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2024　English 5 25-LS-ADV

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Academic unit or major
English language courses
Instructor(s)
Mitchell Jon 
Class Format
Exercise    (Face-to-face)
Media-enhanced courses
Day/Period(Room No.)
Thr3-4(M-B101(H102))  
Group
25-LS-ADV
Course number
LAE.E211
Credits
1
Academic year
2024
Offered quarter
1Q
Syllabus updated
2024/3/14
Lecture notes updated
-
Language used
Japanese
Access Index

Course description and aims

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.

Student learning outcomes

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

Course taught by instructors with work experience

✔ Applicable How instructors' work experience benefits the course
An instructor with work experience as an 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

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

Usually, we will start the lesson with a discussion of the day’s issue followed by watching an academic lecture about a contemporary topic. This approach will allow us to gain a wider awareness of some academic fields as well as international perspectives to compare with our own countries’.

After this, we will critically explore the issue. You will be asked to produce a short piece of work based upon the class’s topic - for example a short presentation, a summary or reaction paper. Such integrated skills will also come in useful for the TOEFL exam.
This is not a lecture-style course. Please envisage this classroom as a community where everybody has different strengths and weaknesses. By cooperating with each other, together we can overcome any difficulties.

Course schedule/Required learning

  Course schedule Required learning
Class 1 A sociological exploration of names This first class will introduce students to an overview of the course before embarking on the topic of how our names shape our identities. Students will link these ideas to contemporary debates about names in society today.
Class 2 Global English Our second class will explore how the English language has developed during the past centuries and how it might develop in the coming years. This study of the diversity of language will raise students’ awareness of regional variations – and why such variety ought to be respected and embraced.
Class 3 The psychology of fear This class centers around a lecture from the field of psychology. It discusses why people experience fear in certain circumstances and how we might overcome fear by adapting our behaviour. Also, the class introduces some presentation techniques to connect to audience members via sensory descriptions.
Class 4 Leadership skills in global business Globalization is creating many challenges and opportunities for business leaders; skills which used to be effective in the past might no longer be as effective today. This class discusses the need for a flexible and dynamic approach to leadership and – hopefully – it will highlight how everyone possesses the ability to lead.
Class 5 How we each learn best This class starts with an academic lecture about the different ways in which people learn. Next it provides students with the opportunity to reflect on their own learning strengths (and weaknesses); such self-awareness will empower students to hone their study skills at Tokyo Tech… and beyond.
Class 6 The Silk Road – A historical overview of international trade As week 4's lecture showed, we are living in an increasingly globalized society – but this is not a new phenomenon. Via the lens of an academic lecture on The Silk Road, this session discusses the history of international trade with the goal of eliciting how the lessons of the past might be applied to improve international relations – and global health and prosperity – in the future.
Class 7 Review and final essay This class starts with a review of the issues covered during the past six weeks; following this, students will have the opportunity to write a short essay to consolidate their understanding of the topics.

Out-of-Class Study Time (Preparation and Review)

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.

Textbook(s)

Contemporary Topics – 21st Century Skills for Academic Success (2) (4th edition), Pearson, ISBN: 978-0-13-440080-8.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

None.

Assessment criteria and methods

Presentation: 50%
Exam: 50%

Related courses

  • LAE.E111 ： English 1
  • LAE.E112 ： English 2
  • LAE.E113 ： English 3
  • LAE.E114 ： English 4
  • 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

Other

None.

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