Syllabus Information

1.1. Introduction

Lengua Inglesa I is a compulsory 6-credit semester course of the Degree in Industrial Organisational Engineering (Defense Profile). The course is taught in the second semester of the second year of the Degree and involves the acquisition of English language level B1.2 in both written comprehension and production (to be able to understand main ideas and produce texts on subjects of a general and more specific nature) and in oral comprehension and production (being able to communicate with a certain fluency in everyday situations).

1.2. Recommendations to take this course

Students enrolled in this subject must pass an entrance examination fixed by the Ministry of Defense, level B1.1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. It is, therefore, this the minimum level that is requested to the students who are enrolled in this subject.

1.3. Context and importance of this course in the degree

Given the role of English in today's international settings, its use is essential for the training of students in almost any professional discipline. Aware of this fact, the CUD has decided to make English a key element of its students' training, materialized in the 24 credits of language training designed in the Degree.

Lengua Inglesa II is the second subject of a sequence of subjects (Lengua Inglesa I, Lengua Inglesa II, Lengua Inglesa III, Lengua Inglesa IV), which are taught along the four years of the Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Organisational Engineering. The common goal of the four subjects is help learners acquire linguistic proficiency in, at least, the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference. The first of the subjects seeks the acquisition of the B1 level (developing from the B1.1 level to reach the B1.2), and the three other courses seek the acquisition of the B2 level. In total learners have 240 hours of in-class teaching to reach the level, an approach which is consistent with the guidelines of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, which suggest a minimum of 235 hours; it is therefore a realistic approach.

The use of English is an essential skill which affects all aspects of the students' future professional life. The goal of the course is to provide the student with the necessary tools to work in an international multidisciplinary workplace, as will be demanded by their role in society. In the academic context, the subject will help students to expand their knowledge of their other degree subjects. The fact that a large part of the scientific publications are written in English, the subject becomes a helpful tool to access a variety of bibliographical references in their field of specialization. It is therefore expected that after completing their degree, students will be able to write their final projects in English, under the supervision of the teachers of English. 

1.4. Activities and key dates

The dates and schedules of the semester compulsory classes, the evaluation tasks programmed and the final exam can be consulted in the Moddle platform (https://moodle.unizar.es/).

2.1. Learning goals

The student, to overcome this subject, must demonstrate the following results:
1. To carry out, with reasonable fluency, a simple description of a variety of topics that are of interest to them, presenting them as a linear sequence of elements.
2. To communicate with certainty, in matters that are habitual as in the unusual ones, related to their personal interests and their specialty.
3. To exchange, check and confirm information to deal with less common situations and explain the reason for a problem.
4. To express yourself on more abstract and cultural themes, such as movies, books, music, etc.
5. To write simple and cohesive texts on a series of everyday topics within your field of interest by linking a series of different short elements in a linear sequence
6. To understand concrete information on everyday issues or work and identify both the general message and the specific details provided the speech is articulated clearly and with a normal accent.
7. To read simple texts on concrete facts that deal with subjects related to your specialty with a satisfactory level of understanding.

2.2. Importance of learning goals

The achievement of the learning outcomes will provide students with a level of knowledge of English at the B1.2 level, being able to progress in the degree with efficiency. Specifically, the acquisition of the subject competences is essential to reach the learning outcomes of the rest of the subjects which integrate the English language module. 

3.1. Aims of the course

The main goal of the course is to provide an introduction to the B2 level, developing the grammatical, discursive, socio-linguistic and strategic competence of students in their evolution towards communicative competence in English. For that purpose, this course focuses on the following general goals:

1  Develop the students' capacity to communicate (written and spoken reception and production) showing instrumental command of the language.

2  Develop the students' capacity to work autonomously, fostering language self-learning, collaborative problem-solving of group tasks and the use of ICTs.

3  Increase students' interest in English as a study object and a tool to access other knowledge fields.

3.2. Competences

After passing the subject, the learner will be competent to:

1. Work in a multidisciplinary team in a multilingual environment. 

2. Develop long-life learning and continuous assessment skills.

3. Communicate in English in their professional practice. 

4.1. Assessment tasks (description of tasks, marking system and assessment criteria)

The student must demonstrate that he / she has attained the expected learning outcomes through the following assessment activities

1. Evaluable tasks, including:
a) An oral presentation in which the students will narrate a story, incident, biography or event. The task will be 20% of the final grade.
b) A proof of written expression in which the student will write either an informal email or a story of 150 words. The passing of the test will result in the passing of the written test of the final exam. In the case of passing the written test, this part will be considered as passed with the grade obtained, and it will not be obligatory to retake it in the final exam (described below). In case the student wishes to do this written test again, he will keep the grade obtained in the final test.
The tests will be scheduled throughout the semester and will be announced through Moodle.

2. A final examination that will represent 80% of the grade and consists of two parts:
b) A written test in which oral comprehension skills (25%), written comprehension (25%) and writing (25%) will be evaluated.
b) An oral production test (25%).

The final grade of the subject will result from the sum of the exam grade (80%) and the evaluable tasks (20%).

