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2023/2024

English for Specific Purposes

Code: 106320 ECTS Credits: 6
Degree Type Year Semester
2504212 English Studies OT 3 0
2504212 English Studies OT 4 0
2504380 English and Catalan Studies OT 0 0
2504380 English and Catalan Studies OT 3 0
2504380 English and Catalan Studies OT 4 0
2504386 English and Spanish Studies OT 3 0
2504386 English and Spanish Studies OT 4 0
2504393 English and French Studies OT 0 0
2504393 English and French Studies OT 3 0
2504393 English and French Studies OT 4 0
2504394 English and Classics Studies OT 3 0
2504394 English and Classics Studies OT 4 0

Contact

Name:
Sonia Oliver Del Olmo
Email:
sonia.oliver@uab.cat

Teaching groups languages

You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject. Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2023.


Prerequisites

Students should have an English level of a C2 (proficiency) of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.


Objectives and Contextualisation

Objectives and Contextualisation

This course offers an introduction to the study of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) and the language features (terminology, style and text types) of the different ESP fields covered in the course. Besides, there is an important practical component: the use of ICT for visual, auditory and textual analysis.

At the end of the course, the students will be able to:

  • describe the main elements of the study of ESP.
  • recognize the fundamental characteristics of different types of ESP.
  • carry out a basic analysis of the pertinent language features.
  • use ICT tools for visual, auditory and textual analysis of ESP.
  • synthesize information in order to communicate conclusions.
  • defend opinions and points of view in debates and class presentations.

Competences

English Studies

  • Demonstrate they know a wide variety of texts in English language of any mean (oral, written, audiovisual) and recognising implicit meanings.
  • Develop critical thinking and reasoning and knowing how to communicate effectively both in your mother tongue and in other languages.
  • Generate innovative and competitive proposals in research and professional activities.
  • Produce clear and well structured and detailed texts in English about complex topics, displaying a correct use of the organisation, connection and cohesion of the text.
  • Students can apply the knowledge to their own work or vocation in a professional manner and have the powers generally demonstrated by preparing and defending arguments and solving problems within their area of study.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.
  • Utilising new technologies in order to capture and organise information in English and other languages, and applying it to the personal continued training and to the problem-solving in the professional or research activity.
  • Working in an autonomous and responsible way in a professional or research environment in English or other languages, in order to accomplish the previously set objectives.

  • Learning Outcomes

    1. Apply the acquired knowledge to the generation of innovative and competitive research on a basic level.
    2. Applying the acquired knowledge and competences to professional and academic activities related to linguistics.
    3. Applying the acquired methodologies of work planning to work in an environment in the English language.
    4. Applying the acquired scientific and work planning methodologies to the research in English.
    5. Applying the information in English that is available on the Internet, in databases, etc. to the work and/or research environments.
    6. Carrying out oral presentations in English that are correct and appropriate to a variety of relatively specialised topics in academic and professional contexts.
    7. Communicating in the studied language in oral and written form, properly using vocabulary and grammar.
    8. Demonstrate sound knowledge of the topics within the study of Linguistics.
    9. Drawing up texts in English that are correct and appropriate to a variety of relatively specialised topics in academic and professional contexts.
    10. Effectively communicating and applying the argumentative and textual processes to formal and scientific texts.
    11. Locating and organising relevant information in English that is available on the Internet, in databases, etc.
    12. Produce new professional initiatives.
    13. Students must be capable of comprehending advanced academic or professional texts in their own language or the another acquired in the degree.
    14. Students must be capable of precisely arguing ideas and opinions in their own language or another acquired in the degree.
    15. Understanding and reflecting on relatively specialised authentic texts in English in various academic and professional fields.
    16. Understanding relatively specialised authentic audio material in English about topics in several academic and professional fields.

