Key words
Pronunciation, phonetics, speaking, conversation, writing, listening comprehension
Objectives
Phonetics:
This course aims at training students’ pronunciation to reach a near-native level of standard (British) English. As such, the course serves as a basis for speaking practice in Bachelor and Master years. To reach an RP standard, the student learns to distinguish systematic connections and contrasts between spelling and pronunciation, both in individual words and in connected speech. Phonemic transcriptions by means of IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) symbols are practised as a learning tool. Students should eventually be able to read texts in IPA script and take down a dictation of individual words.
Speaking Skills :This course aims at increasing students’ active conversation skills and offers a list of idiomatic phrases that should help them express themselves appropriately in typical, everyday situations. At the same time this practice should help students realize the difference between formal and informal styles, understand the use of different registers and learn to select phrases and expressions judging their pragmatic appropriateness.
Writing Skills: The purpose of this course is to teach students how to reduce a text that is being read out to them to about a third of its original length. In other words, students need to summarize contents, while producing a cohesive, coherent and correct English text. The skills that are practised in this exercise, such as logical text structuring and reformulating an author’s words, are a substantial basis for writing exercises in later years and also for translation exercises.
Topics
Phonetics: After an introduction to concepts like phonetics and phonology, RP (received pronunciation), and the operation of the speech organs, all English phonemes are discussed in detail and practised at length. The contrast/connection between spelling and pronunciation is a major feature in every class. The students also learn to transcribe English words into IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) symbols. Finally, some time is devoted to the study of stress placement, rhythm and intonation in English, serving as preliminary to the second year.
Prerequisites
Dutch: mother tongue
English: the mainstream secondary level for English
Final Objectives
The student should be able to
- understand and explain a written or spoken English text of an average degree of difficulty
- write well-constructed and correctly formulated English sentences and paragraphs
- participate actively in English conversation on a general topic and in so doing use the language correctly in terms of register and pronunciation
Materials used
Phonetics: Syllabus (theory and exercises) sold at the start of the academic year. The teacher uses audio- and videotapes and taped pronunciation exercises.
Speaking Skills Handouts are distributed in every class. The teacher uses audio- and videotapes.
Writing Skills Handouts are distributed in every class. Lists of words and expressions treated in classes dealing with BBC news items are posted on the Blackboard learning platform.
Study costs
Cost: 4.5 EUR
Phonetics:
Syllabus: EUR 4.5
Speaking Skills and Writing Skills:
The cost of handouts is included in the lump price charged for course material.
Study guidance
Phonetics: Two tutorials for individual coaching. Teacher’s office hours.
Speaking Skills: Teacher’s office hours.
Writing Skills Six tutorials for individual coaching. Teacher’s office hours.
Teaching Methods
Phonetics: Seminar practising different types of exercises in the language laboratory: listening and repeating, reading out loud, phonetic transcription. During special tutorials students can take a pronunciation test and discuss their results with the teacher.
Speaking Skills: Seminar focussing on competence learning and interaction: role-playing, free and guided conversation exercises.
Writing Skills: Seminar practising listening comprehension and oral and written summarizing of oral text input, viz. BBC news bulletins, and newspaper or magazine articles. Student précis are discussed and corrected in class; at least six exercises are corrected and marked individually, providing extensive feedback. In special tutorials there is room for individual coaching.
Assessment
Phonetics: Oral and written exam at the end of the second term, each counting for 50% of the final mark.
Speaking Skills: Written exam at the end of the second term.
Writing Skills: Written exam at the end of the second term.
Lecturer(s)
Course co-ordinator
Lieeve JOOKEN (E2)
Teaching staff
Sabine DE VREESE (Ee)
Johan DELOOF (Ef)
Mieke ROSSELLE (Eg)
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