The student will pass the subject when each of the following requirements are met: First, that the student has completed the evaluable tasks in time. Secondly, that the grade of the exam is equal to or higher than 60%, taking into account that the grade will be obtained from the average of the different parts (one for each of the competences), provided that the student has obtained at less 50% of the grade in each of them. And third, that the sum of both notes (the exam plus the evaluable tasks) is at least 60%.
In the 2nd call  the assessable tasks will be eliminated, and therefore the grade will be obtained exclusively of the examination. Consequently, the student will pass the subject when the exam grade is equal to or higher than 60%, taking into account that the grade will be obtained from the average of the different parts (one for each of the competences), as long as the student has obtained at least 50% of the grade in each of them.

5.1. Methodological overview

The course learning process has been designed based on the following:

1  Teachers will introduce subject content.

2  Students will engage incommunicative interaction in the classroom. 

3  Students will work autonomously on the course contents and tasks.

4  Students will practice conversation and produce writing tasks.

The course is practice-oriented and the learning process emphasizes the active engagement of students in classroom participation, in classroom tasks of increasing difficulty and in autonomous learning.

To succeed in the course students should be willing to engage in continuous practical work.

5.2. Learning tasks

The program offered to the student to help achieve the expected results includes the following activities:

Oral communication: making educated requests, giving advice, suggesting new experiences, having informal conversations, talking about new experiences, recommending an experience, expressing preferences, describing procedures, talking about skills, expressing leisure and vacation preferences, talking about books, Television programs, talk about happiness, give advice on happiness.

Written communication: genres (informal e-mail: giving advice, recommending experiences, recommending books, films, television programs, giving advice on happiness, history: biographies, anecdotes, incidents, events, historical events, stories with morals, short stories, short stories, books, films, television programs); strategies (conventions of informal writing, use of connectors, use of adverbs, summarize arguments).

Presentations: genres (biographies, reports, historical events, book reviews, films, television programs); taking notes to make presentations, how to plan a presentation, how to make an effective presentation, phraseology and rhetorical resources.

The teachers will announce the learning activities schedule through Moodle. Students can access the platform by logging in at  https://moodle.unizar.es/

5.3. Syllabus

The program of the subject includes the following grammatical, lexical and functional features:

Grammar: verbal tenses (the present perfect, narrative times, the future), direct and indirect questions, I wish / if only, past and present habits.

Vocabulary: semantic areas (personality, feelings, proverbs and sayings, stories, anecdotes, reading, cinema, television, leisure, travel, vacations, skills and abilities, happiness) Adjectives to tell stories, compound verbs, countless and plural names.

Specialized speech: military education, military organization (ranks, units, weapons), life of the soldier (military installations, food in the military profession, intercultural aspects of food, sports stories in the military world, sport as the engine of peace, international missions.

Functions: expressing preferences, talking about stories and anecdotes, describing processes.

5.4. Course planning and calendar

Schedule of lessons and assignments 

The calendar of assignments will be announced in class or through Moodle https://moodle.unizar.es/

5.5. Bibliography and recommended resources

•   Bolton, David y Noel Goodey. English Grammar in Steps / English Grammar Presented, Explained and Practised in Context. London: Richmond, D. L., 2004.
•   Bowyer, M. Check your Vocabulary for Military English (Campaign) Workbook. Oxford: Macmillan, 2005.
•   Bowyer, R. Campaign Dictionary of Military Terms. Oxford: Macmillan, 2004.
•   Chapman, Rebecca. English for Emails. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008.
•   Collins Spanish Dictionary = Collins Universal Español-Inglés, English-Spanish / [General Editor, Catherine Love y Gaëlle-Amiot-Cadey ]. Barcelona: Random House Mondadori; Glasgow: Harper Collins Publishers, 2009.
•   Diccionario Español-Inglés Merriam-Webster, 2009.
•   Diccionario Técnico Militar: Inglés-Español Español-Inglés. Madrid: Ediciones Agullo, 1980.
•   Eales, Frances y Steve Oakes. Speakout. Upper Intermediate. Essex: Pearson.
•   Eastwood, John. Oxford Practice Grammar. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994.
•   Grussendorf, Marion. English for Presentations. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011.
•   Mellor Clark, S. y Y. Baker de Altamirano. Campaign English for the Military 1, 2 & 3 (Student’s Book and Workbook). Oxford: Macmillan, 2005.
•   Murphy, Raymond. English Grammar in Use: A Reference and Practical Book for Intermediate Students: With Answers. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 1987.
•   Orna-Montesinos, Concepción. Intercultural Communication in the Military. A Resource Pack for the ESP Teacher. Lambert Academic Publishing, 2016.
•   Oshima, Alice y Hogue, Ann. Writing Academic English. Pearson Longman, 2006.
•   Oxford Learner’s Advanced Dictionary. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.
•   Stamp, Julian. Dictionary of Military English for Officer Cadets: English-Spanish, español-inglés. Zaragoza: Centro Universitario de la Defensa, 2013.
•   Swan, Michael. Practical English Usage. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.
•   Taylor, John y Zeter, Jeff. Command and Control. Newbury: Express Publishing, 2011.
•   Vince, Michael. Advanced Language Practice. Oxford: Heinemann, 1994.
•   Vince, Michael. First Certificate Language Practice: With Key. Oxford: Macmillan Heinemann, 2003.
•   Vince, Michael. Intermediate Language Practice: With Key. Oxford: Macmillan Heinemann, 1998.