Syllabus for Advanced B level


Syllabus - Teaching Program for the Course

English for BA Students – Advanced B Level

Lecturer Name| English-as-a-Foreign Language Unit
41-022

Course Type:

Workshop

Academic credits:

4 weekly hours

Year of study:

2026-27

Semester:

A\B

Day & time:

-

Reception time:

By appointment

Lecturer email:

-

Moodle site:

-

 

 

Course description and learning goals

 

Course Abstract

The Advanced B course develops students’ academic English proficiency at the advanced level through an integrated approach that aligns with the CEFR’s four communicative language activities – reception, production, interaction, and mediation. 

The course strengthens students’ academic English through tasks that reflect authentic university contexts and promote advanced language development. Students enhance their receptive skills by adopting a global approach to reading extended academic texts and by gaining familiarity with the structure and language of empirical research articles. They further develop their productive skills through oral and written communicative tasks, such as preparing and delivering academic presentations. Coursework includes both collaborative and individual activities that integrate interaction and mediation, engaging students in discussions and meaning-focused tasks that draw on multiple sources and perspectives. Exposure to a wide range of authentic materials fosters students’ confidence and autonomy as academic language users, preparing them to engage more effectively with scholarly literature, complete research-based assignments in their disciplines, and participate more confidently in English-Medium Instruction (EMI) courses.

 

Learning objectives 

 

Knowledge

 

  1. Learners will identify and explain key features, structures, and purposes of academic texts, including argumentation, problem-solution, cause-effect, and contrasting viewpoints. 

  2. Learners will identify conventions of academic communication, including the use of evidence, supporting details, linking devices, and appropriate academic vocabulary. 

  3. Learners will identify the distinction between factual information, interpretation, and opinion in spoken and written academic discourse. 

 

Skills

 

  1. Learners will comprehend and critically interpret complex authentic academic texts and spoken presentations, identifying main ideas, supporting details, purpose, and viewpoints. 

  2. Learners will use reading strategies such as skimming, scanning, inference, prediction, and selective use of reference sources to locate and interpret relevant information efficiently. 

  3. Learners will navigate empirical research articles to identify and extract key information, including research purpose, methodology, findings, and conclusions. 

  4. Learners will synthesize, summarize, and report information and arguments from multiple spoken and written sources. 

  5. Learners will develop and communicate clear, coherent, and well-supported arguments in spoken and written English. 

  6. Learners will participate effectively in academic discussions and presentations, expressing viewpoints, responding to others, and considering alternative perspectives. 

  7. Learners will produce structured academic texts using appropriate organization, vocabulary, grammar, linking words, and cohesive devices. 

  8. Learners will communicate with increasing fluency and spontaneity in academic and real-life interactions with speakers of English. 

  9. Learners will mediate information effectively by summarizing complex texts, presenting different perspectives, and proposing solutions or compromises.  

 

Values

 

  1. Learners will develop a critical and evidence-based approach to evaluating information, arguments, and claims. 

  2. Learners will develop openness to diverse perspectives and cultural viewpoints through collaborative discussion and academic communication. 

  3. Learners will value clear, responsible, and academically ethical communication, including appropriate use and integration of information from sources. 

 

Course grade              

The final course grade consists of 60% class grade and 40% final exam. A passing grade is a minimum of 60. The class grade is based on a series of assignments completed throughout the semester as follows:

Class Assessment

Global reading quiz based on a long article

20%

Empirical research quiz (individual)

Teaching should involve at least one complete empirical research article, not only an abstract. It is essential for students to engage with the full article. 

15%

End-of-semester sample exam                          

20%

End-of-semester sample exam                          

15%

Oral presentation (3-5 minutes long, group or individual, delivered frontally in class) with reference to academic sources (obligatory)

Each student has to speak for 3-5 minutes (whether individually or within a group). Individual presentations must involve reference to at least one academic article; group presentations must involve reference to more than one article and/or other academic sources. 

10%

 

Other communicative language activities* integrating reception, production, interaction, and mediation (involving the four skills). 

Examples: 

-   analytical or critical written responses to academic articles, videos, or podcasts;

-   group discussions, mini-presentations and debates;

-   integrated listening-reading-writing tasks;

-   collaborative activities involving engagement with empirical research articles or other advanced academic input

-   activities involving strategic and well-considered experimentation with AI (formative assessment)

20%

 

Final exam (40%)

The final exam is a two-hour session that includes two parts: 

  • Global reading section – a text of 3000 words accompanied by global reading questions.

  • Research-focused section – an abstract from an empirical research article, followed by research-based comprehension questions.

 

Use of off-line dictionaries is allowed during the exam. 

Dictionaries that translate sentences are not allowed. 

 

Exam duration: 2 hours

 

Course requirements

  • Attendance and active participation in class sessions

  • Successful completion of class assignments, quizzes and homework

  • Final exam

 

Prerequisites

Successful completion of the Advanced A course or a psychometric grade of 120-133. 

 

Bibliography: Up-to-date reading, viewing, and listening content items

  • Authentic academic articles / talks posted on the Lamda platform.