Aims

To progressively reach "proficient user" communication competence in two skills: listening and speaking (both in individual and interactive communication contexts).

By the end of this course, students should be able to:
successfully understand and take part in complex interactive communication contexts in which opinions overlap and points of view are not clearly structured; students should be able to express themselves with ease to ensure spontaneous and smooth communication;
express their opinion precisely and accurately on a variety of topical subjects (politics, society, culture) or matters of personal interest;
understand radio and television shows in which several participants intervene more or less spontaneously, sometimes in non-standard language.

Main themes

1. Vocabulary extension: quantitative and qualitative vocabulary extension; control of word formation processes; thematic approach (lexical fields);
2. Improvement of writing skills;
3. Improvement of oral skills: organisation of exercise sessions in the language laboratory;

Content and teaching methods

(i) Thematic content : newspaper articles, interviews, documentaries, 'talk shows', film excerpts, etc. which deal with a variety of non-specialised topics such as current affairs and social, political, and cultural life, to name but a few.
(ii) Method:
a. Main course (15 hours) (1h/ week during 30 weeks) regularly involving the presentation of (i) newspaper articles and (ii) auditory material (recordings, videos, film excerpts, documentaries, talk shows, etc.) Particular emphasis will be put on pronunciation (phonetic accuracy and accentuation).
b. 15 hours of conversation and listening practice (1h/week during 30 weeks- maximum of 20 students per group-) on the topics covered during the main course; authentic material (mainly auditory material) on the same topics -and which create oral activities- can also be used.
These sessions are accompanied by specific exercises aimed at improving phonetic accuracy and accentuation.
X hours of study and individual work, in particular:
systematic and individual study of 'upper-intermediate' vocabulary: quantitative and qualitative vocabulary extension, control of word formation processes; thematic approach (lexical fields);
preparation of auditory and oral exercises;
note updating, revision and memorisation.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

The formative evaluation (oral expression) will take place in January and will be followed by appropriate feedback.
The end of year exam will consist of two parts in accordance with the course objectives:
Assessment of listening skills (detailed and global listening): 50% of the overall mark
Assessment of speaking skills (individual and/ or interactive skills): 50% of the overall mark.
Skill assessment will also include assessment of the code.

The coordination of this course will be entrusted to one (or, if necessary, two) academic(s), member(s) of the GERM department aided by (at least) one assistant for the exercise sessions. S/he will carry out the formative evaluation in January and will take part in the exam (in June and/or August).

Other credits in programs