MODULE OVERVIEW
You want to land your new dream job in an engineering company. You know it’s tough to go through the selection process, but you’re determined to work on presenting yourself as the best candidate. This module consists of 3 tasks, each ending with a real-life task and a progress test and one summative test.
The table below provides a general guide to the module, indicating the main learning objectives in terms of genres, skills, language and intercultural competence. Specific descriptors based on the CEFR have been included for each of the tasks. The source of these descriptors is the ACPEL bank of descriptors (Academic and Professional European Language Portfolio) which have been specifically designed for engineering students:
https://www.etsist.upm.es/uploaded/110/Banco%20de%20descriptores.pdf
You can also download this document from here.
MODULE 1: Landing your dream job in engineering
Job applications, job interviews and meetings
Duration: 22.5 hrs (9hrs in class, 13.5 hrs out of class)
SCENARIO:
You want to land your new dream job in an engineering company. You know it’s tough to go through the selection process, but you’re determined to work on presenting yourself as the best candidate.
GENRES:
• Job adverts
• Job applications – CV (written and video), cover letters
• Job interviews
• Meetings (formal and informal)
Learning objectives for the whole module:
Level B2 encompasses a broad range of task difficulty ranging from low B2 level to B2+ level. As an introductory module, Module 1 is mainly targeted at a low B2 level.
SKILLS
• Reading: Reading a job advert (e.g. scanning for specific information), CVs and cover letters, company profiles, including informational intercultural competence
• Writing: Writing a CV, cover (application) letter, LinkedIn summary profile
• Speaking interaction: participating in a job interview, participating in a meeting (formal and informal)
• Speaking production: planning and developing a video CV, giving a recruitment pitch
• Listening: video CVs
LANGUAGE
• Vocabulary: vocabulary and phrases/chunks relevant for job ads, CVs, cover letters (terminology, persuasive vocabulary) and job interviews (persuasive vocabulary, levels of formality), vocabulary and phrases/chunks relevant for meetings (formal & informal: e.g. agreeing, disagreeing, interrupting)
• Grammar & Discourse: grammatical and discourse structures relevant for job ads, CVs, cover letters and job interviews (e.g. typical moves), grammatical and discourse structures used in meetings (formal & informal: e.g. hedging, politeness)
• Pronunciation: practicing comprehensible pronunciation on B1/B2 level (for video CVs, job interviews, meetings)
GENRES
• Job adverts
• Job applications – CV (written and video), cover letters
• Job interviews
• Meetings (formal and informal)
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE (IC):
• IC features of CVs, cover letters and job interviews
• IC features of (formal) meetings
VIRTUAL REALITY: two activities in this module, one at the end of Task 2, one at the end of Task 3
LEAD-IN
Objectives:
• Students are aware of important elements and potential pitfalls in job applications and job interviews.
Skills/Language/genres
Skills (ACPEL descriptors)
(no listening/spoken interaction descriptors, since interview most likely not in L2)
Writing:
• B1 – I can ask for or give […] short simple factual information to friends or colleagues
Genres: Job interviews, cover letters, CVs
TASK 1: Job applications
Learning objectives for TASK 1:
SKILLS
READING (for job ads, cover letters):
o B1 – I can understand texts that consist mainly of high frequency everyday or job-related language. I can understand the description of events, feelings and wishes in personal letters.
o B2 – I can read articles and reports concerned with contemporary problems in which the writers adopt particular attitudes or viewpoints. I can understand contemporary literary prose
WRITING (for cover letters, written CVs, online profiles:
o B1 – I can write simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest. I can write personal letters describing experiences and impressions
o B2 – I can write simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest. I can write personal letters describing experiences and impressions I can write simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest. I can write personal letters describing experiences and impressions.
LISTENING (for watching videos, in-class discussions):
o B1- I can understand the main points of clear standard speech on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. I can understand the main point of many radio or TV programmes on current affairs or topics of personal or professional interest when the delivery is relatively slow and clear.
o B2 – I can understand extended speech and lectures and follow even complex lines of argument provided the topic is reasonably familiar. I can understand most TV news and current affairs programmes. I can understand the majority of films in standard dialect
• SPOKEN PRODUCTION (for video CVs):
o B1 – I can present clear, detailed descriptions on a wide range of subjects related to my field of interest. I can explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options (for video CVs)
o B2 – I can present clear, detailed descriptions on a wide range of subjects related to my field of interest. I can explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options (for video CVs)
• SPEAKING INTERACTION: (for in-class discussions)
o B1 – I can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. I can enter unprepared into conversation on topics that are familiar, of personal interest or pertinent to everyday life (e.g. family, hobbies, work, travel and current events).
