COURSE SYLLABUS - GUIA DOCENT | 2023-2024 |
Degree: Títol Superior de Disseny | Level: Títol Superior d’Ensenyaments Artístics | Course code and name: OP92-B2.EXAM PREPARATION |
Speciality | Years of study | Period | Type of course | ECTS credits | All | 3rd & 4th year | 2nd semestre | Non-compulsory | 6 ECTS |
Department: Social Science and Law |
Language of instruction: English | Class schedule: Monday and Wednesday from 13.05 to 14.55 pm |
Course Teacher: Ana Pérez Navarro Email: aperez@escoladisseny.com
Head of Department: Jaume Enric Rado Roca Email: jrado@escoladisseny.com Horari consultes: Tant en el primer com en el segon semestre els dimarts de 14:00 a 15:00 hores. . - The aim of this subject is to help students develop their Linguistic Competence in English as a Foreign Language so they can sit a B2 certification exam successfully, which is a precondition to graduate from their college degree.
- This course DOES NOT provide a certification in B2 or any of the other levels described in the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).
3. Essential requirements |
- It is advisable that students possess a consolidated B1 level as described in the CEFR. A placement test will be administered at the onset of the course.
- Students must attend at least 80% of scheduled class hours.
4.1. Cross-curricular skills (Competències Transversals) CT01 - Organizing and planning work in an efficient and motivating way. CT05 - Understanding and using at least one foreign language in the student’s professional field. CT09 - Settling adequately into multidisciplinary teams in a diversity of cultural contexts. CT10 - Leading and managing work groups. CT15 - Working autonomously and appreciating the importance of self-initiative and entrepreneurship in their careers. 4.2. General skills of the degree (Competències Generals) CG11 - Communicating ideas and projects to clients, thereby providing reasoned arguments and assessing proposals through dialogue. CG17 - Planning, evaluating and developing learning strategies in order to attain personal and professional goals. CG19 - Showing critical thinking skills and utilizing research strategies successfully. CG21 - Showing a command of research methodology. 5. Learning outcomes expected of a B2 Independent User |
- Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation.
- Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party.
- Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
COURSE WELCOME |
February | - Placement Tests + Writing: short formal e-mail
- Getting to Know Each Other
| UNIT 1: Introduction |
February to mid March | TOPICS - The CEFR
- Levels of competence in a foreign language (A1 to C2)
- Description of B2 level
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- The aim of the introductory unit is to familiarise students with the different levels of competence in the foreign language as described in the CEFR, specially level B2
| UNIT 2 | TOPICS
- British Council APTIS ESOL B2 Test
| Test features - Organizer, registration period, exam dates
Test analysis - Analyse the structure and types of questions you can find in the tests
| Test practise - Complete exercises or questions from different samples of the tests, covering all skills included in them
| Mid semester test: B2 exam practice (all skills) | UNIT 3 |
mid March to May
| TOPICS
- Cambridge University B2 First
- EOI Certificat Anglès nivell B2
| Test features - Organizer, registration period, exam dates
Test analysis - Analyse the structure and types of questions you can find in the tests
| Test practise - Complete exercises or questions from different samples of the tests, covering all skills included in them
| UNIT 4: Other exams | TOPICS
- Oxford University, OTE (Oxford Test of English). Score 120-140
- TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), iBT (Internet Based Text), amb la qualificació 87-109 o superior
| Test features - Organizer, registration period, exam dates
Test analysis - Analyse the structure and types of questions you can find in the tests
| Test practise - Complete exercises or questions from different samples of the tests, covering all skills included in them
| Closure: End of year test: B2 Exam (all skills) The test can be based in any of the B2 certification tests analysed during the course |
- Chiefly communicative approach aiming at a balanced development of all skills, i.e. linguistic, cross-curricular and general skills of the degree.
- Students’ individual needs will be catered for so they can progress at their own pace.
- Students will be requested to work collaboratively or individually to carry out scheduled tasks.
- Oral tasks will be carried out in different grouping ways: pairs, small groups, whole group
- Oral tests will be conducted in pairs.
7.1. Types of learning tasks and their arrangement throughout the course CLASSWORK | Tasks | Grouping | Objectives and teaching methods | 138 hours | Theoretical & practical class | Whole class, small group, pairs, individual | Balanced development of Linguistic Competence in English. Communicative method. | 62 hours | Oral practice | Pairs, small group or whole class | Developing Oral Interaction skills by discussing topics dealt with in class | 1 of every 4 hours | B2 Exam Practice | Individual | Assessment of Linguistic Competence in English with B2 Exam Practice twice every Semester: November and January (1st Semester); March and May (2nd semester). | 4 hours twice in a Semester | HOMEWORK | Tasks | Grouping | Objectives and teaching methods | Time alloted for tasks | Written assignments | Individual | Balanced development of all language skills, especially Writing, by means of online compositions | Enough time to complete the tasks will be agreed upon with students. |
7.2. Facilities and material required - The class is equipped with a computer connected to the Internet, a projector, an audio system and a blackboard.
- Learning tasks and materials provided by the teacher through Google Classroom.
- In order to carry out tasks and projects students need an electronic device with wifi access, such as a laptop or tablet.
- For independent study, it is advisable that students work with their own materials (see section 8 below for suggestions).
