English 2 follows English 1 to solidify the foundational skills for effective communication in English as well as to foster international awareness, as both are typically required in the globally expanding domain of scientific and technological research activities. It also prepares students to study or do research abroad in the future. Students are assigned training exercises that cover the four language skills — reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The reading and listening materials include topics such as international and intercultural issues as well as the fundamentals of science and technology. Practice exercises in writing and speaking are provided so that students can develop communication competence to participate in discussions and conferences where opinions are exchanged through both text and speech. TOEFL-type exercise problems are also used in the course.
This course aims to establish a solid base on which students can build toward a higher level of communication competence specifically in an English language environment. The base is, as mentioned in "Course description and aims" of English 1, composed of three elements: (1) identifying relevant information accurately, (2) exercising fair judgement to form a valid opinion, and (3) stating opinions clearly and persuasively.
Each student is assigned to a group led by an instructor. Instructors for each group conduct the course using the "Course description and aims" and "Student learning outcomes" as the basic framework. "Class direction," "Course schedule," and other information below explain the features of each class.
By the end of this course, students will:
・Strengthen practical English abilities that are required for learning at university and for research activities both in Japan and abroad
・Be able to accurately grasp the main ideas and arguments of written and spoken materials in diverse areas including international and intercultural issues, science, and technology
・Have increased their knowledge of effective vocabulary and expressions to actively communicate their ideas and opinions in English
・Be able to write their own short paragraphs with a clear purpose
・Be able to state their opinions with good organization
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 |
This course aims to enhance students' reading skills and basic writing skills by using the textbook noted below. As a preparation for the class, students are to read "Reading" section and solve "Comprehension" Quiz for each chapter. We willl also watch/read materials related to the topic of each chapter and have discussions about them.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Class Orientation Ch.7 World War I: One Hundred Years After | Read Ch.7 |
Class 2 | Ch.8 Mod and Modern Britain | Read Ch. 8 |
Class 3 | Ch.9 "A green and pleasant land"?: Social Order and the English Countryside | Read Ch. 9 |
Class 4 | Ch.10 Monty Python’s Life of Brian: Comedy or Blasphemy? Mini Exam | Read Ch. 10 Preparation of Mini Exam |
Class 5 | Ch. 10 (continued) Monty Python’s Life of Brian: Comedy or Blasphemy? Review of Mini Exam | Read Ch. 10 |
Class 6 | Ch.11 Sherlock: A Holmes for Our Time | Read Ch. 11 |
Class 7 | Ch.12 "Century of Strangers": Immigrants from Former British Colonies | Read Ch. 12 |
Class 8 | Final Exam Review | Review |
Christopher J. Armstrong, Anthony Piccolo, Gennichiro Itakura, _Reading Contemporary Britain: 15 Critical Views of Culture and Society_ (Shohakusha, 2017).
To be announced in class
Class Activities 20%, In-Class Quiz 30%, Final Exam 50%
None