Competences

    English Studies
  • Apply scientific ethical principles to information processing.
  • Demonstrate skills to work autonomously and in teams to fulfil the planned objectives.
  • Distinguish and contrast the distinct paradigms and methodologies applied to the study of English.
  • Understand and produce written and spoken academic texts in English at advanced higher-proficient-user level (C2).
  • Use digital tools and specific documentary sources for the collection and organisation of information.
  • Use written and spoken English for academic and professional purposes, related to the study of linguistics, the philosophy of language, history, English culture and literature.
    English and Catalan Studies
  • Demonstrate the ability to work autonomously and in teams with the aim of attaining the planned objectives in multicultural and interdisciplinary contexts.
  • Make correct use of written and spoken English for academic or professional purposes, related to the study of language, history, culture and literature.
  • Understand and produce oral and written academic texts with appropriateness and fluency in distinct communicative contexts.
  • Use digital tools and specific documentary sources to gather and organise information.
    English and Spanish Studies
  • Correctly use written and oral English and Spanish for academic and professional purposes, related to the study of linguistics, history, culture and literature.
  • Demonstrate the ability to work autonomously and in teams in order to achieve the planned objectives in multicultural and interdisciplinary contexts.
  • Understand and produce oral and written academic texts with appropriateness and fluency in distinct communicative contexts.
  • Use digital tools and specific documentary sources to gather and organise information.
    English and French Studies
  • Understand and produce oral and written academic texts with appropriateness and fluency in distinct communicative contexts.
  • Use digital tools and specific documentary sources to gather and organise information.
  • Use spoken English and French correctly for academic and professional purposes related to the study of linguistics, history, culture and literature.
    English and Classics Studies
  • Demonstrate the ability to work autonomously and in teams in order to achieve the planned objectives in multicultural and interdisciplinary contexts.
  • Understand and produce oral and written academic texts with appropriateness and fluency in distinct communicative contexts.
  • Use digital tools and specific documentary sources to gather and organise information.
  • Use written and spoken English correctly for academic and professional purposes related to the study of English linguistics, history, culture, and literature.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Be familiar with the basic digital and bibliographic tools in French in a specific professional field.
  2. Express oneself orally and in writing in English in a professional register and using appropriate terminology in relation to translation, English for specific purposes and linguistic applications.
  3. Identify and understand the different methodologies appropriate to the fields of translation, English for specific purposes and language applications.
  4. Identify and understand the different theories on translation, English for specific purposes and language applications.
  5. Incorporate ideas and concepts from published sources into work, citing and referencing appropriately.
  6. Locate specialised and academic information and select this according to its relevance.
  7. Plan work effectively, individually or in groups, in order to fulfil the planned objectives.
  8. Plan, organise and carry out work in a team.
  9. Produce works in which the fundamental digital and bibliographic tools for the field of study are applied.
  10. Produce written and oral academic texts at higher-proficient-user level (C2) on the concepts and skills relevant to the study of translation, English for specific purposes and language applications.
  11. Understand specialised academic texts (C2) on research in translation, English for specific purposes and language applications.
  12. Understand specialised academic texts at higher-proficient-user level (C2) on research in translation, English for specific purposes and language applications.
  13. Understand specialised academic texts on research in translation, English for specific purposes and language applications at Mastery level (C2).
  14. Understand specialised academic texts on research in translation, English for specific purposes and language applications.

Content

  • Introduction to the study of ESP (English for Specific Purposes)
  • Analysis of different types of ESP.
  • Terminology, neologisms and communication strategies
  • Stylistic and organizational features of ESP texts
  • Information and Communication Technology tools
  • ESP and teaching English. Practical examples.

 


Methodology

The methodology is based on:

Guided activities (30%, 1.8 cr)

Supervised activities (15%, 0.9 cr)

Autonomous activities (50%, 3 cr)

Evaluation (5%, 0.3 cr)

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Activities

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Academic texts discussion 10.04 0.4 12, 1, 9, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10
Exercises discussion 15.03 0.6 12, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10
Exercises resolution 14.5 0.58 12, 14, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7
Theory classes 25 1 13, 14, 1, 9, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Type: Supervised      
Doubts clarification 26.6 1.06 13, 1, 9, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10
Exercises individual feedback 10.05 0.4 13, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10
Type: Autonomous      
Academic texts reading 15.3 0.61 11, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7
Study 20 0.8 12, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10

Assessment

Assessment

  • 2 papers – 20%
  • Group presentation – 20%
  • Final Project (oral presentation) – 40%
  • Class exercises, homework and participation – 20%

 

Please, note:

