English V: Language and culture

6 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1021035BNR for all students in the 1st semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.

Semester

1st semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Impossible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Taught in

Faculty

Faculty of Languages & Humanities

Department

Linguistics and Literary Studies

Educational team

Julie Deconinck (course titular)
Louise Holtzem

Activities and contact hours

26 contact hours Lecture
26 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
52 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study

Course Content

This module comprises three parts: 1) a lecture series, 2) a series of interactive seminars, 3) a self-study component.

1) The lecture series introduces students to the history, geography, demography, institutions, and culture(s) of the United Kingdom (Part I) and the United States (Part II). Students also gain insight in the political systems, the education systems, and the media of both countries. The attention devoted to the (overlapping) histories of these countries helps students understand modern-day British and American society from a historical perspective. Intercultural and institutional differences with students' own countries and culture(s) may also be highlighted. Course contents are presented and illustrated by way of powerpoint presentations and authentic reading, listening, and audio-visual materials. To encourage student participation outside of the classroom, students can upload and comment on relevant (audio-visual) materials on a designated Canvas discussion board.

2) The seminars are designed to build on the contents and insights provided by the lectures, as well as to enhance students’ productive language skills. Speaking skills are practised by means of communicative assignments such as student presentations and discussions about themes pertaining to British and American history, society and/or culture.

3) As far as self-study is concerned, students are expected to attend a number of English-language cultural or social events in Brussels. In addition, students also deepen their knowledge of the given subjects by choosing to watch 4 films from a set viewing list, and selecting a UK or US novel from a reading list about which they write a paper. This reading assignment enables them to gain a deeper insight in the culture(s) of English-speaking countries, whereas the writing assignment helps to further develop the students' writing skills.

Course material

Digital course material (Required) : Powerpoint slides, Julie Deconinck, Lou Holtzem, Canvas
Digital course material (Required) : Digital materials (texts, podcasts, ...), Language and Culture, Julie Deconinck, Canvas

Additional info

Office hours: By appointment.

The digital course materials (PowerPoint presentations) will be made available after each class via Canvas and may be supplemented with extra listening, reading and audio-visual materials.

Learning Outcomes

Competences

Upon successful completion of the course, students

(1) have gained knowledge about British and American history, geography, demography, political institutions, education systems, and media;

(2) can appreciate modern-day UK and US society from a historical perspective;

(3) can describe British and American institutions and customs while attending to intercultural similarities and differences;

Their general language proficiency should attain level C1 as described in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. This implies that they

- can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning;

- can express themselves fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions;

- can use language flexibly and effectively for social and academic purposes;

- can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices.

cf. Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/education/elp/elp-reg/Source/Key_reference/Overview_CEFRscales_EN.pdf

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 60% of the final mark.
Other determines 40% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

oral exam with a relative weight of 60 which comprises 60% of the final mark.

Within the Other category, the following assignments need to be completed:

continuous assessment with a relative weight of 40 which comprises 40% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

The final course grade will be based on

1) an oral exam (60%) about course contents, the selected films and novel and how they relate to course contents, and the English-language cultural events attended in Brussels;

2) continuous assessment (40%) based on student presentations, writing assignments, as well as active participation in class/on the discussion board.

Assessment of both written and oral exams/assignments will be based on content and proficiency.

In the second exam session, assessment will be based on an oral exam (60%) and a paper (40%). If the student obtained a pass mark for either the exam or the paper, the mark will be transferred to the second session.

Note: The oral exams may be recorded; this recording will be used solely in the event of a complaint.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context