English 3 is designed to improve students’ English language skills for academic purposes and provide them with knowledge in relevant areas. The materials include topics such as international and intercultural issues as well as current topics of science and technology. Expectations require students to practice: reading academic articles, listening to lectures in English, speaking in front of an audience, and writing paragraphs and short essays.
There are two types of classes in English 3. RW classes focus on reading comprehension and skill in written composition, and LS classes focus on listening and oral expression.
Each student is assigned to a class and instructors for each class conduct the course using “Course description and aims”, “Student learning outcomes”, and “Keywords” as the basic framework.
By the end of this course, students will:
・ Have improved their English skills required for learning at university and for research activities
・ Be able to understand written and spoken materials correctly in diverse areas including international and intercultural issues, science, and technology
・ Be able to write paragraphs and short essays with unity and coherence
・ Have gained confidence in using English to state their opinions and improved their oral expression skills
Four language skills, fostering international awareness, communication skills, studying abroad, TOEFL
Specialist skills | ✔ Intercultural skills | ✔ Communication skills | Critical thinking skills | Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
For each unit in the textbook:
・Students are required to read the unit and solve the exercise problems before coming to class.
・The instructor (1) clarifies the essential points of the unit, (2) shows solutions to the exercise problems, and (3) has students construct a short paragraph on a given topic using the points of the day and present it orally or in writing to the class.
Homework assignments include paragraph writing as well as reading-comprehension exercises. Homework is reviewed by the instructor.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Unit 1 Study Abroad / Values | Textbook, pp. 2-7 |
Class 2 | Unit 2 Nuclear Power / Facts and Opinions | Textbook, pp. 8-13 |
Class 3 | Unit 3 Immigration / Belief or Prejudice? | Textbook, pp. 14-19 |
Class 4 | Unit 4 The Social Safety Net / Reasons and Evidence in Support of Positions | Textbook, pp. 20-25 |
Class 5 | Unit 5 Global Warming / Criteria for Evaluation | Textbook, pp. 26-31 |
Class 6 | Unit 6 Women in the Workplace / Relevant and Irrelevant Facts and Details | Textbook, pp. 32-37 |
Class 7 | Unit 7 School on Saturdays / Critiquing an Argument | Textbook, pp. 38-43 |
Class 8 | Review and Final Examination | Overall exercise in vocabulary, grammar, and passage construction |
Michael Hood, Think Smart: Critical Thinking in Critical Times. Kinseido, 2018.
None
Students are assessed on practical English skills and on the degree to which they can use them to communicate with others.
Activities in class: 20%
Homework assignments: 30%
Final exam: 50%
None
None