Interactive Competence in Dutch : Academic Dutch [ LGERM2730 ]

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Proficiency in Dutch of an 'ìndependent user' (B2+ in terms of CEFRL).

1. Enlargement of vocabulary : qualitative and quantitative development of the academic vocabulary that is necessary in professional and academic life.

2. Improvement of writing skills : development of lexical and linguistic instruments that are necessary for understanding long and complex academic texts and for the production of clearly, fluently, and well structured texts.
3.improvement of speaking skills : development of the ability to give presentations in professional and academic life and to formulate ideas and opinions with precision.

To develop a conversational competence in Dutch at the level of " proficient user " in the four skills. The course has the aim to sensitise the student for the different variants of using Dutch. The course corresponds to the level C1/C2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL). We explore especially the registers of spoken and written academic Dutch.

The student will be able :
- to understand complicated texts, i.e. texts that contain academic argumentation and meanings that are not signaled explicity (only implied meanings).
- to participate efficiently in conversations in his social, professional and academic life.
- to express himself in clear, well-structured texts on academic topics, using academic vocabulary in coherent discourse.
- to follow complex presentations/talks, also if they are not cleary structured.

Continuous evaluation through group work and personal work and final evaluation by means of a written exam.

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At the beginning, we will focus on the development of the vocabulary of professional and academic Dutch. Two types of vocabularies will be developed: a general professional and academic vocabulary, and a specific professional and academic vocabulary as it is used in professional, academic and scientific texts.

In a second step, we will turn to discourse and linguistic skills that are necessary to understand complex texts and discourse at the academic level and to write professional and academic texts.

Different kinds of excercises will be used to improve the conversational competence, the ability to give presentations and the stylistic academic competence.

Syllabus L. Beheydt (2005) Academisch Nederlands.

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