The latvian academy of culture

The Name of the Course: Speciality Language

The Scope of the Course: The course is organised by the way of practical classes. 256 academic hours are envisaged within the framework of the course to acquire the corresponding speciality language in an integrated manner in Year 1 and 2 in Term 1-4.
16 credit points. Type of Assessment – an examination at the end of Term 1, a test at the end of Term 2, and examination at the end of Term 3 and a final examination at the end of Term 4. The final examination is evaluated by the examination commission (see Regulations).

The Author of the Course: Lecturer E.Meija, MA, D.Volkinšteine, I.Baiže, A.Vaišle

Preconditions for the Acquisition of the Course: The knowledge in the speciality language at the secondary school level.

The Content of the Course: The objective of the course of the speciality language is to develop communication skills and acquire the knowledge of the corresponding speciality language at the level that is necessary to comply with the requirements of the Final Examination, i.e., the development and mastering of communication skills in all four types of language operations: listening, reading, speaking and writing. The main language activity skills have to be acquired at the upper intermediate level and the following communicative and socio-cultural competences have to be achieved:

Communicative competence
Ability to use the language freely and accurately, to receive and provide the necessary information
Listening	Reading	Speaking
Ability to comprehend and understand authentic speech and necessary information that relates to oneself, the surrounding environment, the cultural world and the area of the speciality to be acquired both in general and in detail.	Ability to read and comprehend various types of intermediate texts that relate to oneself, the surrounding environment, the cultural world and the speciality to be acquired.	Ability to take part in a talk or discussion by using appropriate language registers for the situation. Ability to use the conversational language within the framework of the daily needs. Ability to provide arguments about issues that relate to oneself, the surrounding environment, the cultural world and the speciality.
Writing Ability to provide the necessary information to fill in various forms, to write simple personal and business litters, e.g., greeting cards, invitations, requests, a motivation letter, applications, CV (short and expanded) and others.	Socio-cultural competence Ability to understand and accept the common and distinct features in cultural phenomena and stereotypes of various countries.	Independence and responsibility in the study process Ability to use preliminary knowledge. Ability to use auxiliary material. Ability to do individual research in a form of projects and presentations about general themes of culture of one’s speciality.

Thematic Planning:

Term	Contents, Themes and Skills to be Acquired	Type of classes and hours
1	Term 1: the revision and consolidation of the main grammar and lexical material of the secondary school course: Grammar: the noun - declension, the formation of the plural, definite and indefinite articles, their application; the adjective - the degrees of comparison, the verb – conjugation, the principal forms, the formation of tenses and their application; modal verbs; pronouns; prepositions. Types of sentences; word order in various types of sentences. Negative sentences. Topics: Getting introduced, an interview, the choice of one’s occupation, studies. Travelling, one’s native country and foreign countries, difficulties in a foreign country and how to overcome them. The common and diverse features in the generally accepted standards, food traditions in various countries, international cuisine. The acquisition of the speciality language – the previous experience, problems and their solutions in the process of the acquisition of the language; objectives and methodology of learning foreign languages; the attitude towards one’s mistakes and their correction; an insight into various levels of the language (e.g., in the terminology of various specialities). Scholarships for studies abroad, proposals for their organisation and application. What must be known and observed when going to the country of the corresponding speciality language? An insight into the other countries where people communicate in the corresponding speciality language, the peculiarities of their culture (and language). Environment – styles of living and styles of the interior in the past and today. Writing: greeting cards, short letters (invitations and others).	32
2	Reading, translation and other activities with texts (on general and specific themes connected with the speciality) at the level of gradually increasing difficulty. The development and mastering of conversational language skills. Grammar: the verb - passive voice; verbs and prepositions, the subjunctive and narrative mood and their formation and application; adjectives - their declension; particles – their meaning and application; interrogative pronouns. Types of subordinate clauses their formation, application and word order. Topics: The general characteristics of the country/countries of the corresponding speciality language: the preparation and presentation of the information of geographic, political, economic and statistic character. The employment of the population, their income and the standards of living in various countries, the life costs, the food. International trade, economic problems, an insight into a specific character of business conversations. Human relationships, conventions, taboos, problems in relationships, the reasons of incomprehension, the possible solutions with the help of the means of language; the norms of politeness, feelings, means of their expression. Leisure activities, hobbies, spheres of interests, possibilities of entertainment; cultural life: literature, art, the theatre, cabaret, the cinema and music in the country of the corresponding speciality language. Musicals as a rather new and popular type of stage art. “Between two cultures” – languages, a multi-language situation, the mutual influence and development of languages, foreign words, language registers in the speciality language, the forms of communication, an insight into the most recent trends of the development of the language. Writing: A report on the theme “Culture”.	32
3	The acquisition and expansion of vocabulary related to one’s speciality; the mastering of lexical and grammatical knowledge and communicative skills in accordance with the requirements of the study programme: oral and written presentations, writing of business letters and others. Grammar: the verb- the expression of a certain/ uncertain assumption (with modal verbs) perfect infinitive; the nominal group; adjectives and adverbs to characterise human traits and feelings; types of participles the application; particles; the use of impersonal pronouns; polysemy and the use of specific verbs. Topics: The self-image and a look from aside, opinions, prejudices, associations about other countries and their people, tolerance towards other people and nationalities and their individual peculiarities. Beauty in the course of centuries – the ideals of beauty and their development in art and architecture, styles of art and architecture and their characteristics. The most popular schools of art and music and their representatives in the country/countries of the speciality language. Distance and closeness in human relationships. The significance of gestures in various cultures. Future perspectives and forecasts. The tendencies and movements of western communities today, the ecological problems and nature protection, the gender equality movement and others. Books and literature as a culture bridge; the most famous writers and poets of the countries of the corresponding speciality language. Book fairs. Reports and information in the press, types of narration and variants of interpretation of events. The key principles of business communication. Types of business letters. What has to be observed in business communication? Writing: A report on the theme “Styles in Art and Architecture”. Business letters.	32
4	The revision of the most important themes. The Final Examination. Grammar: the verb and its links with prepositions, peculiarities of the use of specific verbs, indirect speech, the subjunctive mood. Types of negative sentences. The revision of the most important themes. Topics: Upbringing and education, studies, the problems of universities. The system of education in the country/countries of the speciality language. CV (expanded and a tabloid for, a narrated form) types of applications. Work at the foreign language, different types of translation and their peculiarities and specific character, difficulties in translation. Writing: Personal CV (expanded and in a tabloid form) a letter of application.	32

