CJVA102 Academic English with a Focus on Presentations

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2024
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)
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
CJVA102/01: Mon 10:00–11:40 U44, P. Trávníková
CJVA102/02: No timetable has been entered into IS. P. Trávníková
Prerequisites
((FAKULTA(FSS)&&TYP_STUDIA(BMN))||(OBOR(MUSFSS)))&&(( PdF:ADAPT_AJ Adaptive Test Aj || ADAPT_B1 Adaptive Test B1 ))&&(!NOWANY( CJVA101 Academic English with a Focus on Writing , CJVA103 Academic English with a Focus on Intercultural Communication , CJVA104 Academic English ))
Passing ADAPT_B1 Adaptivní test Aj with the result indicating that you are on the B1 level or higher.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
The capacity limit for the course is 26 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 14/26, only registered: 1/26, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/26
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to give students the basic rules, training and experience to make semi-formal and formal presentations in order to be able to present their research at academic conferences and workshops and/or in their future jobs. Moreover, they will be able to acquire the experience at being an audience, e.g. by focusing on note-taking, asking for clarifications, and offering appropriate questions and comments. Together with written assignments, related or unrelated to their presentation, they will be able to practice all four academic skills, i.e. speaking, writing, listening and reading.
Course objectives:
1. Students will be acquainted with the process of making and delivering a successful presentation.
2. Practising the acquired skills in front of an audience, which will contribute to building students’ confidence.
3. Extending academic vocabulary.
4. Students will learn how to write an abstract and improve their writing skills.
5. Discussions on various academic and non-academic topics.
Learning outcomes
Students will be able to: • - give presentations on academic and non-academic topics • - write an abstract to their presentation • - summarise a text or a video • - give arguments from opposite points of view • - write a position paper • - give feedback on their classmates' presentations • - extend their academic vocabulary
Syllabus
  • Syllabus:
  • Week 1: Introduction: introduction to the course, information on final assessment, students’ individual and group study aims and expectations. Academic orientation.
  • Week 2: Language: Will English always be a global language? Short presentation of S’s partner. Summarising.
  • Week 3: Careers and Professions I: vocabulary connected to jobs. How to write a paragraph 1. Linking words 1.
  • Week 4: Careers and Professions II: writing-comparing students' two versions of summaries (peer review). Paragraph-building 2. Listening to a university interview. Simulating a job interview.
  • Week 5: Cohesion and coherence: 2-minute presentations of student’s field of study. Elevator pitch: practising persuasion in 30 seconds. Introducing and concluding a presentation. Writing: Linking words 2.
  • Week 6: International Relations: National traits- traits of your culture. International collaboration. Subordinate clauses.
  • Week 7: Psychology: Improvisation- giving one-minute talks on a certain topic unknown in advance (persuasion). Giving advice and reacting to advice. Relative clauses and punctuation.
  • Week 8: Journalism and Media: headlines. Reading-Hot off the Press. Linking words 3: Signposting. Giving a presentation- describing a process (stress and pace in presenting). Agreeing and disagreeing – being objective.
  • Week 9: Directed class debate on two (controversial) current topics. Paraphrasing: Longevity. Avoiding plagiarism. The passive.
  • Week 10: Culture. What is culture? Culture shock (reading). Writing an abstract. Giving feedback after presentations- useful tips. Exam practise- summarising a video presentation.
  • Week 11: Mini-presentations I: based on scholarly literature on giving presentations (half of the class)
  • Week 12: Environment. Tandem presentations on climate change impacts. Discussion after the presentation- useful language. Writing a position paper. Argumentation.
  • Week 13: Mini-presentations II: based on scholarly literature on giving presentations (the other half of the class)
Literature
    recommended literature
  • COTTON, David. New Language Learner Upper-Intermediate. Person: Pearson Education Limited, 2014. ISBN 9781447961550
  • Hewings, Martin. Cambridge Academic English Intermediate. Cambridge University Press 2012. ISBN 978-0-521-16521-1.
  • ŠTĚPÁNEK, Libor, Janice DE HAAFF, Alena HRADILOVÁ and David SCHÜLLER. Academic English – Akademická angličtina: Průvodce anglickým jazykem pro studenty, akademiky a vědce (Academic English: a guide for students, academics and scientists). Praha: Grada, 2011, 224 pp. ISBN 978-80-247-3577-1. info
    not specified
  • MURPHY, Raymond. English grammar in use : a self-study reference and practice book for intermediate learners of English : with answers. Fourth edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012, x, 380. ISBN 9780521189064. info
  • LANE, Sarah. Instant academic skills : a resource book of advanced-level academic skills activities. First published. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011, 128 stran. ISBN 9780521121620. info
  • MCCARTHY, Michael and Felicity O'DELL. Academic vocabulary in use. First published. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008, 176 stran. ISBN 9780521689397. info
  • COMFORT, Jeremy and Derek UTLEY. Effective presentations. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995, 1 videokaz. ISBN 0194588920. info
Teaching methods
class discussions, presentations, reading authentic materials, watching videos of effective presentations,writing assignments
Assessment methods
Active and regular attendance- 70%
Giving a lead on a topic related to student's study field
Several presentations of various length and structure will be given in class
several written assignments: summary, abstract(s) to the presentation and position paper
exam period:
listening comprehension test
final presentation
final abstract
position paper
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, Autumn 2020, Spring 2021, Autumn 2021, Spring 2022, Autumn 2022, Spring 2023, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2024, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2024/CJVA102