7.3 Ancillary activities Ancillary activities will be organised depending on academic needs and / or the calendar of activities of public or private institutions if necessary. 8. Textbook and resources |
8.1. TextBook: To successfully take advantage of the subject and follow the lessons accordingly, it is important you acquire the following text book: Burlington International English B2 Second Edition STUDENT'S BOOK by Jeanette Swanson and David Thomas. ISBN 978-9925-30-748-7 8.2. Useful reference materials (B2 level Test Practise): Oxford Test of English (B1/B2), Oxford (OUP) May, P. (2010) First Certificate Trainer. Cambridge: CUP. Betsis, Andrew/Haughton, Sean/Mamas, Lawrence: Preparing For Trinity ISE II (B2)- Student's Book & CD
TOEFL iBT® Paper Edition Practice Test (free download)
8.3 Other useful reference materials: Capel, A.; Sharp, W. (2008) Advanced. Cambridge: CUP. Jones, L. (1997) Progress to Proficiency. Cambridge: CUP. Hashemi, L.; Homas, B. (2003) Grammar for Advanced Students. Cambridge: CUP. McGavigan, P.; Reeves, J. (1999) Graded Readings. Longman Pearson Education Limited. Promodou, L. (1999) Grammar and Vocabulary for Proficiency. Harlow: Longman Pearson Education Limited. Mann & Taylore-Knowles, Destination B2 Grammar & Vocabulary, Macmillan 8.4. Other resources: Online bilingual dictionary: wordreference.com European Framework of Reference: https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages Cambridge Dictionary Online: https://dictionary.cambridge.org EUROPASS project: https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu Phrase Bank of The University of Manchester: http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk 9.1. Assessment criteria CA01 - Attends regularly all tuition activities, tutorship hours, seminars and any other scheduled activities. CA02 - Participates regularly in all class activities, tuition hours, seminars, and other scheduled activities. CA03 - Participates in class coherently and expresses own points of view in a reasoned manner. CA04 - Shows interest in the subject. CA05 - Knows, assimilates and understands the key concepts of the subject. CA06 - Demonstrates and applies the key concepts of the subject correctly in scheduled tasks. CA07 - Knows and utilises the terminology specific to the subject correctly. CA08 - Knows and correctly utilises materials, tools, technology and techniques specific to the subject. | CA09 - Shows ability of synthesis, critical thinking and argumented reasoning in scheduled tasks. CA10 - Manages time and scheduled tasks correctly. CA11 - Works neatly, orderly and cleanly. CA12 - Shows an ability to express concepts or reflections orally or in writing with a basic and ordered unifying thread. CA13 - Follows the proposed working methodology and complies with submission guidelines and established deadlines. CA14 - Submits scheduled tasks correctly. CA15 - Resolves scheduled tasks correctly. CA16 - Shows artistic sensitivity, creative imagination, creativity, innovation and originality in scheduled tasks. CA17 - Develops a unique style in scheduled tasks. |
9.2. Process and system of assessment and assessment criteria - In order to be graded by Itinerary A, students must carry out EVERY scheduled task according to the established guidelines and deadlines.
- ATTENDANCE POLICY: In order to be graded by Itinerary A, all students must attend at least 80% of scheduled class hours.
Assessment Procedure | Type (*) | Assessment criteria | Grading criteria | |
CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT | ATTITUDE AND EFFORT Includes attendance to a minimum 80% of scheduled class hours and making a positive contribution to the development of the learning sessions. This item is not going to be considered if the student does not attend 80% of the class hours. | NR | CA01, CA02, CA03, CA04, CA10 | 10% | WORK A: Tasks completed by students during lessons:, written assignments, oral practice. reading comprehension, listening comprehension and Use of English exercises | NR | CA06, CA07, CA08, CA09, CA10, CA11, CA12, CA13, CA14, CA15, CA16, CA17 | 25% | |
WORK B: Tasks and assignments developed by students independently. They can include: written work, reading comprehension tasks, listening tasks, use of English exercises and speaking tasks. The tasks must be handed in due time. | NR | CA06, CA07, CA08, CA09, CA10, CA11, CA12, CA13, CA14, CA15, CA16, CA17 | 15% | ORDINARY EXAM (Convocatòria Ordinària) Tests assess the degree of development of Communicative and Language Competence in English as a Foreign Language in the following SKILLS: Use of English (20%), Reading (20%), Listening (20%), Writing (20%) and Speaking (20%). Passing the exams is a requirement of the course. The passing mark of each of the skills is 5. Students who don't get a pass mark can resit the extraordinary exam | R | CA05, CA06, CA07, CA09, CA11, CA12 | 50% | EXTRAORDINARY EXAM (Convocatòria Extraordinària) As in the ordinary exam above. In order to obtain a pass mark in the extraordinary assessment students must submit all the tasks assigned during the course included in the WORK B section of the continuous assessment procedure | NR | CA05, CA06, CA07, CA09, CA11, CA12 | 50% | TOTAL | 100% |
* This field specifies whether an item can be retaken or not: NR (non-resittable) or R (resittable). Non attending students (Itinerary B) - Non attending students cannot be assessed by means of a continuous assessment procedure.
- These students must take a final exam which will include all the contents seen through the school year. This exam will include all the parts of a B2 test: Use of English, Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. It will be worth 100% of the grade.
9.3 Academic integrity - Students are expected to act with honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility.as regards academic work.
- Breaching academic integrity can entail obtaining a non-pass mark at the end of the academic period at the teacher’s discretion.
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