Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia

Vice President for Academic Issues and Research

Syllabus Subject English B1+, Code 900004

1. Course information

Faculty or unit the course belongs to: Vicerrectoría Académica y de

Investigación VIACI
Academic degree level: Profesional
Time credits: 3
The course Can not be retested by a
remedial work
Course updater: Yenny Parrado
Course development date: martes, 28
de enero de 2020
Academic program: Interdisciplinar
Básico Común
Course type: Metodológico
Course designer: Yenny Parrado
Course update date: viernes, 24 de
abril de 2020

Course description: The course is located within the training component in foreign
language-English and it is oriented to the development of communication skills that
allow the training of suitable professionals to perform in bilingual scenarios, generated
by the accelerated processes of the globalization of the contemporary to which the
UNAD must respond from the perspective of education with global quality.

The English course B1+ of three (3) credits, is methodological that includes the
theoretical and practical part through which communication skills are strengthened:
reading, writing, listening and oral expression with explanations, interactive exercises
and continuous tutoring, accompaniment synchronously and asynchronously, to
ensure meaningful learning. In accordance with the above, the English course B1+ is
part of the foreign language component present in the curricular guidelines of the
academic programs of UNAD.

The course includes independent study and tutorial accompaniment, for a total of 144
hours of academic work, distributed in 96 hours of independent study, 48 hours of
tutorial accompaniment.

2. Academic training purpose:

The course´s academic training purpose is:

 • Develop the student's communicative skills in the English language in order the
student can understand and use a standard language on familiar topics such as
work, study, leisure activities, etc. Similarly, the student can obtain and provide
information to others on issues related to the environment, using idiomatic
expressions.

3. Learning´s outcomes:

At the end of the academic course, the student will be able to show:

Learning´s outcomes: 1– To identify weaknesses and skills in the management of the

English language by means of the online pre-knowledge task in order to establish
study techniques to reinforce language skills.

Learning´s outcomes: 2– To write a composition in English using correct grammar,

vocabulary, punctuation and everyday expressions according to the level of the
course.

Learning´s outcomes: 3–To recognize and apply the knowledge, grammatical

structures and vocabulary studied in the content units by means of the presentation
of an online task within level A1 in accordance with the Common European Framework
of Reference.

Learning´s outcomes: 4–To express orally in English, using verbs consistent with
grammar time and use of connectors that articulate and give meaning to the discourse
in everyday conversations.

Learning´s outcomes: 5–To identify main and secondary ideas of readings and write
compositions using everyday vocabulary and expressions, which should be shared on
a Wix page.

Learning´s outcomes: 6– To reflect and assess academic performance based on the

development of the tasks proposed in the course.

Learning´s outcomes: 7– To evidence through the presentation of an online task, the

proper use of grammar, vocabulary and topics presented in the three units of the
content of level B1 of the course.
 4. Learning strategy:

The course´s learning strategic is: based on tasks. This strategy based on: the
accomplishment of “… of previous tasks to get at the main task that is composed of
three stages, the preparation, the task itself and the report and finally the subsequent
tasks of analysis of the language and practice”.

According to Nunan (Nunan as cited in Recino & Lufer, 2010, p. 5), a task is “(…) any
type of classroom work that involves students in the understanding, manipulation,
production or interaction in the target language ; while his attention is focused on
meaning rather than form. The task must also have a sense of completion and
fulfillment that can be identified as a communicative act proper”.

The learning strategy is settled in:

• 1– Task : I -Pre-Task. Prior Knowlege Assessment

• 2– Task : II - Focus on the language. Writing Production
• 3– Task : III- Focus on the form. Online English Test
• 4– Task : VI - Central task. Speaking Production
• 5– Task : V – Technology Production. Technology development Production
• 6– Task : VI – Feedback and Reflection. Course Self - Assessment
• 7– Task : VII - Focus on the meaning. Final exam

5. Course´s Contents and bibliography

Unit 1: Express polite opinions

At this unit you will study these academic contents:

• Módulo 7: Manage interactions (interrupting - changing the topic). Express

polite opinions.
• Módulo 8: Manage interaction: Expressing active listening, resuming,
continuing. Develop active listening skills. Understand and give simple
directions. Ask for and give advice.
To deal with topics of this subject, it is recommended to look up the following
bibliographic references:

UNAD, INVIL English (2020). Unit 1-7: Manage interactions (1). Inglés B1+. Taken
from: https://ebooks.unad.edu.co/INVIL_V5/Ingles/templates/Level3/module-
7/?ord_id=2

UNAD, INVIL English (2020). Unit 1-8: Manage interactions (2). Inglés B1+. Taken
from: https://ebooks.unad.edu.co/INVIL_V5/Ingles/templates/Level3/module-
8/?ord_id=2

Unit 2: State a position

At this unit you will study these academic contents:

• Módulo 9: Critique and review different kind of texts. State a position. Listen to
and respond to arguments.
• Módulo 10: Describe experiences. Organize stories and personal anecdotes.

