Academic English in multicultural perspectives 2591-s1KOMP2L-AEMP

The course aims to involve students in a discussion of topical issues from multicultural standpoints. Course activities will also include the use of grammar and vocabulary in academic contexts, both spoken and written. Students are welcome to share and exchange their ideas in a multicultural university environment and by means of communicative language skills and competencies in English, developed at CEFR B2 level.

Total student workload

Contact hours with the teacher: - participation in classes including online learning – 60 hours Self-study hours: - reading literature, completing homework and online assignments - 80 hours - study material revision, individual consultations, and preparation for tests - 60 hours Altogether: 200 hours (8 ECTS)

Learning outcomes - knowledge

The student: W1: has knowledge of academic English at B2 level within the grammatical, lexical and communicative aspects and situations covered in the course (K_W01).

Learning outcomes - skills

The student: U1: is able to find and select various pieces of information and take a critical stance on the material acquired in order to develop, defend or refute arguments in an independently prepared argumentative composition in English (K_U01; K_U09); U2: is able to use B2-level English in spoken and written interaction in a multicultural environment wiithin the topcs covered in the course (K_U16); U3: is capable of producing English texts at B2 level and by means of grammatical structures and lexical items acquired in the course (K_U16).

Learning outcomes - social competencies

The student: K1: is aware of cultural differences and their importance in academic contexts, and can assume various roles in situations involving multicultural teams and single users of English as a foreign/second language (K_K07); K2: is aware of the problems related to the process of learning English and is aware of the steps required in order to improve one's lingusitic skills (K_K01).

Observation/demonstration teaching methods

- display

Expository teaching methods

- description
- discussion

Exploratory teaching methods

- classic problem-solving
- presentation of a paper
- case study
- project work

Online teaching methods

- exchange and discussion methods
- methods referring to authentic or fictitious situations
- content-presentation-oriented methods

Prerequisites

B1+ Level of English

Assessment criteria

Assessment methods:

Observation of participation, preparation and homework as well as Moodle assignment completion documented in an activity log (W1, U1, U2, U3, K2 )
Classroom assignments, written tests and homework submissions (W1, U1, U3, K1)

Assessment criteria:
fail - 0%-59%*
satisfactory - 60%-69%
satisfactory plus - 70%-74%
good - 75%-84%
good plus - 85%-89%
very good - 90%-100%

The students are evaluated in accordance with the university regulations, and they must attend all course meetings in a classroom or a distance learning platform. Informed participation in class discussions – based on completion of the assigned reading and supportive collaboration with classmates – is also required. Each class absence has to be excused in the first week after the lesson missed. The final grade percentage will be reduced for every unexcused absence from virtual class or assignment that a student has failed to complete.
A cumulative grade point average of at least 60% must be achieved to pass the course; however, extra assignments can be given if the results in the texts are over 55% to obtain the points needed.
Instructors are authorized to refuse credit when the student’s absenteeism rate is around 50% even if the absences have had valid reasons.
Timely completion of assigned tasks is obligatory. In the case of assignments submitted after the deadline or re-submitted, the grade is lowered.

NOTE: all the above principles apply to all kinds of classes.

Practical placement

N/A

Bibliography

Required reading:
Cotton, D., D. Falvey and S. Kent. 2015. New Language Leader Intermediate / Upper-Intermediate. Pearson Education Limited.
Dummett P., J. A. Hird. 2013. Course in English for Academic Purposes. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Additional reading:
McCarthy, M., F. O'Dell. 2008. Academic Vocabulary in Use. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 2591-s1KOMP2L-AEMP in USOSweb