The aim of English Language Classes (ELC), comprising 4 courses: Grammar, Integrated Skills, Reading and Writing, Listening and Speaking, is to improve the student's language skills mainly in receptive and productive language competences, i.e. reading, writing, listening and speaking to reach a language level of at least B2. The students master effective learning strategies, successively improve their linguistic competence, systematically broaden their cultural awareness of the English-speaking area, and develop their social competences through various models of cooperation in class.
Prerequisites
English level B1+
Scope
GRAMMAR
Grammatical terminology in English, revising and extending the knowledge of: Present Simple vs. Present Continuous, Present Perfect & Present Perfect Continuous, Present Perfect vs. Past Simple, Past Simple vs. Past Continuous, Past Perfect & Past Perfect Continuous, Past Perfect vs. Past Simple, Future time + the use of other tenses with future reference, expletive pronoun IT/existential pronoun THERE
INTEGRATED SKILLS
Expanding knowledge (lexical, grammatical and cultural resources) and developing reading, writing and speaking skills based mainly on the selected textbook. Topics covered: leisure, helping, work; health and regeneration; law, sports, stereotypes; fashion, trends, identity; home and hospitality (Roadmap B2+, Units 1-5).
READING AND WRITING
Further development of effective reading strategies, e.g. selecting appropriate techniques of reading (scanning, skimming, intensive reading, extensive reading) depending on the nature of the text and the purpose for reading.
Introduction to text evaluation: identifying the main idea and supporting ideas in a text.
Expanding students’ vocabulary through word formation and collocation exercises
Introduction to paragraph structure; evaluating paragraphs according to categories: effective vs. ineffective topic sentences, relevant vs. irrelevant supporting sentences, recognizing logical organization and common cohesion devices.
Paragraph writing: topic sentence, supporting sentences, patterns of organization (listing/ exemplification, comparison and contrast, classification, cause and effect)
LISTENING AND SPEAKING
Developing the ability to understand the general sense of a text (global listening), to understand specific information (selective/selective listening).
Productive skills are developed in terms of, among other things, describing, expressing opinions, suggestions, preferences, creating a concise presentation.
Content based on the textbook selected for the Integrated Skills subject (partially used Listening component) and extended with additional content selected by the lecturer as inspiration for oral expression, e.g. places (descriptions of buildings, places, memories, landscapes) - revision and expansion of vocabulary related to the description of a picture, illustration; Emotional intelligence - expression of emotions: sympathy, empathy. Creating narratives, telling anecdotes, expressing feelings, willingness to help, emotionality of expression. Identity, experience, external influences, self-presentation.
Teaching methods
Individual, pair and group work. Text study, brainstorming, mind map, creating presentations, demonstration and observation (student presentations), audio and video demonstrations, discussion of the topics presented in the text, written answer, oral answer.
Learning outcomes and methods of theirs verification
Outcome description
Outcome symbols
Methods of verification
The class form
Assignment conditions
Credit with grade.
To pass English Language Classes (ELC) you need to receive a positive grade for each component course. Obtaining a negative grade from any component course will result in a negative grade for the entire ELC block. The final grade for ELC block is the average of the component course grades.
Conditions for individual component courses credits:
Achieving threshold levels for planned oral and written assignments (60%); regular attendance and active participation in classes for each component course.
Grading scale
Local grade
Percentage
Definition
5,0 (bardzo dobry)
93-100%
excellent
4,5 (4+ dobry plus)
85-92%
very good
4,0 (dobry)
77-84%
good
3,5 (3+ dostateczny plus)
69-76%
satisfactory
3,0 (dostateczny)
60-68%
sufficient
2,0 (niedostateczny)
0-59%
(unsatisfactory) fail
Recommended reading
GRAMMAR
Thomson, A.V. Martinet. A Practical English Grammar. Vol. 1&2. Exercises 1&2, Oxford University Press, 2006.
Vince, Michael. First Certificate Language Practice with Key. Macmillan, 2003
Vince, M., Advanced Language Practice, Macmillan, UK 2000.
McCarthy, Michael, O’Dell, Felicity. English Vocabulary in Use. Upper-Intermediate. Cambridge University Press. 2017.
READING AND WRITING
Richmond, Kent. Inside Reading. The Academic Word List in Context. Oxford University Press, 2009 (selected units) – PDF supplied by the teacher;
Bailey, Stephen. Academic Writing. A Handbook for International Students. Routledge, 2006.
LISTENING AND SPEAKING
Jonathan Bygrave, Hugh Dellar and Andrew Walkley. Roadmap B2+, Pearson, 2020.
Grussendorf, Marion. English for Presentations. Oxford UP, 2007.
Wilczyński Leszek, Speaking practice for first year students, Oficyna Wydawnicza UZ, 2021.
online materials: BBC 6 minute English, etc.
Further reading
GRAMMAR
Murphy, R. English grammar in use : a self-study reference and practice book for intermediate students of English : with answers, Cambridge University Press, 2004.
Swan. M. Practical English usage,Oxford University Press, 2016.
Collins, P. & C. Hollo. English Grammar: an Introduction, Palgrave Macmillan, 2010.
