocab, this course is based on project learning.
Through integrated skills teaching (reading comprehension, listening comprehension, written production, oral production, vocabulary, grammar, phonetics and pronunciation), students will develop the following skills:

• Writing a CV and a covering letter
• Taking part in a job interview
• Carrying out online surveys
• Analysing data and presenting results
• Writing a press release
• Holding a press conference
• Promoting or organising events abroad
• Creating a website or Facebook pages
• Telephoning and writing emails to business partners
• Giving a presentation and managing a Q&A session

Students will also be tested on the language specific to projects 1, 2 and 3.

Teaching methods

EJL

The course is taught in English, in 2-hour slots every other week. 
There are exercises to do, articles to read or videos to watch for each lesson. 
In-class (or online) lessons include group activities, research, document analysis, project-based learning, and skill development. A significant amount of time is therefore spent on thinking skills such as collaboration, design and problem solving. In other words, the course also aims at developing life skills to prepare students for their future career.

MCOM/STIC

The course is taught in English, one hour a week, both in the first and the second terms. 
Students are expected to carry out different types of tasks (reading, exercises, assignments) in preparation for each session. They are expected to come to class with their course notes. 
In-class or online sessions are devoted to the development of professional skills students will need in their future career. The class activities mainly consist in group work fostering creativity, analysis, collaboration and negotiation.  
Depending on the health situation, our class will take place face-to-face on site, online or both.  
- Green heath code: Face-to-face teaching applies. All classes will be taught on site. Some activities might take place on Teams when this proves more relevant.
- Yellow health code: Face-to-face teaching applies. Depending on the size of the groups and the allocated rooms, the lessons might take place partly on site and partly online, on Teams. Distance learning will be complemented with extra exercises on Teams or Moodle.
- Orange or red health code: online teaching on Teams with exercises on Teams or Moodle.

Evaluation methods

EJL

Terms for the June session
Students must have turned in all projects for the year to pass the course in June.

• The 5 mini-projects that make up the magazine: 70%
• Final version of the project and jury/oral at the end of the year: 20%
• Attendance and participation: 10%

The different mini-projects will be integrated as follows in the final grade: 

• In January: article /15, podcast /15, opinion piece /15, presence and involvement /5
• In June: video /20, surprise element /5, jury and finished product /20, attendance and involvement /5

Students are also evaluated on their level of commitment to the project throughout the year (meeting deadlines, being proactive in teamwork, etc.).
Meeting deadlines is vital in journalism. Since they are all clearly announced well in advance, late work will not be accepted.
Particular attention is paid to ensuring that students produce original content, without plagiarism. There is zero tolerance for plagiarism.  
 
Terms for the August session
Students who did not pass in June will be required to redo the entire project as well as an oral exam with the teacher during the August/September session.

MCOM/STIC

Students are expected to reach B2 level at the end of this course.
There is no exam in June. The final mark relies on continuous assessment, namely:

• The 4 projects : 75%
• Tests: 15%
• Attendance and participation: 10%

Students' active participation in and personal commitment (e.g. meeting deadlines) to the course are also taken into account since this course reflects actual professional situations.   
A January grade will be assigned for the projects carried out in Q1. It accounts for 30% of the final mark.
Students who fail in June have to redo the projects and tests they have failed in an oral exam in August.

Other information

• Groups of maximum 20 students (EJL, MCOM, STIC)

Online resources

EJL

https://moodle.uclouvain.be/course/view.php?id=1132
A possible Facebook group (depending on the instructor)

MCOM/STIC

Moodle page: https://moodle.uclouvain.be/course/view.php?id=682
Teams group

Teaching materials

• Notes de cours/Course notes LANGL 2601 EJL ou/or LANGL 2601C (MCOM/STIC)

Faculty or entity

ILV