Practice in Speech Culture of the First Foreign Language

2020/2021

Учебный год

ENG

Обучение ведется на английском языке

6

Кредиты

Кто читает:

Школа иностранных языков

Статус:

Курс обязательный

Когда читается:

1-й курс, 1-4 модуль

Преподаватели

Васильева Евгения Алексеевна

Нагорная Александра Викторовна

Рябчун Сергей Александрович

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The goal of the course is to allow the students to improve their oral and written communication skills in English, and to develop the skills of perception and analysis of information in the process of working with original texts on the most pressing problems of the modern world. The discipline is subdivided into several aspects. The aspect 'English Communication Perspectives (Levels 1 and 2)' is aimed at developing and refining speaking and writing skills when communicating in English with a special emphasis on using contemporary vocabulary and on following current trends in the use of grammar. It is also supposed to develop the skills of processing and analysing information when working with authentic texts (academic papers, newspaper and magazine articles, TED Talks) which cover a wide range of socially and culturally relevant topics revolving around the issue of social inclusion. The course develops both language and critical thinking skills, as the students are required to collect, analyse and discuss materials on a number of trendy and highly controversial topics (inclusive education, body positivity, animal rights, etc.). The aspect 'Academic Discourse' is meant to develop and refine communication skills in professional linguistic settings. The students are taught the conventions of communication adopted in the linguistic community, master the main strategies and tactics of professional communication, enhance their speaking and writing skills working with texts on linguistics (encyclopaedic articles, academic papers, monographs, oral presentations and lectures, etc.). Of particular relevance is mastering general academic vocabulary and academic clichés, as well as specialist linguistic terminology. The students are also supposed to familiarise themselves with the current trends in the use of grammatical forms and syntactic structures. Within the course, the students are taught to review academic texts, write abstracts and papers of their own and develop their rendering and presentation skills. The course is supported by an online course.

Learning Objectives

• The aspect 'Communication grammar' of the course is an advanced-level course for those students of the Master’s Programme who wish to revise and consolidate the grammar of EFL at the advanced (C1/C2) level. The students are expected to have developed a command of EFL at the intermediate level.
• The aspect 'English Communication Perspectives' is aimed at teaching the students basic critical thinking skills through selection, analysis and discussion of materials within the framework of the course; enhancing general speaking skills, expanding and improving speaking and writing vocabulary; developing reasoning skills when discussing topical social issues; developing translation and rendering skills.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• The students are supposed to understand the concept of social inclusion
• The students are supposed to demonstrate an increased ability to employ evidence from different sources in conducting an analysis of an issue
• The students are supposed to construct logically sound and well-reasoned arguments
• The students are expected to employ specialist vocabulary in oral and written speech
• The students are supposed to demonstrate a refined skill of constructing logically sound and well-reasoned arguments
• The students are expected to conduct debates on the issue under study
• The students are expected to develop translation and rendering skills
• The students are supposed to explain the issue comprehensively relying on a variety of sources

Course Contents

• Defining Social Inclusion
• Poverty as a Driver of Social Exclusion
• Disability Inclusion
• Gender Equality: Should Anatomy Be Destiny?
• Say No to Ageism
• Challenges of Inclusive Education
• Social Inclusion and Language Rights
• Immigrant Inclusion: Issues and Debates

Assessment Elements

• home assignment
• presentation
• essay
• roundtable discussion

Interim Assessment

• Interim assessment (1 module)
  0.2 * essay + 0.4 * home assignment + 0.2 * presentation + 0.2 * roundtable discussion
• Interim assessment (4 module)
  0.2 * essay + 0.2 * home assignment + 0.2 * Interim assessment (1 module) + 0.2 * presentation + 0.2 * roundtable discussion

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Asking the right questions : a guide to critical thinking, Browne, M. N., 2004
• Asking the right questions : a guide to critical thinking, Browne, M. N., 2012
• Beyond words : movement observation and analysis, Moore, C.-L., 2012
• Critical thinking and language : the challenge of generic skills and disciplinary discourses, Moore, T. J., 2013
• Critical thinking for strategic intelligence, Pherson, K. H., 2013
• Critical thinking skills. Developing effective analysis and argument, Cottrell, S., 2011
• Critical thinking, Moore, B. N., 2012

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• A to Z of critical thinking, , 2012