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2019　English 4 22-LS-ADV

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Academic unit or major
English language courses
Instructor(s)
Mitchell Jon 
Class Format
Exercise     
Media-enhanced courses
Day/Period(Room No.)
Thr1-2(2ラボ)  
Group
22-LS-ADV
Course number
LAE.E114
Credits
1
Academic year
2019
Offered quarter
4Q
Syllabus updated
2019/11/4
Lecture notes updated
-
Language used
Japanese
Access Index

Course description and aims

English 4 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 4. 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.

Student learning outcomes

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.

Keywords

Four language skills, fostering international awareness, communication skills, studying abroad, TOEFL

Competencies that will be developed

Specialist skills ✔ Intercultural skills ✔ Communication skills Critical thinking skills Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

English 4 will continue to employ the textbook, Yeas and Nays, which provides a variety of academic topics related to domestic and international issues. However this quarter will move students away from the textbook and encourage them to critically explore a modern issue of their choice. This will help learners to develop skills vital for future studies (in Japan or overseas) such as independent research, information-gathering and cooperation.
Such skills will also come in useful for both the written and spoken sections of the TOEFL test; listening to classmates’ talks will simulate an academic lecture, too.
Once again, the most important resource is you - your ideas, experiences and imaginations. We will try to build a learning community where we value each other’s knowledge. Together we can share our strengths to overcome our individual weaknesses.

Course schedule/Required learning

  Course schedule Required learning
Class 1 Introduction: Sample lecture Class survey and outline of course requirements. Instructor will give a model talk which will illustrate the kind of academic communication upon which the course will focus.
Class 2 “Do Robopets Make Better Pets than Living Pets?” Exploring ways to effectively communicate in academic English while keeping the subject at a level that is understandable by general audiences.
Class 3 “Is the Communicative Approach the Best Way to Learn a Language?” How to employ anecdotes and personal experiences in order to connect with listeners. Also a review of cross-cultural differences surrounding the asking of questions.
Class 4 Skills workshop: Using visual aids to enhance communication Discussion on how best to employ black/white boards, projectors, Powerpoint, handouts. Reminder that such tools are important - but ought not to be overused.
Class 5 “Should Violence be Allowed on TV?” Practice skills studied up until now. Some guidelines on how to effectively negotiate in English.
Class 6 Pair exploration of topic Pair - or small group - initiate planning for final presentation. Research and assign roles.
Class 7 Planning and practice session This is fundamentally a planning session to enable you to iron out any problems before your assessed presentation / Q+A session next week. Also we will look at some writing skills in preparation for the final written assignment.
Class 8 Presentation in pairs Students will give a short pair/group presentation bringing together the skills we have studied; classmates will take notes during the presentations in order to complete a short written report.

Textbook(s)

Yeas and Nays (Macmillan)

Reference books, course materials, etc.

None.

Assessment criteria and methods

Presentation: 50%
Report: 50%

Related courses

  • LAE.E111 ： English 1
  • LAE.E112 ： English 2
  • LAE.E113 ： English 3
  • LAE.E211 ： English 5
  • LAE.E212 ： English 6
  • LAE.E213 ： English 7
  • LAE.E214 ： English 8
  • LAE.E311 ： English 9

Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)

None

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