106114 - ENGLISH

Subject type: Basic

Coordinator: Juan José Pons López

Trimester: First term

Credits: 6

Academic year: 2024

Teaching course: 1

• English

This course introduces the student to the world of video games and their terminology in English. The student prepares for future professional development in English: both with written and oral communication. Students will be required to write texts related to video games, develop their own video game concept and present it to the rest of the class and record a Let 's Play Video with comments. They will be free to choose the video game they want to work on.

There will also be additional activities to assimilate new vocabulary, videos and documentaries about the sector will be viewed and commented on, and grammar exercises such as fill the gaps, rephrasing, concordance, etc. will be carried out. The system of continuous evaluation will be used, that is to say, the final note of the student will depend to a large extent of the exercises and activities realized during the asignatura. It is not possible to pass this subject only by taking the final exam.

The classroom (physical or virtual) is a safe space, free of sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic and discriminatory attitudes, either towards students or towards teachers. We trust that together we can create a safe space where we can make mistakes and learn without having to suffer prejudice from others. 

1. Game analysis (Game Reviews) - Reading comprehension - Written expression

1. Reading comprehension of video game articles
2. Assimilation of the part of grammar and basic phonetics that are relevant
3. Familiarization with the terminology and style used
4. Ability to adopt a critical attitude about the specific characteristics of a game
5. Improvement of the editorial level to carry out this type of writing

 2. Presentation of a video game project (Game Concept Presentation) - Oral expression

1. Writing and elaboration of the presentation of a video game project developed by the students themselves
2. Assimilation of environment-related terminology and vocabulary
3. Familiarization with the usual style and vocabulary used in this type of presentation
4. Improving basic knowledge on how to make an effective oral presentation
5. Improving written skills to prepare a presentation document, and oral skills for presentation
6. Conceptual art design to include in the presentation (optional)
7. Design of levels and characters to include in the presentation (optional)
8. Development and explanation of the history of the game, its mechanics, etc.
9. Ability to define and explain the history of the game, the genre, the mechanics, the characters, the monetization system, etc.
10. Ability to answer questions that other students may have at the end of the presentation

3. Interviews / Documentaries of the sector - Oral comprehension

1. Understanding of audiovisual content
2. Familiarization with the most common terminology in the video game industry
3. Knowledge of grammar and vocabulary to be able to communicate effectively in certain everyday situations and specific to the sector
4. Perception of the working reality of the video game industry

4. Let’s Play (LP) and other audiovisual material - Oral comprehension - Oral expression

1. Oral comprehension of different informal videos posted by players on YouTube about live game games and commented on simultaneously (Let's play)
2. Familiarization with a less conventional context and comparison with the styles found in game guides or reviews
3. Assimilation of jokes and more informal terminology: essential ingredients for making a viral LP
4. Assimilation of the grammar and vocabulary needed to be able to make and publish this type of recording
5. Assimilation of technical knowledge and use of software necessary to record and publish video on the Internet

The final grade of the course will be obtained from the following weighting:

A1. Exercise in class: Reading and analysis of reviews real 5%

A2. Work at home: Delivery of an original (critical) analysis 10%

A3. Work at home: Presentation of a video game project (Game Concept Presentation) 10%

A4. Exercise in class: Visualization and commentary of interviews / documentaries on referents of the sector 5%

A5. Exercise in class: Additional comprehension and oral expression activities 5%

A6. Exercise in class: Visualization of Let's Plays 5%

A7. Work at home: Creating a Let's play original 10%

A8. Final exam 50%

Final Note = A1 x 0.05 + A2 x 0.10 + A3 x 0.10 + A4 x 0.05 + A5 x 0.05 + A6 x 0.05 + A7 x 0.10 + A8 x 0.50

Considerations:

• It is necessary to obtain a mark higher than 5 in the final exam / equivalent test to pass the subject.

• An activity not delivered or delivered late and without justification (court summons or medical matter) counts as a 0.

• It is the student's responsibility to avoid plagiarism in all its forms. In the case of detecting plagiarism, regardless of its scope, in some activity it will correspond to having a grade of 0. In addition, the professor will communicate the situation to the head of department so that applicable measures can be taken in terms of disciplinary regime.

Recovery

It is necessary to obtain a mark higher than 5 in the final exam / equivalent test of recovery to pass the subject. The activities carried out in class will not be able to recover, will only allow the delivery of works realized in house no presented, the works presented will not be able to realize again and the note of the examination of recovery will do average with all of them with the same percentages.

Rules for carrying out the activities

• The vehicular and only language of this subject will be English, and it will be used obligatorily as much to give the classes as to participate in class and to realize the activities demanded without exception. It will also be used for any written communication with the teacher, both by email and by any other means. Repeated and intentional use of another language may be penalized.

Hewings, M. (2005). Advanced grammar in use: a self-study reference and practice book for advanced learners of English; with answers. Ernst Klett Sprachen.

Anthropy, Anna and Clark, Naomi (2014). Exploring the Foundational Principles Behind Good Game Design. Addison-Wesley Professional

Fernández-Vara, Clara. (2024). Introduction to Game Analysis. Routledge.

Skolnick, Evan. (2014). Video Game Storytelling. Berkeley: Watson-Guptill Publications.

Adams, Ernest. (2014). Fundamentals of Game Design. Addison Wesley.

Bogost, Ian (2015). How to Talk about Videogames. University of Minnesota Press.

Taylor, TL (2018). Watch Me Play: Twitch and the Rise of Game Live Streaming. Princeton University Press. 

Egenfeldt-Nielsen, Simon, Heide Smith, Jonas, and Pajares Tosca, Susana. (2020). Understanding Video Games: The Essential Introduction. Routledge.