English for General Communication Purposes. Foundation Course

2024/2025

Type: Optional course

Delivered by: School of Foreign Languages

When: 1-4 module

Open to: students of one campus

Instructors: Yuliya Suvorova

Language: English

ECTS credits: 16

Full Syllabus

Abstract

"English for General Communication Purposes. Foundation Course" refers to the variable educational tracks offered to students of the curricula for Bachelor's and Specialist's degrees of choice while mastering the optional course of English in accordance with the Concept of the Development of English-language Communicative Competence of HSE Students. "English for General Communication Purposes. Foundation Course" is a course that is aimed at building students’ confidence in using English in different life situations and contexts, i.e. home, university, work, tourism and developing students’ language skills and communicative competences to the B1 level (HSE Scale 30-39). The course is designed to assist students in achieving the level of independent users through developing reading, listening, writing, and speaking skills, attaining excellence in vocabulary management and grammatical accuracy. The course offers a variety of authentic materials that familiarize students with real-life English expressions and scenarios, provides an array of contemporary topics for discussion and develops 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, and text analysis. The course develops a solid general English base for further success in learning English for academic or special purposes, taking international examinations, as well as future academic studies and research. Within the course, students are supposed to complete home assignments and take tests of various formats, which may include but are not limited to lexical-grammar tests, reading tests, listening tests, writing tests, speaking tests. "English for General Communication Purposes. Foundation Course" is available to the first-year students if there is not a mark for an English course in their high school diploma.

Learning Objectives

The course helps students advance to the level of independent users of English for general communicative purposes and boost their language skills to B1 level (HSE Scale 30-39) via enhancing reading and listening comprehension, increasing effectiveness in spoken and written production, improving spoken interaction, promoting communicative language competences (vocabulary range and grammatical accuracy), and raising sociocultural awareness.

Expected Learning Outcomes

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 form skills of note-taking
To form understanding of text structure
To develop understanding of lectures and learning context
To improve understanding of dialogues and polylogues on both familiar and unfamiliar topics
to develop skills of using basic listening techniques (predicting, understanding main ideas and details)
to produce monologues (informative/descriptive/argumentative/persuasive speech)
Applies the vocabulary for places in a city
Scans and skims various texts
Talks about a film in general, types of film and expresses personal tastes in film
Practises comparative adjectives to compare different means of transport
Talks about the tastes in food and healthy/ unhealthy diet
Speaks about shops and shopping habits
Speaks about cities and ancient civilisations
Writes paragraphs about the most important inventions
Speaks about preparing for and taking an exam
Discusses past travel experience
Practises listening for specific details and notetaking
Defines important components of academic writing
Practises writing a body paragraph
Develops skills of using basic reading techniques skimming and scanning (predicting, understanding main ideas, understanding details)
Produces presentations (informative/descriptive/argumentative/persuasive speech)
Produces monologues (informative/descriptive/argumentative/persuasive speech)
Participates in dialogues on general and academic topics (active listening, questioning, responding to questions, emphasizing, discussion strategies)
Develops writing skills (email / summary / essay/CV)
Forms skills of note-taking
Develops understanding of lectures and learning context
Develops skills of using basic listening techniques (predicting, understanding main ideas and details)
Improves understanding of dialogues and polylogues on both familiar and unfamiliar topics
Develops understanding of articles, reports, straightforward texts concerned with contemporary problems at the threshold level
Forms understanding of text structure
to develop writing skills
To participate in dialogues on general, academic and professional topics (active listening, questioning, responding to questions, emphasizing, discussion strategies)

Course Contents

Cities
To check students’ academic performance, tests of various formats are designed, for example, a lexical-grammar test, a reading test, etc.). The formats can vary depending on the instructor's choice.
Work and Study
To check students’academic performance, tests of various formats are designed, for example, a lexical-grammar test, a reading test, etc.). The formats can vary depending on the instructor's choice.
Nature
To check students’academic performance, tests of various formats are designed, for example, a lexical-grammar test, a reading test, etc.). The formats can vary depending on the instructor's choice.
Leisure time
To check students’ academic performance, tests of various formats are designed, for example, a lexical-grammar test, a reading test, etc.) The formats can vary depending on the instructor's choice.
City transport
To check students’ academic performance, tests of various formats are designed, for example, a lexical-grammar test, a reading test, etc.). The formats can vary depending on the instructor's choice.
Food
To check students’ academic performance, tests of various formats are designed, for example, a lexical-grammar test, a reading test, etc.). The formats can vary depending on the instructor's choice.
Shopping
To check students’ academic performance, tests of various formats are designed, for example, a lexical-grammar test, a reading test, etc.). The formats can vary depending on the instructor's choice.
History and culture
To check students’ academic performance, tests of various formats are designed, for example, a lexical-grammar test, a reading test, etc.). The formats can vary depending on the instructor's choice.
Inventions
To check students’ academic performance, tests of various formats are designed, for example, a lexical-grammar test, a reading test, etc.). The formats can vary depending on the instructor's choice.
Money
To check students’ academic performance, tests of various formats are designed, for example, a lexical-grammar test, a reading test, etc.). The formats can vary depending on the instructor's choice.
Homes
To check students’ academic performance, tests of various formats are designed, for example, a lexical-grammar test, a reading test, etc.). The formats can vary depending on the instructor's choice.
Journeys of a lifetime
To check students’ academic performance, tests of various formats are designed, for example, a lexical-grammar test, a reading test, etc.). The formats can vary depending on the instructor's choice.
Human planet
To check students’ academic performance, tests of various formats are designed, for example, a lexical-grammar test, a reading test, etc.). The formats can vary depending on the instructor's choice.
People
To check students’ academic performance, tests of various formats are designed, for example, a lexical-grammar test, a reading test, etc.). The formats can vary depending on the instructor's choice.
The media
To check students’ academic performance, tests of various formats are designed, for example, a lexical-grammar test, a reading test, etc.). The formats can vary depending on the instructor's choice.
Health
To check students’ academic performance, tests of various formats are designed, for example, a lexical-grammar test, a reading test, etc.). The formats can vary depending on the instructor's choice.
Natural World
To check students’ academic performance, tests of various formats are designed, for example, a lexical-grammar test, a reading test, etc.). The formats can vary depending on the instructor's choice.
Society and family
To check students’ academic performance, tests of various formats are designed, for example, a lexical-grammar test, a reading test, etc.). The formats can vary depending on the instructor's choice.
Scientists
To check students’ academic performance, tests of various formats are designed, for example, a lexical-grammar test, a reading test, etc.). The formats can vary depending on the instructor's choice.
The night
To check students’ academic performance, tests of various formats are designed, for example, a lexical-grammar test, a reading test, etc.). The formats can vary depending on the instructor's choice.
Work and Industry
To check students’ academic performance, tests of various formats are designed, for example, a lexical-grammar test, a reading test, etc.). The formats can vary depending on the instructor's choice.
Global affairs
To check students’ academic performance, tests of various formats are designed, for example, a lexical-grammar test, a reading test, etc.). The formats can vary depending on the instructor's choice.
The environment
To check students’ academic performance, tests of various formats are designed, for example, a lexical-grammar test, a reading test, etc.). The formats can vary depending on the instructor's choice.
Minority sports
To check students’ academic performance, tests of various formats are designed, for example, a lexical-grammar test, a reading test, etc.). The formats can vary depending on the instructor's choice.

