Dear L2 students,
I hope this email finds you well in the context of this brand new organization. I am sorry for this late message, I was waiting for the L2 coordinator's instructions.
Tomorrow only half of the class will attend the tutorial. The other half will have to post
the vocabulary and grammar exercises
on the EPI by the end of the week on the dedicated file : Chapter Companies: vocabulary and grammar exercises. You can post in PDF or word or JPEG format (a simple photo of your exercises will work). You can post your exercises until this Saturday. This will not be marked per se but will count as part of your class participation mark.
I was delighted to read your short presentations and to get to know you better. Thank you very much for your trust and thank you for your participation in class. I am thrilled at the prospect of working with you.
With the novelty of the hybrid system, the schedule of our English tutorials slightly changes:
- the mid-term exam is cancelled as it was meant to be (the comprehension, vocabulary, grammar exercises were scheduled on week 5 and the essay writing on week 6 or 7). The mid-term exam will take place on week 8 for group 2 and week 7 for group 1. It will only be a 30-minute essay writing at the start of the class. I will post online some essay writing guidelines to help you.
- the final exam will still include comprehension, vocabulary, grammar exercises and an essay writing. It will take place on week 10 for group 2 and week 11 for group 1; in other words, on the last and the second to last weeks of the semester.
- the oral presentations which were originally to be held in class on week 8 and 9, were meant to be on two case studies. I will post online the instructions for the oral presentations in the coming days. Basically, you will have two oral presentations : one on a company case study (p. 92 of your textbook) which you might present either in pairs or individually (we still have to decide) and another one on a case study on mergers & acquisitions (in groups). These should be due for week 8. You will send me the recorded video by email or by wetransfer. If you can't meet with your comrades to record the video, you could either create a zoom meeting and record it (which means you should also be able to share your screen for example and provide powerpoints along your presentations) or record different videos. You will be graded on the content of the meeting, the vocabulary and grammar used, and the strength of your arguments. You will not be graded on the creativity of the video. Do not hesitate to make it simply with a smartphone and simple table with groups discussing at or even individuals. Basically, you do not have to learn video-editing software.
- You will get pieces of homework EACH week. Sometimes, I will give you unmarked short essay writings (200 words) to improve your English level. These will not be marked but it will count for the class participation grade at the end of the semester. Normally, you will have exercises to prepare for the week you stay at home and debates to prepare for the week in class. Please continue to learn the vocabulary and the definitions as we will start the next tutorials with the taboo game.
- Therefore, you'll have 3 grades for the continuous assessment: class participation (meaning participation in class, plus at a distance, and exercises to hand in, even though they aren't marked), the mid-term essay writing, the oral presentation. And you'll have a grade for the final exam.
I imagine the situation is particularly stressful for you. I really want to help you avoid switching off this semester. This is why I ask you to post your exercises online when you are at a distance and to prepare debates at home. This is not to play bad cop; I am here to help you improve your fluency in English.
In class, I want you to feel comfortable and at ease to exchange in English as we'll focus on speaking. This is the advantage of small groups! When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, as the saying goes, thus let's make the best of this situation together.
Besides, I am aware that you had a rambling semester last year. It might be difficult for you to go back to business. Please, let me know how you feel, in case you feel overwhelmed by homework for example.
I hope this is crystal clear for you. Should you have any queries, I remain at your disposal.
I wish you good luck for this week.
Best wishes,
Marie-Pierre Vincent