Información del Plan Docente

1.1. Aims of the course

The subject and its expected results correspond to the following approaches and objectives:
The main objective of this course is to seek a deepening in the level B2.2, developing the grammatical, discursive, sociolinguistic and strategic competences of the students in their evolution towards the communicative competence in English. For this, this subject focuses on a series of general objectives that are:
1. To develop the student's ability to communicate (comprehension and production) in an oral and written form in English showing an instrumental mastery of the language.
2. To develop the student's ability to work autonomously, fostering self-learning of the English language, as well as collaborative work in the resolution of group tasks and the use of ICTs.
3. To promote the student's interest in the English language as an object of study and as a tool for access to other fields of knowledge.
4. To make clear and detailed descriptions and presentations on complex issues, integrating other themes, developing concrete ideas and ending with an appropriate conclusion.
5. To write clear, well-structured texts on complex subjects highlighting main ideas, expanding to a certain extent and defending their points of view with complementary ideas, motives and appropriate examples, and ending with an appropriate conclusion.
6. To comprehend comprehensive and complex texts.

1.2. 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 IV is the fourth 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 B2.2. 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 B2.2. 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. 

1.3. Recommendations to take this course

To take the course it is necessary to have taken, and passed, Lengua Inglesa III, taught in the first semester of the third year of the degree. This means that any student enrolled in Lengua Inglesa IV, must have reached, at least, the B2.2 level of the Common European Framework of References for Languages.

2.1. 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. 

2.2. Learning goals

In order to pass the course, studens should show the following learning outcomes:

1. Read articles and reports on contemporary problems in which authors adopt concrete positions or points of view. Understand contemporary literary prose.
2. Understand and interpret texts in English with professional content related to the military field, engineering and management.
2. Write clear and detailed texts on a wide range of topics related to their interests. Write essays or reports transmitting information or proposing motives that support or refute a specific point of view. Write letters that emphasize the importance it gives to certain facts and experiences.
4. Write documents relevant to their professional field, both formal and informal, using lexicon, appropriate rhetorical and textual structures and techniques.
5. Understand extensive speeches and lectures and even follow complex plot lines as long as the subject is relatively familiar. Understand almost all television news and programs on current topics. Understand most of the movies in which you speak at a standard language level.
6. Present clear and detailed descriptions of a wide range of topics related to your specialty. Explain a point of view on a topic exposing the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
7. Oral presentation of works with descriptive, narrative or argumentative contents on topics related to the contents of the course. Participate in a conversation with a certain fluency and spontaneity, which enables normal communication with native speakers. Take an active part in debates developed in everyday situations explaining and defending my points of view.
8. Use the essential lexis necessary for the development of professional activities related to professional training and the planning and direction of operations and processes in English language.
9. Be familiar with working documents in international organizations (MOU, TA, SOP, STANAG, etc.).

2.3. Importance of learning goals

Relevance of the learning outcomes

The achievement of the learning outcomes will provide students with a level of knowledge of English of a consolidated B2.2 level, close to level C1, 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. 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

Evaluable tasks, which will include:
a) An oral presentation in which the students will make an oral and individual presentation of technical content (TFGs, projects carried out in other subjects of the Degree, etc.). The formal presentation of technical content will have a duration of between 10-12 minutes, plus time for questions. The task will be 20% of the final grade.
b) a proof of written expression in which the student will write a short essay of 350 words of complex and/or technical content.

The tests will be scheduled throughout the semester and will be announced through Moodle.
In the case of passing the above 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.

A final examination that will represent 80% of the grade and consists of two parts:
a) 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, when the student has completed the continuous assessment tasks in time. Scondly, 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 the Less, 50% of the grade in each of them. And thirdly, that the sum of both marks (the exam plus continuous assessment tests) is at least 60%.

In the September exam the continuous evaluation tests will be eliminated, and therefore the grade will be obtained exclusively from the exam. 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.

4.1. Methodological overview

Learning process is based on:

1 Contents introduction by lecturers.

2 Students' participation by doing interactive exercises in class.    

3 Students' personal work.

4 Participation in speaking and writing activities 

It should be taken into consideration that this is an instrumental and practical subject. Thus, students must get involved in the face-to-face in-class teaching. 

To register this subject, students should be willing to participate, working and attending to class weekly. 

4.2. Learning tasks

Oral communication: make formal presentations of complex and/or technical content, express a clear and reasoned opinion, speculate about people, discuss controversial ideas, make proposals, talk about social issues, discuss moral dilemmas, denying information, etc.

Written communication: make brief technical content essays.

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

4.3. Syllabus

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

Unit 1: Origins 
Grammar: the continuous aspect.
Functions: description of habits, speculation.
Lexical field: personality, phrases made for people, military organization, weapons and services.

Unit 2: Opinion 
Grammar: past, hypothetical conditional, verbal structures.
Functions: expression of opinions, formal presentations of technical content.
Lexical field: idioms of opinion, learning and experience, military public affairs.

Unit 4: Justice 
Grammar: introductory particle "it", the perfect aspect.
Functions: expression of hypothetical preferences.
Lexical field: crime, lexical phrases, social affairs, decisions, military missions of peace.

Unit 5: Secrets
Grammar: modal verbs, passive.
Functions: making a point.
Lexical field: secrets idioms, truth or myth, multiple verbs, journalism, mass control.

4.4. 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/

More information about calendars and timetables can be consulted in the Defense University website http://cud.unizar.es/

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/).