o B2 – I can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible. I can take an active part in discussion in familiar contexts, accounting for and sustaining my views
LANGUAGE
• Vocabulary: vocabulary and phrases/chunks relevant for job ads, CVs and cover letters
• Grammar & Discourse: grammatical and discourse structures relevant for job ads, CVs and cover letters
• Pronunciation: practicing comprehensible pronunciation on B1/B2 level (for video CVs)
GENRES:
• Job adverts
• Job applications – CV (written and video), online profile, cover letters
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE (IC):
• IC features of CVs, cover letters and job interviews
TASK 2 –JOB INTERVIEW
Learning objectives for TASK 1:
SKILLS
• LISTENING:
o B1 – I can understand the main points of clear standard speech on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. I can understand the main point of many radio or TV programmes on current affairs or topics of personal or professional interest when the delivery is relatively slow and clear.
o B2 – I can understand extended speech and lectures and follow even complex lines of argument provided the topic is reasonably familiar. I can understand most TV news and current affairs programmes. I can understand the majority of films in standard dialect
• SPOKEN PRODUCTION:
o B1 – I can present clear, detailed descriptions on a wide range of subjects related to my field of interest. I can explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options
o B2 – I can present clear, detailed descriptions on a wide range of subjects related to my field of interest. I can explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options
• SPEAKING INTERACTION:
o B1 – I can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. I can enter unprepared into conversation on topics that are familiar, of personal interest or pertinent to everyday life (e.g. family, hobbies, work, travel and current events).
o B2 – I can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible. I can take an active part in discussion in familiar contexts, accounting for and sustaining my views
LANGUAGE
• Vocabulary: vocabulary and phrases/chunks relevant for job interviews
• Grammar & Discourse: grammatical and discourse structures relevant for job interviews
• Pronunciation: practicing comprehensible pronunciation on B1/B2 level
GENRES:
• Job interviews
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE (IC):
• IC features of job interviews
TASK 3: Panel meeting to hire a new project manager
Learning objectives for TASK 2:
SKILLS
• READING:
o B1 – I can understand texts that consist mainly of high frequency everyday or job-related language. I can understand the description of events, feelings and wishes in personal letters.
o B2 – I can read articles and reports concerned with contemporary problems in which the writers adopt particular attitudes or viewpoints. I can understand contemporary literary prose
• WRITING:
o B1 – I can write simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest. I can write personal letters describing experiences and impressions
o B2 – I can write simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest. I can write personal letters describing experiences and impressions I can write simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest. I can write personal letters describing experiences and impressions.
• LISTENING:
o B1 – I can understand the main points of clear standard speech on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. I can understand the main point of many radio or TV programmes on current affairs or topics of personal or professional interest when the delivery is relatively slow and clear.
o B2 – I can understand extended speech and lectures and follow even complex lines of argument provided the topic is reasonably familiar. I can understand most TV news and current affairs programmes. I can understand the majority of films in standard dialect
• SPOKEN PRODUCTION:
o B1 – I can present clear, detailed descriptions on a wide range of subjects related to my field of interest. I can explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options
o B2 – I can present clear, detailed descriptions on a wide range of subjects related to my field of interest. I can explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options
• SPEAKING INTERACTION:
o B1 – I can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. I can enter unprepared into conversation on topics that are familiar, of personal interest or pertinent to everyday life (e.g. family, hobbies, work, travel and current events).
o B2 – I can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible. I can take an active part in discussion in familiar contexts, accounting for and sustaining my views
LANGUAGE
• Vocabulary: vocabulary and phrases/chunks relevant for meetings (formal & informal)
• Grammar & Discourse: grammatical and discourse structures relevant for meetings (formal & informal)
• Pronunciation: practicing comprehensible pronunciation on B1/B2 level
GENRES:
• Meetings (formal & informal)
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE (IC):
• IC features of meetings
FOLLOW-UP/REFLECTION UPON TASKS TO ACTIVATE LEARNING
Reflecting on the job application process (RL-Task 1: cover letter, CVs; RL-Task 2: Job interview)
• Identifying challenges and achievements
• Identifying next learning steps
• Giving advice to peers for their applications