English - Basic English for Academic Purposes B2

This course includes practice with note-taking, practising tutorial participation, academic writing and presenting a topic on a related field of study. Common verb forms such as present simple vs continuous, future forms, present perfect and past simple as well as conditionals will be reviewed and practiced. Other grammatical structures covered include: modal verbs of likelihood, comparatives and superlatives and uses of articles. Oral and written communication skills needed in academic life will be introduced and practiced, as well as aspects of intercultural communication needed for achieving professional success. Emphasis is placed on developing strategies for continued learning.

On completion of this module students will have gained some of the study skills required for participating in an English-speaking academic environment. Students are able to produce some academic level work in degree courses held in English. They can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in their fields of specialization; they can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party; they can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

Corresponds to B2 of the CER.

Performance, testing the learning outcomes specified in the module description, is examined by a cumulative portfolio of competence and action-oriented tasks including: Two/three written assignments for a total of 60% (based on multiple drafts to encourage learning by means of revision) in which students are able to produce clear, detailed text on a topic related to their fields of study and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options; a presentation (including a handout and visual aids, 20%) in which oral fluency is demonstrated and an ability to conduct technical discussions in their fields of specialization; a final written examination (20%) in which they demonstrate that they understand the main ideas of complex text in their field on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions, and can express their opinions using a wide range of grammatical structures and collocations accurately.

As the course may be offered in various formats (online or classroom) the form and conditions of the final exam (with or without aids) will vary. Where audio or video is recorded, we observe the Basic Data Protection Regulation (DSGVO, Art. 12 -21).

Ability to begin work at the B2 level of the GER as evidenced score in the range of 40 – 60 percent on the placement test at www.moodle.tum.de. (Please check current announcements as the exact percentages may vary each semester.)

• Handouts and selected extracts from published sources will be used in the course. Key literature will be advised by the teacher and/ or listed in the course description.

This course involves practising study situations (participating in seminars, tutorials, note-taking), communicative and skills-oriented treatment of topics with use of group discussion, case studies, presentations, writing workshops, listening exercises, and pair work encourage active use of language, as well as opportunities for feedback.