Assessment Elements

Student Independent Work Assessment
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.
Student Independent Work Assessment
Written assessment
Oral assessment
Final Assessment
The interim exam lasts 70 minutes. The exam is a written paper-and-pen test and is aimed at checking whether the student can demonstrate the acquisition of the learning objectives set. The exam consists of two parts, i.e. Listening (L) and Writing (W) that weigh 50% and 50% respectively in the total mark for the exam: Listening (L): Listen to the text ONCE and complete the tasks. Max. 10 points. Writing (W): Read the text. Write a summary on the text you have read. A student should write a 150-word summary. Students have no more than 20 minutes to complete the Listening (L) part and 50 minutes to complete the Writing (W) part. Grading formula: L*0,5 + W*0,5 = 10 The actual scores for Listening are turned into percentages which are tuned into a final mark out of 10 points. Grading scale: 10 =100 - 96%, 9=95 - 91%, 8=90 - 86%, 7 = 85 - 78%, 6 =77 - 71%, 5= 70 - 61%, 4 = 60 - 51%, 3 = 50 - 36%, 2 = 35 - 21%, 1 = 20 - 1 %, 0 = 0%. Writing is assessed against the criteria. Period of FA: 10 days prior to the 2nd module’s session. The release of examination papers: during the session. Retaking exams: till the 15th of February 2025. Time limit: 70 minutes online/offline. The structure of the exam: 1. Listening (L): Listen to the text ONCE and complete the tasks. Max. 10 points. Students have no more than 20 minutes to complete the Listening (L) part. 2. Writing (W) Read the text. Write a summary on the text you have read. A student should write a 150-word summary. Students have 50 minutes to complete the Writing (W) part. Grading formula: L*0,5 + W*0,5 = 10.
Written Assessment
Written assessment includes: 1 reading test, 1 listening test, 2 vocabulary and grammar tests, 2 written works (email, essay).
Oral Assessment
Oral assessment includes a monologue on a given topic and a discussion.
Final Assessment

Interim Assessment

2024/2025 2nd module
0.3 * Final Assessment + 0.2 * Oral assessment + 0.25 * Student Independent Work Assessment + 0.25 * Written assessment
2024/2025 4th module
0.3 * Final Assessment + 0.2 * Oral Assessment + 0.25 * Student Independent Work Assessment + 0.25 * Written Assessment

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

New headway: pre-intermediate : student's book, Soars, J., 2007
Straightforward: elementary : student's book, Clandfield, L., 2006

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Essential grammar in use : a self-study reference and practice book for elementary students of English: with answers, Murphy, R., 2010
Essential Grammar in Use, A self-study reference and practice book for elementary students of English with answers, 3rd ed., 319 p., Murphy, R., 2011
Oxford living grammar : pre-intermediate: [learn and practise grammar in context], Harrison, M., 2009
Vocabulary: pre-intermediate, Bourke, K., 2006
Буренко Л. В., Тарасенко О. С. ; Под общ. ред. Краснощековой Г.А. - ГРАММАТИКА АНГЛИЙСКОГО ЯЗЫКА. GRAMMAR IN LEVELS ELEMENTARY – PRE-INTERMEDIATE. Учебное пособие для СПО - М.:Издательство Юрайт - 2021 - 227с. - ISBN: 978-5-9916-9261-8 - Текст электронный // ЭБС ЮРАЙТ - URL: https://urait.ru/book/grammatika-angliyskogo-yazyka-grammar-in-levels-elementary-pre-intermediate-471736
Буренко Л. В., Тарасенко О. С., Краснощекова Г. А. ; Под общ. ред. Краснощековой Г.А. - GRAMMAR IN LEVELS ELEMENTARY – PRE-INTERMEDIATE. Учебное пособие для вузов - М.:Издательство Юрайт - 2021 - 230с. - ISBN: 978-5-534-04538-3 - Текст электронный // ЭБС ЮРАЙТ - URL: https://urait.ru/book/grammar-in-levels-elementary-pre-intermediate-471708

Authors

SUVOROVA YULIYA ALEKSANDROVNA

Course Syllabus