  • This is a continuous assessment class. Class attendance is obligatory.  In order to pass this subject, students should not miss classes by more than 5%.
  • All papers, presentations, as well as class exercises are COMPULSORY.
  • The final mark for the subject will be calculated according to the information in the section called ‘assessment activities.’
  • The exam dates, the dates of delivery of any activities, the retake dates of any activity, as well as the revision dates will be established in class and will be published on the ‘campus virtual,’ but may be subject to changes in programming if necessary.
  • The minimum mark to pass this subject is a 5. The retake will only be possible if students obtained a minimum mark of a 3.5 or above, in any of the obligatory tasks.
  • The maximum mark given to a retake exam will be a 5.
  • An exercise not handed in or a presentation the student has not given will count as a 0. Handing in any exercise for evaluation excludes the possibility of obtaining “No Avaluable” as the final mark for the course.

 

Important information:Without affecting any other disciplinary measures and according the current academic regulations, if students commit any of the following irregularities, they will be given a zero, which may affect the resulting mark in the general assessment. If students copy or allow other students to copy their work or any assessable activity this will immediately imply the failing of that activity, with a zero. Thus, it will not be possible to pass the subject, if one of the requirements is to pass the activity, and no retake of the subject will be possible during the same academic year. 

 

These irregularities include, among others:

- The total or partial copy of any assessment activity

- Allowing others to copy

- Presenting a group work activity not entirely done by the members of the group (this is applicable to all the participants, not only to those who have not done their work)

- Presenting material as genuine, when done by a third party. This includes translations, adaptations and any work that has not been carried out entirely by the student;

- Having access to communication devices (such as mobile phones, smart watches, pens with cameras, etc.) during theoretical and/or practical assessment activities (exams);

- Speaking to classmates during theoretical and/or practical assessment activities (exams);

- Copying or trying to do so during any theoretical and/or practical assessment activities (exams);

- Using (or trying to use) written documentation related to the subject during any assessment activity, without explicit permission to do so.

 

If a student has incurred in any of the above-mentioned irregularities, the numeric mark of his/her academic record will be the lowest value between 3.0 and half of the average weight of his/her marks (thus, passing the subject by compensation will not be possible). In future editions of this subject, students who have incurred in irregularities in an assessment activity will not be allowed to validate any of the assessment activities he/she has taken part in.To sum up: copying, allowing to do so, plagiarising (or trying to do so) in any of the assessment activities is equivalent to a FAIL, which is not compensable. The subject will, therefore, not be validated in future courses.

 

In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity, regardlessof any disciplinary process that may take place. In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject.

 

Irregularities refer, for instance, to copying in an exam, copying from sources without indiacting authorship, or a misuse of AI such as presenting work as original that has been generated by an AI tool or programme. These evaluation activities will not be re-assessed.

The same re-assessment method as continuous assessment will be used.

 

Students will obtain a “Not assessed/Not submitted” course grade unless they have submitted more than 1/3 of the assessment items.

Single assessment:

Students who opt for AU can still come to class, and some of these classes may even require obligatory attendance. The fact of opting for AU does not affect any aspect of docència; it pertains exclusively to avaluació.]  

The same re-assessment method as continuous assessment will be used.


Written exam (1h30 min) 35%

Oral presentation of an ESP topic (20 min) 35%

Hand in specific exercises the day of the written and oral exam (30%)

 


Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Class participation, homework and participation 20% 3.5 0.14 11, 12, 13, 14, 1, 9, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10
Final Project 40% 0.48 0.02 13, 14, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10
Task 1 20% 6 0.24 11, 13, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10
Task 2 20% 3.5 0.14 11, 12, 1, 9, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10

Bibliography

REFERENCES

Basturkmen, Helen (2010). Developing courses in English for specific purposes. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan.

Belcher, Diane Dewhurst (2009). English for specific purposes in theory and practice. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.

Bhatia, V., P. Sánchez Hernández, P. Pérez-Paredes (2011). Researching Specialized Languages. Amsterdam/Philadelphia : John Benjamins.

Kenny, Nalan, Elvan Eda Işık-Taş, and Huang Jian, eds. (2020). English for Specific Purposes Instruction and Research. Cham: Springer International Publishing. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32914-3.

Paltridge, Brian, and Sue Starfield (2012). The handbook of English for specific purposes. Malden, Ma: John Wiley & Sons Inc.

 


Software

No specific software is needed.