English for General Communication Purposes. Advanced Course - 2 – HSE University Course Catalogue – Higher School of Economics National Research University

2022/2023

Category 'Best Course for Career Development'

Category 'Best Course for Broadening Horizons and Diversity of Knowledge and Skills'

Type: Optional course

Delivered by: School of Foreign Languages

When: 3, 4 module

Open to: students of one campus

Language: English

ECTS credits: 5

Contact hours: 80

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Abstract

The discipline refers to the variable educational tracks offered to students of the curricula for bachelor's and master's degree at choice while mastering the optional course of English in accordance the Concept of Development of English-language Communicative Competence of HSE Students. “English for General Communication Purposes. Advanced course” is a course originally designed for the students of B2 CEFR level aspiring to enlarge their knowledge. Completing the course enables learners to boost their English language competences and skills up to the C1 level. Touching upon various life spheres from theatrical art to entrepreneurial success, the course builds up a student’s image as a thriving personality able to successfully communicate in diverse environments. Advanced vocabulary units and grammatical structures are acquired and applied throughout the course, which makes undergraduates feel comfortable in the multicultural atmosphere of the university. The use of assorted modes of working in the process of study contributes to the development of soft skills including time-management, teamwork, presentation skills and others. The course employs exclusively authentic materials such as articles, reviews, essays, podcasts and videos (e.g. Ted Talks) as well as games and web-based platforms to build strong reading, listening, speaking and writing skills. The adaptability and saturation of the course provides each student with an opportunity to tailor the Programme to suit their individual interests and needs. By the end of the course students will have gained the skills and confidence to communicate effectively in English at C1 level (HSE Scale 80-89).

Learning Objectives

The complex development of skills and competences for general communication of the C1 level (according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), HSE Scale 80-89 points); The improvement of students’ command of English for interpersonal and intercultural communication; The enhancement of receptive and productive skills related to general purposes; The expansion of vocabulary on a variety of topics; The expansion of grammar structures in use.

Expected Learning Outcomes

To develop skills of using basic listening techniques (predicting, understanding main ideas and details)
To develop skills of using basic reading techniques skimming and scanning (predicting, understanding main ideas, understanding details)
To develop understanding of articles, reports, straightforward and specialised texts concerned with contemporary problems at the threshold/vantage/effective operational proficiency level
To develop understanding of lectures and learning context
To form skills of note-taking
To form understanding of text structure
To improve understanding of dialogues and polylogues on both familiar and unfamiliar topics
develop writing skills (email / essay)
participate in dialogues on general, academic and professional topics. (active listening, questioning, responding to questions, emphasizing, discussion strategies)
produce monologues (informative/descriptive/argumentative/persuasive speech)

Course Contents

Fashion and consumerism.
Technology and change.
People and ideas.
Journalism and media.
Law and society.
Arts and entertainment.

Assessment Elements

FINAL ASSESSMENT
The final test includes one reading test and one written work (an essay). The test tasks can be of different types. The final grade is equal to the mean of the grades for a reading test and an essay. Reading tests are assessed as follows: 100-96% of fully correct answers = 10; 95-91% of fully correct answers = 9; 90-86% of fully correct answers = 8; 85-78% of fully correct answers = 7; 77-71% of fully correct answers = 6; 70-61% of fully correct answers = 5; 60-51% of fully correct answers = 4; 50-36% of fully correct answers = 3; 35-21% of fully correct answers = 2; 20-1% of fully correct answers = 1, 0% of fully correct answers, plagiarism or no work handed in or the student was absent = 0. Answers containing spelling mistakes are considered incorrect. Writing is checked against the criteria-max. 10 points. Period of FA: 10 days prior to the fourth module’s session. The release of examination papers: during the session. Period of FA: 10 days prior to the fourth module’s session. The release of examination papers: during the session. Retaking the exam: till the 15th of October 2023. Time limit: 70 minutes online/offline. 1. Reading (R) Max. 10 points. Students have no more than 20 minutes to complete the Reading part. Read the text. Possible reading tasks: • Correct option for each task (multiple choice). • Fill in the gaps (gap-filling). • Decide whether the statement is True, False or Not Given. 2. Writing (W) Write an essay on one of the topics given. Max. 10 points. Students should write a 250-word essay. Students have 50 minutes to complete the writing part. Grading formula: R* 0.4 + W*0.6 = 10.
Independent Work Assessment (IWA)
Independent work includes activities that students do at home, activities that students do in the classroom and online work. The elements of independent work cannot be retaken.
Oral Assessment
Oral assessment includes 1 monologue on a given topic and 1 discussion.
Written Assessment (WA)
Written assessment includes: • 1 reading test, • 1 listening test, • 3 vocabulary and grammar tests • 1 essay.

Interim Assessment

2022/2023 4th module
0.25 * Written Assessment (WA) + 0.2 * Oral Assessment + 0.3 * FINAL ASSESSMENT + 0.25 * Independent Work Assessment (IWA)

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Berry, R. (2018). English Grammar : A Resource Book for Students (Vol. 2nd edition). [Place of publication not identified]: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1753147
New language leader: advanced : coursebook, , 2015

Recommended Additional Bibliography

English grammar : a resource book for students, Berry, R., 2012
Качалова, К. Н. Практическая грамматика английского языка с упражнениями и ключами : учебник / К. Н. Качалова, Е. Е. Израилевич. — Санкт-Петербург : КАРО, 2018. — 608 с. — ISBN 978-5-9925-0716-4. — Текст : электронный // Лань : электронно-библиотечная система. — URL: https://e.lanbook.com/book/114337 (дата обращения: 00.00.0000). — Режим доступа: для авториз. пользователей.
Практическая грамматика английского языка с упражнениями и ключами, Качалова, К.Н., Израилевич, Е.Е., 2019

Authors

KUDINOVA NATALIYA ALEKSANDROVNA
ZAKHAROVA ANNA VIKTOROVNA
CHANTURIDZE YULIYA MIKHAYLOVNA
KRYUKOVA ELIZAVETA SERGEEVNA
MARCHENKO DARYA LEONIDOVNA

Course Syllabus

English for General Communication Purposes. Advanced Course - 2