The Portfolio encourages students to engage in a variety of listening and speaking activities in English outside class time. Segments are to be submitted at regular prearranged intervals throughout each semester. Detailed feedback and advice will be given at each stage to aid and improve students language development and acquisition.
The Portfolio forms the basis of possible discussion material in one of
two oral English exams.
Goals: The Portfolio
affords students the opportunity
·
to participate in
a variety of English language listening and speaking contexts consequence
·
to improve both
comprehension and oral expression.
·
to allows
students to reflect on their own proficiency and performance
·
to assess their
language learning development and progression over both semesters.
Structure: Select X
options from the list below and submit the written report of each
listening/speaking experience on the agreed due date.
Remember the portfolio should function as a record of your
speaking/listening activities only. It is not an examination of your essay
writing skills, however you should strive for clear and correct expression
throughout. It acts as written proof of having completed the required
listening/speaking activities and students’ own copy should be brought to the
oral exam to aid memory in discussion of the various options chosen.
Listening/Speaking Options:
1.Interview/discussion with a native speaker
Conduct and record a discussion on a subject of your own choosing with a
native English speaker and transcribe the dialogue. Play back the recording to
your interviewee and discuss both participants performance from both
perspectives of language and content.
Provide a written summary of you and your participants thoughts and reflections
on the recording and the experience in general.
2.Student recording
Using multimedia lab resources (recording facility on Logolab) make
three separate recordings of yourself speaking English. These monologues or
dialogues (possibility of doing this option with another classmate/English
speaker) should be diary style sound portraits on personal reflections,
anecdotes, experiences etc. and should not exceed X minutes. Transcribe and
analyse the type/nature of language used and your own communicative
effectiveness in this listening/speaking exercise.
3.Listening to English language audio-visual source
Film View
an English language film at the cinema (The Rialto, Cinémathèque, the Mercury
etc.). Find an audio review, critique or trailer of this film on the internet,
satellite T.V. radio etc. (good sources: www.npr.com www.bbc.co.net www.cbc.com www.rte.ie)
and record and transcribe your own film
review, referring to any comments or opinions expressed in authentic original
review found.
Video/DVD:View English language film along with the
directors and actors comments which accompany the main feature. Using these
comments reflect and write up your own analysis and evaluation of films
success, impact etc. according to your personal opinion.
Music: choose
singer,
Poetry:
4.Teaching Option
Teach a short oral English lesson in a primary school or collège. This
should be prepared with teacher’s assistance. Write up a report of the
activity, including teacher’s feedback and comments on your performance.
Evaluate and assess this speaking exercise according to personal experience.
5.Local Listening Resources
English Society a. Lecture Series: Give a 15 minute
talk to the English Society Lecture Series on a relevant subject (cross check
with lecteur in advance) on a prearranged date. Should be structured and
well-prepared in advance but by no means read or learned by heart! Summarise
your talk and evaluate audience interest/participation.
b..Social
Event: In conjunction with English Department Lecteurs organise, attend and
participate in a specific social event. Write a report of this event, what
happened, where held, who attended, how it was organised etc. Include an
evaluation of events success and
personal participation.
c.Drama Club: Attend drama club and act in /participate in one of the productions
staged during the year. Write up a report of this experience, detailing both
the duties carried out and your personal evaluation of this experience.
Audio Library: Using materials in BS audio library
practise and record speaking English extracts aloud. Write up report of
experience & comment/contrast your own pronunciation with that of the
native speaker material. You may also work with other classmates evaluating
each others pronunciation performance/technique.
Other Option: Students are welcome to suggest other
ideas for possible English language listening/speaking opportunities in the
locality and outside of the university. Be sure to present this idea to your
lecteur first for approval.
6.Listening/Speaking Log
Keep a recorded audio log of a series of brief listening/speaking
activities. Provide transcripts and give your opinion/observations on which
exercises you found difficult/easy, comfortable/uncomfortable. Evaluate this
language learning experience.
The portfolio is not a test of your written expression, it is instead an
exercise centred on listening and speaking activities. Therefore your written
document should not contain unnecessary background material, irrelevant
ancillary information, pictures or anything directly taken from the internet.
The portfolio functions primarily and solely as a written record of each
listening/speaking experience. Keep a copy to bring with you for the oral exam.
Here are some of the usual guidelines: