Assuming an intermediate or higher command of English, this module aims to consolidate linguistic skills in order to reach a functional command of the language in the specific academic fields of History and Geography.

It will focus on English language skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking, as well as grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. The module is topic-based and will concentrate on areas of world history, geography and current affairs. The classes will use a communicative approach to language teaching and encourage students to fully participate in the English language. Although historical and geographical content will be frequently dealt with in discussions, tasks and other type of activities, it should be reminded that the main goal of the subject is to improve the knowledge of the language.

Provide students with the necessary competence in oral and written English for the comprehension and production of academic materials in this language in the areas of knowledge of history and geography.



COMPETENCES:



Be able to understand and produce academic materials in oral and written English in the areas of knowledge of history and geography.



MEC5: That students have developed those learning skills necessary to undertake further studies with a high degree of autonomy.

The module contents will be divided into 3 broad thematic blocks. Each block will include several topics which will serve as a basis to work on grammar, vocabulary, reading and listening comprehension, pronunciation (phonetics), speaking and writing. The tentative chronological distribution of the blocks is the following one:

1) Globalization: A collection of topics regarding the benefits and threats of today’s global world (inequalities, overpopulation and underpopulation, environmental risks, multicultural society, among others).

2) Historical turning points: With the aid of technical texts and audiovisual material, we will concentrate on a number of historical events that changed the course of humankind.

3) Current affairs: The news can constitute a great source for learning English, and for the last block we will be looking at the language of the media and how certain topics are treated.

- Master classes

- Practical pronunciation activities

- Practical activities for understanding and preparing oral and written academic texts in English

- Practical activities of oral expression in public of knowledge related to the subject

• Continuous Assessment System
• Final Assessment System
• Tools and qualification percentages:
  • Realization of Practical Work (exercises, cases or problems) (%): 70
  • Exhibition of works, readings ... (%): 30

Students may opt for a continuous assessment or a final assessment.



a) CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT

Students’ mark will be based on the following assignments and tasks:



- Class activities used for evaluation (listening activities,reading comprehension, grammar and vocabulary tests, pronunciation activities, etc.): 25 %

- Listening tests: 20 %

- Writing assignments: 25 %

- Final oral presentation: 30 %

The assessment will take place during the course, and students will not attend the exam call in January.



b) FINAL ASSESSMENT



Students can decide to withdraw from a call. For quadmestral courses students can do so within the first 9 weeks of the course, according to the academic calendar of their centre. This withdrawal must be submitted in writing to the instructor responsible for the course. These students will attend the ordinary exam call in January (which is posted on the degree’s website) to take the written part reading (25%), grammar and vocabulary (25%), writing (25%) and listening (25%).



c) ONLINE ASSESSMENT



In case that online assessment is required continuous assessment students will complete the abovementioned tasks online and during the course (a). Similarly, final assessment students will complete the ordinary exam call in January in the virtual environment (eGela) completing the four papers of the exam (b).



Withdrawal from an exam call: Withdrawal from a call will be assessed as “no grade reported” [no presentado/a].

In the case of final assessment, not sitting the exam on the official date of the exam qualifies as an automatic withdrawal from the corresponding call.

Both continuous and final assessment students who failed the subject in the 1st call the subject will take all four parts in the 2nd call exam. The parts of the exam that will be done on the official date of the 2nd call exam -attending the exam or in the virtual environment (eGela) in case online assessment is needed- are a reading paper (25%), a grammar and vocabulary paper (25%), a writing paper (25%) and a listening paper (25%).

Hand-out/photocopies provided by the lecturer with a selection of materials expanding on the contents of the coursebook.

Swan, Michael (2005). Practical English Usage. Oxford University Press.

Various references selected by the teacher.

Basic bibliography

Swan, Michael (2005). Practical English Usage. Oxford University Press.

Cook, Chris (1998). A dictionary of historical terms. Macmillan.

Wells, John (2008) Longman Pronunciation Dictionary. Pearson Longman.



Various references selected by the teacher.

In-depth bibliography

Various references selected by the teacher.

Journals

Journal of Contemporary History.
Journal of Medieval History.
American Journal of Ancient History.
Journal of Geography.

Web addresses

English sounds (BBC):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/pron/sounds/
BBC history blog: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/
Talk about different topics: http://www.ted.com/
Online dictioaries: www.onelook.com
How to write a CV and a cover letter:
http://www.mcgill.ca/caps/students/job-search/cv/