This course is for students who have already studied for the TOEFL test and hope to raise their score to study abroad for a long period of time. It trains students in four skills in English with special focus on listening and speaking. It introduces students to study skills such as note-taking, presentation and debate as well as to vocabulary and phrases necessary for coping with academic studies and research in English-speaking environments.
- Students will be able to grasp the overall contents and main points in lectures on academic subjects and summarize their content based on their structure and approach.
- Students will be able to answer questions in English clearly from other students in class.
- Students will understand note-taking, presentation and debate skills and apply them to their written and oral expressions in English.
TOEFL, Study abroad, Communication, Speaking and listening skills in English
Specialist skills | ✔ Intercultural skills | ✔ Communication skills | ✔ Critical thinking skills | Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
Students should prepare each week's assigned Listening chapter in the textbook as well as any Speaking tasks assigned in advance of the class. The materials of the week’s chapter will be explained by the instructor where necessary, but the core activities in class will be intensive listening and speaking practice with the instructor checking and giving feedback on individuals' work.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Introductions; note-taking techniques and practice; Unit 1 | strategies for effective note-taking while listening; detailed introduction of oneself including professional interests |
Class 2 | Unit 1 (cont.); Unit 2 Speaking practice - Japanese housing styles today (or another country) | Hearing and retaining details of a speech about the architects FL and JL Wright. Speaking about the ways homes are now designed in this or another country. |
Class 3 | Unit 3 Speaking/debating practice - chemical spraying ofJapanese fruit and veg | Hearing and retaining details of a speech about plants diseases and plant-eating insects. Speaking about their knowledge of chemical treatment of plants consumed in daily life, and debating such practices. |
Class 4 | Unit 4 Speaking practice - Mendeleev (or another famous chemist) | Hearing and retaining details of a speech about basic chemistry and the periodic table, and expressing knowledge about its inventor or another historically significant chemist. |
Class 5 | Unit 5 Speaking practice - the patent and/or business they may aspire to | Hearing and retaining details of a speech about gaining a patent and starting a business. Expressing aspirations and opinions about patents and/or a business. |
Class 6 | Unit 6 Speaking practice - earthquakes in this country and their own preparedness | Hearing and retaining details of a speech about types of rocks and continental drift, and expressing knowledge about earthquakes and response procedures in Japan. |
Class 7 | Textbook review lectures 1 and 2 Speaking practice - discussion of the two lectures' content | Select key skills from all of the above exercises Critique of the short lectures' content. |
Class 8 | Review lecture 3 and test | Select key skills from all of the above exercises |
Basic Skills for the TOEFL IBT: Listening 2, by I.D. BINNS and M. SEDILLOS (2008)
TBA
evidence of preparation 30
class participation 30
test 40
none
It is recommended that students take this course in sequence with TOEFL Seminar (Listening and Speaking) 12.
Attendance at the first class is compulsory for students planning to take this course.