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Language Competence 1 (10 ECTS)

(LA102ENG-1 1)

Language Competence 1 is both a theoretical and a practical unit. The students will learn about language and how to use language. Language competence is fundamental in order to benefit fully from Didactic Competence 1 and Cultural Competence 1. Together with these two units Language Competence 1 is designed to develop the student's holistic approach to teaching English as a foreign language and to becoming a good tutor for her/his future pupils in their language development process. In all these three units much emphasis is given to developing the student's oral and written proficiency, particularly her/his communicative competence, so that s/he can become a confident language user and thus be a good model in the English classroom.

The unit comprises the following main components:

• Phonetics (criteria for classifying sounds, consonants and vowels, weak forms)
• Grammar (the syntactic hierarchy, the verb phrase, the noun phrase)
• Written proficiency (text cohesion, writing in different genres)
• Oral proficiency (class presentations, group discussions, language laboratory work)

Language Competence 1 is offered in the autumn term (August-December) and can be taken separately or together with Didactic Competence 1 and/or Cultural Competence 1. It is organized partly as lectures, partly as group work, partly as tutorials. A set of  tasks is compulsory, e.g. producing texts in different genres for a portfolio and exercise sets in phonetics and grammar. An e-education platform is used and active participation in the virtual classroom is required.

The compulsory tasks must be acknowledged before the student can sit for the exam. The exam is a written exam in grammar and phonetics.The student will in addition choose two of the texts written for her/his portfolio, which will be assessed as part of the total grade in language.
 
Reading list:

• Crystal, D. (3rd ed 2004): Rediscover Grammar, Longman
• Davidsen-Nielsen, N. & Ulseth, B. (1989): English Intonation, Universitetsforlaget          
• Grellet, F. (1996): Writing for Advanced Learners of English, Cambridge UP
• Griffith jr., K. (2002): Writing Essays about Literature, Harcourt Brace
• Hasselgård, H., Johansson, S. & Lysvåg, P. (1998): English Grammar: Theory and Use, Universitetsforlaget
• Hill, J. & Lewis, M. (eds.) (1997): Dictionary of Selected Collocations, Language Teaching Publications
• Jones, D. (15th ed. 1997): English Pronouncing Dictionary, eds. Roach, P. & Hartman, J., Cambridge UP
• Marsh, N. (3rd ed 2002): How to Begin Studying English Literature, Palgrave
• Nilsen, T.S. & Rugesæter, K. (1999): Basic English Phonetics for teachers, Fagbokforlaget
• Nilsen, T. S. (1996): British and American English Pronunciation, Universitetsforlaget
• Swan, M. (3rd edition 2005): Practical English Usage, Oxford UP