CJVA402 Academic Presentations and Other Study Skills

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2020
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 2 credit(s) (plus 2 credits for an exam). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. et Mgr. Petra Trávníková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Abigail Mokra, M.A. et M.A. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Dana Plíšková (assistant)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. et Mgr. Petra Trávníková, Ph.D.
Language Centre Faculty of Social Studies Division – Language Centre
Contact Person: Mgr. et Mgr. Petra Trávníková, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Language Centre Faculty of Social Studies Division – Language Centre
Timetable of Seminar Groups
CJVA402/01: Mon 8:00–9:40 U36, P. Trávníková
CJVA402/02: Tue 8:00–9:40 U44, P. Trávníková
CJVA402/03: Thu 8:00–9:40 U44, P. Trávníková
CJVA402/04: Mon 14:00–15:40 U44, A. Mokra
CJVA402/05: Thu 12:00–13:40 U36, P. Trávníková
CJVA402/06: No timetable has been entered into IS. D. Plíšková
Prerequisites
((FAKULTA(FSS)&&TYP_STUDIA(MN))||(OBOR(MUSFSS)))&&( ADAPT_B2 Adaptivní test B2 )&&(!NOWANY( CJVA401 Academic Writing and Other Study Skills ))
As a prerequisite, students must get a "Z" from ADAPT_B2, a multiple-choice entrance test, held either in class or online if the former is not possible due to the epidemiological situation.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
The capacity limit for the course is 80 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/80, only registered: 0/80, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/80
Course objectives
This course, intended for master’s students of all disciplines, is a skills-based course at the B2+ level of the European Referential Framework of Languages. Its aim is practise students’ academic language and critical thinking skills. The focus will be on listening (watching TED talks and other presentations, practising note-taking, identifying the speaker’s point of view), speaking (delivering presentations, developing an argument, small talk), reading (how to understand academic articles, strategies helpful for efficient reading) and writing (writing a presentation abstract and position paper, paraphrasing and summarizing).

Special attention will be paid to presentations, which is a skill that is essential not only in the academic world but also in students' future careers. Students will be presented with a wealth of practice opportunities to enhance all the aforementioned skills.
Learning outcomes
Students will be able to (at the C1 level of CEFR):
• give presentations on academic and non academic topics (pecha kucha, elevator pitch)
• recognise and employ various registers
• write various academic genres (abstract, position paper)
• be involved in academic debates (art of argumentation)
• use linking and transition words.
Syllabus
  • For the syllabus, see the appropriate folder in the study materials (designed by the teacher who teaches your seminar group, as there are differences between the individual syllabi).
  • 1. Introduction. Breaking the ice. Discussing study expectations, individual goals and study goals. Getting to know each other. Collecting information and presenting about one's partner.
  • 2. Language and communication. Reading articles on languages and presenting them in tandem presentations.
  • 3. One-to-one sessions. Five-minute individual meetings (discussing personal strengths and weaknesses in presenting).
  • 4. Visuals. Reporting verbs.How to start a presentation. Hooks.
  • 5. Minipresentations on topics related to students' fields of study. Video: 5 tips to a killer opener.
  • 6. Politeness. Elevator pitch presentation. Cultural differences in being polite. George Mikes: How to be rude. Reported speech and indirecteness.
  • 7. Red Thread. Referring backwards and forwards in your presentation. Signposting. Relative clauses.
  • 8.One-minute improvisations. Formal x informal style. Registers.
  • 9. Faith. Video: What Islam really says about women. Presentation structure-revision. Writing an abstract.
  • 10. Questions and answers. Discussion after the presentation: strategies and stages. Small talk: how to politely say no. 11. and 12. Pecha Kucha minipresentations on students' Bc.{Master's theses.
Literature
  • L. A. Ford Brown: Guide to Public speaking. Longman 2012. ISBN ISBN-13: 978-0-205-75011-5
Teaching methods
planning and giving different types of presentations, reading academic texts, class discussions, academic writing
Assessment methods
The course takes place online synchronously, regularly, every week, according to the valid timetable for the semester, using the MS Teams or ZOOM applications. Students must have basic equipment – a computer or a tablet, internet connection, a camera and a microphone. For more detailed information, see the Interactive Course Syllabus and Study Materials. Students will receive an email with instructions and an appropriate links before the start of the course. Students will be assessed via portfolio assessment desribed in detail in the study materials (they are expected to submit/do all the assignments listed there, both during the term and in the exam period).
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught each semester.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2016, Spring 2017, Autumn 2017, Spring 2018, Autumn 2018, Spring 2019, Autumn 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Autumn 2021, Spring 2022, Autumn 2022, Spring 2023, Autumn 2023, Spring 2024, Autumn 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2020, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2020/CJVA402