English for Architecture and Urban Planning - USB - ID3125
Prof. Dafne González
April - July. 2005

 

 

 

 


A view of Caracas and the Avila Mountain

A modern, harmonic and lively architecture is the visible sign of an authentic democracy.
Walter Gropius

Walking gives you an appreciation for other people. It gives a sense of your personal capacity. Our body delivers us a certain scale.
Santiago Calatrava


Colon Market after remodelling
Valencia, Spain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
colour used for in-text links
colour used for in-text visited links
Pictures in left column are links

 


SYLLABUS OF THE ONLINE COMPONENT

Introduction

This is an online component of the blended course, English for Architecture and Urban Planning, USB, the fifthcourse of the English for Architecture, USB Program at Universidad Simon Bolivar. This course is intended for the practice of the different language abilities which have been introduced in the previous courses while discussing different aspects of Architecture and Urban Planning. The online component was designed to practice reading and writing with some practice in listening authentic material, while the face-to-face component emphasizes the speaking and listening skills. The whole course is designed following the tenets of content-task/project-based instruction.

Objectives

1. Language
At the end of the course students will have practiced

  • vocabulary related to the content
  • reading authentic texts related to the content
  • writing different kinds of texts
  • created a project related to the content
  • listening to and viewing authentic videos
  • Interacting live (online) with guest speakers from different parts of the world

2. Content
At the end of the course students will have discussed about:

  • Architectural elements /Effects: Rhythm, Acoustics
  • Circulation: Horizontal and vertical circulation, sequencies in planning
  • Space: Elements, the formation of exterior spaces, positive and negative space
  • Scale: Human harmonies, the Golden section
  • Structure: The technology of structure
  • Urban Planning: Central and American Urban Civilizations, European urbanism in Caracas, Age and sex structure, Design considerations, Intersections.
  • A literary intermezzo based on "Albert's bridge", a radio-play by Tom Stoppard (Arnold Mühren - guest speaker)
There will be a practical part where students will apply the concepts discussed for analyzing house plans and bridges and Urban Planners will design a program to introduce Urban Planning. Guests speakers will join some of our sessions to interact live with the students.

3. Study Skills
Students will have the opportunity to

  • use different Webtools for learning (web pages, online platforms, blogs, wikis, text and voice chats)
  • work in groups
  • develop collaborative skills
  • develop autonomy in learning through the use of metacognitive skills

Click here for the timetable with the distribution of the content by week

Methodology

The online component of this course has been designed to give certain autonomy and flexibility to the students. The multimedia lab will be our meeting place once a week, especially for students who do not have easy access to computers. However, students are not forced to be in the lab, they can do the activities from other places, and not necessarily at the same time the lab session is taking place. They only need to complete the activities assigned for each week (see Weekly Activities). Students will participate in group work, and these activities can be done at any time the groups decide to meet; in the case of the chat, previous invitation and agreement with the teacher. With the different activities students will develop and practice vocabulary related to the contend while they read authentic texts and listen and view authentic videos. A group of International guests will interact with students synchronously to discuss some of the topics. Students will also be involved in peer and self-assessment of the work done.

Evaluation

The evaluation follows the tenets of Alternative Evaluation. See Asssessment section for details.

References

Guest tutors: Arnold Mühren (Holland),Cora Chen (USA), Teresa Almeida d'Eça (Portugal), Bárbara Chap (Germany), Elisabeth Fernandes (Japan), Rita Zeinstejer (Argentina), Susan Nyrop (Denmark) and Stewart Nelson (Canada). Meet them!

Text: ID3125 Reading Guide (available in Locopiado. Price: Bs. 12.400). Online Resources: see References section.