This course will focus on the language of legal discourse in various areas of English law. You will deal with a variety of topics from both civil law and the criminal justice system (e.g. the civil and criminal courts, the legal profession, contract law, the jury system, the elements of the crime, analysis of various offences). While all language skills are practised, the focus is on reading and speaking. As home assignment, you will prepare a short case presentation. A lot of effort will be put into boosting the range of vocabulary, with a special focus on the adequate use of legal language. Grammar practice will be remedial. The Leistungsnachweis will be awarded on the basis of regular and active participation and the final tests in reading/ writing, speaking and vocabulary/ grammar.

This course is designed to improve students’ reading, speaking, listening and writing skills. Students will expand their knowledge of academic vocabulary as well as learn how to organise and write an essay in an academic register.  There will also be ample opportunity to improve their speaking skills through regular pair and group work.

Students will be expected to give a presentation on a subject of their choice, which will be graded. Credit will also be obtained on the basis of successful completion of the final exam, which will consist of reading and listening comprehension tests as well as an essay. All four skills will be equally weighted in the final grade.

In order to receive a Leistungsnachweis, students will need to attend at least 75% of the course as well as completing the presentation and test to the required standard.

This course is designed to develop all four language skills: namely: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. With regard to listening, the focus will be on listening for gist as well as for specific information. Formal discussions, debating, spontaneous speaking and presentations will be the main areas concentrated on during the speaking sections.  In reading, the focus is on comprehension, vocabulary development and reading rate.  In writing, the emphasis will be on sentence structure, paragraph organization and the use of formal vocabulary. The Leistungsnachweis will be awarded on the basis of regular and active participation as well as successful completion of the final test. The test will take place on the Monday of the last week and will consist of listening and vocabulary sections. The final grade will additionally contain a speaking component, based on the course participant’s performance in class over the duration of the course and a short class presentation to be done during the course.