SWEUS
MASARYK    JULY 2018
Navigating Through Lectures & Seminars
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IN THIS WORKSHOP
•Brainstorm
•Signposting language
•Activity 1: Lecture styles
•Handling a Lecture
•Seminar Skills
•Activity 2: a seminar discussion
•Conclusion and evaluation
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Navigating Through Lectures & Seminars

BRAINSTORM
•Brief discussion:
•Remember some of the lectures or presentations that you have recently attended.
What made it easy / difficult to understand the content?
How can the speaker help the audience understand the main message of the talk?
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Navigating Through Lectures & Seminars

SIGNALLING LANGUAGE
•A focus for attention
•Helps to focus on the structure of a lecture
•Keeps you alert
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Navigating Through Lectures & Seminars

ACTIVITY 1
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•A good or a bad lecture?
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•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DY1e0Grwtw
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•What makes this a bad lecture?
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•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdtLELVhEQg
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•What makes this a good lecture?
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Navigating Through Lectures & Seminars

HANDLING A LECTURE?
•KEY WORDS  (prepare beforehand)
•Signalling language
•Recording (notes)
•Background reading
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Navigating Through Lectures & Seminars

NOTE-TAKING
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• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAhRf3U50lM
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•DISCUSSION:
•What works for you?
•Notes in first or second language?
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Navigating Through Lectures & Seminars

SEMINAR SKILLS (1)
•How to prepare for a seminar
oGive yourself enough time
oRead around the subject
oFormulate some questions (and the answers you expect)
oWhat could you contribute to the discussion?
oRehearse a possible contribution
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Navigating Through Lectures & Seminars

SEMINAR SKILLS (2)
•During the Seminar
o JOIN IN
oListen to others and adapt your opinions – take notes
oDon’t interrupt
oUse signposting language to give your contribution structure
oDon’t talk too much  (be concise)
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Navigating Through Lectures & Seminars

SEMINAR SKILLS (3)
•Think about how you are speaking
oLook up when you are speaking and focus on who you are talking to – EYE CONTACT
oSpeak clearly with pauses
oThink about the volume of your voice
oThink about the tone  (don’t be too emotion-led)
oThink about the speed
oTry and use academic language with accuracy
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Navigating Through Lectures & Seminars

ACTIVITY 2
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• A seminar discussion
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1.10 minutes to think of a contribution
2.10 minutes in small groups
3.PLENARY DISCUSSION
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Navigating Through Lectures & Seminars

TOPIC FOR DISCUSSION
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•English should be promoted as the most important global language.
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Navigating Through Lectures & Seminars

SOME FINAL THOUGHTS
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Navigating Through Lectures & Seminars
1.The best initial preparation for a seminar is good lecture attendance.
2.This means more than just sitting in the lecture theatre...it means active involvement in, and
processing of, the lecture
3.It’s a good idea to briefly but systematically review your lecture notes before the seminar.
4.You should deliberately think of issues you want to ‘take forward’ from the lecture for
clarification during the seminar

EVALUATION
•What can you take away from this workshop?
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Navigating Through Lectures & Seminars