English 5 is designed to improve students’ English language skills for academic purposes and provide them with more 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 English lectures, speaking before an audience, and developing skills to write paragraphs and short essays.
By the end of this course, students will:
・be able to express their ideas and opinions in classes confidently
・be able to write paragraphs or short essays
・be able to better understand academic lectures
・practice effective reading strategies
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 |
The goal is to learn the basic style according to which scientific reports and essays are constructed in English. Much work is necessary to cover the textbook to the full. It means--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 how to approach the exercise problems, and (3) asks students to read and/or construct paragraphs on a given topic using the points of the day.
Homework assignments include paragraph writing as well as reading-comprehension exercises. Homework is reviewed by the instructor.
Online class sessions will be given on Zoom.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Course Overview / How Scientists Communicate | Exploring science journals / Peer review / Formatting |
Class 2 | Introduction to Scientific Papers | Understanding genre, audience, and purpose Introduction to IMRaD / The scientific register |
Class 3 | Scientific Method | Building a hypothesis / Designing an experiment / Tasks and Comprehension check on Scientific Method |
Class 4 | Background Research (1) | Identifying general truth, facts, and opinions / Citations & Referencing / Paraphrasing, Writing References, Finding sources |
Class 5 | Background Research (2) | Tasks / Checklist on Background Research |
Class 6 | The Introduction (1) | Reading an Introduction, Rhetorical functions and structure / Language of the Introduction: Tense, voice, pronouns, linking / Tasks on the Introduction |
Class 7 | The Introduction (2) Final task | Checklist on the Introduction |
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Active English for Science. ALESS Program, The University of Tokyo, Komaba. University of Tokyo Press, 2012.
Additional readings and homework will be provided to cover the topic of the week.
Homework: 50%
Final task: 50%
None
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