To deal with topics of this subject, it is recommended to look up the following

bibliographic references:

UNAD, INVIL English (2020). Unit 2-9: Critique and review different kind of texts.
Inglés B1+. Taken from:
https://ebooks.unad.edu.co/INVIL_V5/Ingles/templates/Level3/module-9/?ord_id=2

UNAD, INVIL English (2020). Unit 2-10: Describe experiences. Inglés B1+. Taken
from: https://ebooks.unad.edu.co/INVIL_V5/Ingles/templates/Level3/module-
10/?ord_id=2
Unit 3: Relate present and future
At this unit you will study these academic contents:

• Módulo 11: Describe hope and plans. Talk about abstract themes. Relate present
with future.
• Módulo 12: Develop an argument. Present a main topic and support ideas in an
argument. Understand the logics of argumentation.

To deal with topics of this subject, it is recommended to look up the following

bibliographic references:

UNAD, INVIL English (2020). Unit 3-11: Describe hope and plans. Inglés B1+. Taken
from: https://ebooks.unad.edu.co/INVIL_V5/Ingles/templates/Level3/module-
11/?ord_id=2

UNAD, INVIL English (2020). Unit 3-12: Develop an argument. Inglés B1+. Taken
from: https://ebooks.unad.edu.co/INVIL_V5/Ingles/templates/Level3/module-
12/?ord_id=2

This OVI shows the correct use of “If conditionals" which are usually used to consider
imagined or uncertain situations and the possible results of these situations.
Gobronidze L. (2018). Taken from: http://hdl.handle.net/10596/22447

6. Settings of academic’s activities by weeks

Initial moment:

Task 1: Prior Knowlege Assessment

It is developed from week 1 to week 2
Agree to learning´s outcomes:1

The activities are: Answer 15 questions where the student's previous knowledge is
evaluated upon starting at the course in order to verify the level with which they begin.
Intermediate moment

Task 2: Writing Production

It is developed from week 3 to week 8
Agree to learning´s outcomes:2
The activities are: Work in the collaborative forum of written production.

Task 3: Online English Test.

It is developed from week 3 to week 8
Agree to learning´s outcomes:3
The activities are: Submit online task which assesses the knowledge acquired
corresponding to Unit 1 and 2 of the course.

Task 4: Speaking Production.

It is developed from week 3 to week 8
Agree to learning´s outcomes:4
The activities are: Synchronous Skype meeting with the tutor. Video production in the
collaborative forum.

Task 5: Technology development Production

It is developed from week 3 to week 8
Agree to learning´s outcomes:5
The activities are: Collaborative work in the creation of Wix page and writing
Production.

Task 6: Course Self - Assessment

It is developed from week 3 to week 8
Agree to learning´s outcomes:6
The activities are: Answer online reflection and feedback questions about academic
performance in the development of the tasks proposed in the course.

Final moment

Task 7: Final Exam

It is developed from week 8
Agree to learning´s outcomes:7
The activities are: Submit online task which assesses the topics corresponding to Unit
1 and 2 of the course through a Closed Objective Test and consists of 25 questions.
 7. Monitoring strategy

To develop the activities, you will have an academic monitoring from your professor.
The spaces stablished to have this academic monitoring and interaction are as
follows:

• Virtual Campus email

• Workshop forum
• Skype session
• Webconference and online sessions
• Practice development with remote lab
• In Situ monitoring sessions

8. Course´s evaluation plan

Initial moment evaluation

Task 1: Prior Knowlege Assessment

Agree to learning´s outcomes:1
The evaluation standards are (Criterion): Knowledge of topics in previous levels
The learning evidences are: Automatic online score.

This standard represents 25 points of the task, corresponds to 5% of the course´s

evaluation.

Intermediate moment evaluation:

Task 2: Writing Production

Agree to learning´s outcomes:2
The evaluation standards are (Criterion): To give answer of some questions in written
way.
The learning evidences are: a written work
Task higher score: 90 points

Task 3: Online English Test

Agree to learning´s outcomes:3
The evaluation standards are (Criterion): Study of the Unit 1 and Unit 2
The learning evidences are: Automatic online score.
Task higher score: 90 points

Task 4: Speaking Production

Agree to learning´s outcomes:4
The evaluation standards are (Criterion): To present an interview with the tutor and
to create a video.
The learning evidences are: Interview and video
Task higher score: 70 points

Task 5: Technology development Production

Agree to learning´s outcomes:5
The evaluation standards are (Criterion): To create a page on wix.
The learning evidences are: A virtual page.
Task higher score: 70 points

Task 6: Course Self - Assessment

Agree to learning´s outcomes:6
The evaluation standards are (Criterion): Reflection on the learning process.
The learning evidences are: Automatic online score.
Task higher score: 30 points

The higher score of this evaluation moment corresponds to 70% of the course (350
points).

Final moment evaluation:

Task 7: Final Exam

Agree to learning´s outcomes:7
The evaluation standards are (Criterion): Study of the Unit 1, Unit 2 and Unit 3.
The learning evidences are: Automatic online score.
Task higher score: 125 points

This standard represents 125 points of the task, corresponds to 25% of the course´s
evaluation.