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2021　Oral Expression in English GIIA

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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.)
Intensive ()  
Group
-
Course number
LAE.E336
Credits
2
Academic year
2021
Offered quarter
4Q
Syllabus updated
2022/1/12
Lecture notes updated
-
Language used
English
Access Index

Course description and aims

The objective of this short-term intensive course is to train graduate students in such a way as to increase their abilities in English oral expression, to the point where they can participate in tertiary education in the English-speaking world or be active as members of international research communities in the near future. The course is titled “Oral Expression in English GⅡA” and is directed at undergraduate students. This is an English elective subject, and participants are eligible to receive 2 units of credit.

Student learning outcomes

Course title: Communicating current issues in science and technology
Course Description: During this short course, students will explore some current science and technology issues to enhance their skills in oral communication. Via debates, presentations, interviews and short reports, students will examine topics in which they are interested with the goal of enhancing their ability to function – and hopefully thrive – in an English-language academic environment. Themes will include scientific ethics, innovation and Sustainable Development Goals. This is not a lecture-style class; students will collaborate with each other to actively build their knowledge and critical thinking abilities.

Course taught by instructors with work experience

✔ Applicable How instructors' work experience benefits the course
An instructor with work experience as a journalist, author, and editor will provide hands-on education in writing and presenting about science, based on practice in the field that features critical thinking and logical ways of communicating information to audiences.

Keywords

speaking, listening, discussion, presentation, study abroad

Competencies that will be developed

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

Class flow

This course is primarily divided into three-class cycles. During the first class, students will be introduced to the issues (e.g. innovation in the 21st century) and linguistic skills (e.g. how to debate). In the second class, students will be given time to prepare their own demonstration of these skills (e.g. a presentation) in relation to their own field of interest. Finally, in the third class, students will put these skills into practice, and then reflect on their performance to consider what went well and how they may improve.

Course schedule/Required learning

  Course schedule Required learning
Class 1 Introduction to course and survey of students’ needs Students will be introduced to the key concepts of the course and begin to acquaint themselves with their fellow participants.
Class 2 Skill workshop: Solo presentations In this first exploration of oral communication, students will receive an overview of academic presentation techniques, including how to adapt face-to-face skills to the online world.
Class 3 Solo presentations: Me and my field Students will plan and then deliver a brief – but formal – presentation using the skills introduced in the previous class. This session will also provide students with the chance to troubleshoot any technical issues peculiar to online talks, such as effective slides, lighting and camera work.
Class 4 Theme exploration: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Day 2 will explore the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals via short readings and videos. Working in pairs, students will determine the relationship between their own academic fields and SDGs.
Class 5 Skill workshop: Pair presentations Building on the previous session, students will plan a short pair presentation about their own academic fields and SDGs. Key skills will include group communication (such as negotiating and assigning roles), constructive criticism and how to deliver an effective talk with a partner.
Class 6 Pair presentations: SDGs and our fields Students will deliver the presentation planned in the previous session – then they will reflect on their own performance and those of their classmates. This reflection is an important stage in self-improvement.
Class 7 Theme exploration: Scientific ethics In this first session of Day 3, students will explore some case studies related to current scientific ethics. Students will choose one issue and explore its advantages and disadvantages.
Class 8 Skill workshop: How to debate During this class, we will explore the format of debates and phrases which can be used (1) to assert an opinion; (2) to provide supporting examples; and (3) to rebut ideas politely. Students will also be given time to prepare their thoughts for the next class.
Class 9 Debate: Scientific ethics Students will put into practice the skills explored in the previous session by participating in a short debate. Following this, students will write a short reaction paper describing the pros and cons of the issue which they debated; this exercise is designed to raise awareness of the differences between spoken and written language.
Class 10 Theme exploration: Innovation in the 2020s In this session, students will explore recent innovations which are transforming current society, including ones related to their own fields and future career goals.
Class 11 Skill workshop: Interviews This session is designed to help students to become more comfortable in one-on-one communication settings, such as job interviews. As well as linguistic skills (such as requesting clarification and logical/organizational phrases), students will practice techniques which can be applied in their real lives, such as how-to-relieve stress and project confidence.
Class 12 Planning Time: Group presentations During the previous sessions, students have investigated SDG’s, ethics, and innovation. This class will consolidate these three themes by way of a group presentation where students will plan, practice, and present a short topic of their members’ choice.
Class 13 Final group presentations As a small group, students will present to the class the talk which they planned during the previous session. This exercise is designed to reinforce the skills which we have explored during the course and give students a chance to revisit ones which they may previously have found challenging.
Class 14 Course wrap-up and feedback The instructor will provide advice on how students can continue to expand the skills explored during this course. Equally as important, the students will be able to provide anonymous feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of the course to improve it for future participants.

Textbook(s)

Handouts will be provided by the instructor.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Handouts will be provided by the instructor.

Assessment criteria and methods

Debate summary: 50% / Presentation: 50%

Related courses

  • LAE.E431 ： Oral Expression in English 13
  • LAE.E432 ： Oral Expression in English 14
  • LAE.E433 ： Oral Expression in English 15
  • LAE.E434 ： Oral Expression in English 16
  • LAE.E435 ： Oral Expression in English G III

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

Intermediate to advanced level English.

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