English for the Current Sociocultural Agenda: (Proficiency and Beyond)

2025/2026

Academic Year

ENG

Instruction in English

12

ECTS credits

Delivered at:

School of Foreign Languages

Course type:

Elective course

When:

1 year, 1-4 module

Instructor

Nagornaya, Alexandra

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The course 'English for the Current Social Agenda' consists of two aspects: the grammar aspect and the critical thinking aspect. The first presents a systematic picture of practical English grammar at the proficiency level; the second allows the students to enhance their vocabulary and communication skills through discussion of various topics within the current social agenda.

Learning Objectives

• The goal of the course is to consolidate practical grammar of the English language and enhance critical thinking skills at the profficiecy level.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Conduct debates on the issues under study.
• Construct logically sound and well-reasoned arguments;
• Describe their perspectives on the issues under consideration;
• Employ evidence from different sources in conducting an analysis of an issue
• Employ specialist vocabulary in oral and written speech;
• Explain an issue comprehensively;
• Render original articles from Russian into English with the use of course vocabulary
• Understand the issues underlying social problems

Course Contents

• SECTION 1. Defining Social Inclusion
• SECTION 2: Poverty as a Driver of Social Exclusion
• SECTION 3: Disability Inclusion
• SECTION 4: Challenges of Inclusive Education
• SECTION 5: Immigrant Inclusion: Issues and Debates
• SECTION 6: Social Inclusion and Language Rights

Assessment Elements

• participation
• TED Talk

Interim Assessment

• 2025/2026 2nd module
  0.5 * TED Talk + 0.5 * participation
• 2025/2026 4th module
  0.5 * TED Talk + 0.5 * participation

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Abeywickrama, R. S., Laham, S. M., & Crone, D. L. (2018). Immigration and Receiving Communities: The Utility of Threats and Emotions in Predicting Action Tendencies toward Refugees, Asylum‐Seekers and Economic Migrants. Journal of Social Issues, 74(4), 756–773. https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12297
• Ann Taket, Beth R. Crisp, Melissa Graham, Lisa Hanna, Sophie Goldingay, & Linda Wilson. (2013). Practising Social Inclusion. Routledge.
• Cottrell, S. (2011). Critical Thinking Skills : Developing Effective Analysis and Argument. [N.p.]: Palgrave Macmillan. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1525114
• CZAIKA, M., & DE HAAS, H. (2013). The Effectiveness of Immigration Policies. Population & Development Review, 39(3), 487–508. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1728-4457.2013.00613.x
• De Varennes, F. (1999). Equality and Non-discrimination: Fundamental Principles of Minority Language Rights. International Journal on Minority & Group Rights, 6(3), 307–318. https://doi.org/10.1163/15718119920907767
• Guiraudon, V. (2004). No One is Illegal: Asylum and Immigration Control Past and Present. https://doi.org/10.1093/jrs/17.1.142
• Kate Scorgie, & Chris Forlin. (2019). Promoting Social Inclusion : Co-Creating Environments That Foster Equity and Belonging: Vol. First edition. Emerald Publishing Limited.
• Mark Gradstein, & Maurice Schiff. (2006). The political economy of social exclusion, with implications for immigration policy. Journal of Population Economics, (2), 327. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00148-005-0016-0
• Mark Warschauer. (2003). Technology and Social Inclusion : Rethinking the Digital Divide. The MIT Press.
• Maruice Mangum, & Ray Block. (2018). Social Identity Theory and Public Opinion towards Immigration. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.FF93BCFB
• Orrenius, P. M., Martin, P. L., & Hollifield, J. F. (2014). Controlling Immigration : A Global Perspective, Third Edition: Vol. Third edition. Stanford University Press.
• Richter, D. (2012). Language Rights Revisited - The Challenge of Global Migration and Communication. Berliner Wissenschafts-Verlag.
• V. Pupavac. (2012). Language Rights : From Free Speech to Linguistic Governance. Palgrave Macmillan.
• Wiemer Salverda, Brian Nolan, & Timothy M. Smeeding. (2009). The Oxford Handbook of Economic Inequality. OUP Oxford.
• Нагорная, А. В. Социальная инклюзия: Нерешенные проблемы и новые вызовы. Social Inclusion: Unresolved Issnes and Challenges : учебник / А. В. Нагорная. — Москва : ФЛИНТА, 2021. — 288 с. — ISBN 978-5-9765-4442-0. — Текст : электронный // Лань : электронно-библиотечная система. — URL: https://e.lanbook.com/book/181854 (дата обращения: 00.00.0000). — Режим доступа: для авториз. пользователей.

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Aimee Howley. (2020). Inclusive Education: A Systematic Perspective. Information Age Publishing.
• Alba, R. D., & Foner, N. (2015). Strangers No More : Immigration and the Challenges of Integration in North America and Western Europe. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=933248
• Chiasson, M., & Canadian Teachers’ Federation. (2016). Knowing One’s Community through Language Rights. In Canadian Teachers’ Federation. Canadian Teachers’ Federation.
• Esses, V. M., Dovidio, J. F., Jackson, L. M., & Armstron, T. L. (2001). The Immigration Dilemma: The Role of Perceived Group Competition, Ethnic Prejudice, and National Identity. Journal of Social Issues, 57(3), 389. https://doi.org/10.1111/0022-4537.00220
• Kramer, P. A. (2018). The Geopolitics of Mobility: Immigration Policy and American Global Power in the Long Twentieth Century. American Historical Review, 123(2), 393–438. https://doi.org/10.1093/ahr/123.2.393
• Lahav, G. (1998). Immigration and the state: the devolution and privatisation of immigration control in the EU. Journal of Ethnic & Migration Studies, 24(4), 675. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.1998.9976660
• Read, T. (2020). Towards a New Model for Inclusive Education Based on Virtual Social Inclusion and Mobile Openness. World Journal on Educational Technology: Current Issues, 12(1), 14–22.
• Skorupa-Wulczyńska, A. (2019). Language Rights in the Light of International Law. https://doi.org/10.12775/CLR.2018.003
• Vicky Plows, & Ben Whitburn. (2017). Inclusive Education : Making Sense of Everyday Practice. Brill.

Authors

• RYABCHUN SERGEY ALEKSANDROVICH
• RODOMANCHENKO AIDA SERGEEVNA
• BAKULEV Aleksey VALENTINOVICH
• Nagornaia Aleksandra Viktorovna