III.Literature:

The German Language:

• 
  G. Mebus, A. Pauldrach, M. Rall, D. Rösler 1992. "Sprachbrücke. Deutsch als Fremdsprache" Kursbuch Teil l; Teil 2, Arbeitsbuch Teil l (Lektionen 9 - 15); Teil 2, Cassetten. Klett Edition Deutsch: München.
  
• 
  1992 "Wechselspiel". Sprechanlässe für die Partnerarbeit im kommunikativen Deutschunterricht. Berlin: Langenscheidt.
  
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  Cl. Bahlmann, E. Breindl u. a. 1998 "Unterwegs - Lehrwerk für üie Mittelstufe Deutsch als Fremdsprache", Kursbuch, Arbeitsbuch, Lehrerhandbuch, Cassetten Beilin; Langenscheidt.
  
• 
  M. Perlmann - Balme, S. Schwalb u. a. 1999 "em - Abschlusskurs" Deutsch als Fremdsprache für die Mittelstufe. 2 Cassetten. Ismaning: Max Hueber Verlag.
  
• 
  J. Orth - Chambah, M. Perlmann - Balme, S. Schwalb 1999 "em -Abschlusskurs" Deutsch als Fremdsprache für die Mittelstufe - Arbeitsbuch. Ismaning: Max Hueber Verlag.
  
• 
  "Papa, Charly hat gesagt" 1992. Text- und Arbeitsbuch, Cassette. Berlin: Langenscheidt.
  
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  "Kulturelles Leben in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland". 1992. Bonn, München: Inter Nationes.
  
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  "Tatsachen über Deutschland". 1997. (Kultur, Theater, Literatur, Film u.a.) Societäts - Verlag
  
• 
  Aktuālā periodika.
  

The French Language:

• 
  Capelle G., Gidon N. 1995. Le Nouvel Espaces 1. Paris: Hachette, (l. kurss)
  
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  Dominique P., Girardet J., Verdelkan M. 1989. Le Nouveau sans Frontiers 2. Paris: Clé International. (2. kurss)
  
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  Les Langues vivantes: apprendre, enseigner, évaluer. 1996. Conseil de l'Europe: Strasbourg: Langues Vivantes.
  
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  Periodikas izdevumi: Francijas preses materiāli: Le Monde, Paris Match, Okapi.
  
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  Video materiāli: Capelle G., Raasch A. 1986. Avec plaisir 1., 2. Paris: Hachette.
  
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  Espace des Français. Paris: Clé International.
  

The English Language:

• 
  Storry M.,. Childs P. 1997. "British Cultural Identities". London
  
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  Tiersky E., Chernoff M. 1993. "In the News". Illinois USA.
  
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  Adams Th. W. 1994. "Attitudes Through Idioms" . USA: Heinle & Heinle Publishers.
  
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  "The Individual in Society" Issues in English. 1997. Riga: Jumava, Vilnius: Alma Littera, Tallin: Tea.
  
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  Prodromon L. 1998. "First Certificate Star Student's Book, Practice Book". Maximilian Heinemann.
  
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  Eastwood J. 1999. "Oxford Practice Grammar". Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  
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  Mascull B. 1998. "Key Words in the Media". Harper Collins Publishers Ltd. 0
  
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  Wellman G. 1992. "The Heinemann English Wordbuilder". Heinemann International.
  

Periodicals: Scanorama.

• 
  Kingsbury R., Wellman G. 1986. "Longman Advanced English" (main textbook) Longman Group Limited.
  
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  Junes L. 1991. "Cambridge Advanced English". Cambridge University Press.
  
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  Jones L. 1981. "Functions of English". Cambridge University Press.
  
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  Soars J., L. 1994. "Headway Advanced" (main textbook). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  
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  Foley M., Hall D. 1998. "Distinction". Longman.
  
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  Teacher-prepared materials, cassettes.