VV064 Syllabus – Academic and Professional Skills in English for IT

                                  Mgr. Antonín Zita, M.A., Ph.D.

                            Spring 2017, Wednesday 16:00 – 17:50, A319

Course Description:

Life, whether inside or outside academia, requires multiple sets of skills. As a consequence, the
course takes a holistic approach to academic and professional skills, therefore giving the students
an opportunity to widen their abilities that will be useful in their future careers. The course
covers the following areas: the difference between formal and informal language and their proper
use, participation in group discussions, text analysis (facts and arguments), and presentation
style and delivery.


Evaluation:

The course evaluation is based on the following:

-          class participation/homework (25%)

-          formal/informal exam (in Week 7) (20%)

-          vocabulary test (last week) (10%)

-          class presentation (25%)

-          summary assignment (20%)

Class participation

Active participation in class assignments and discussions is expected. In addition, a timely
submission of short homework exercises is also vital for completion of the course. This includes
creating a vocabulary list shared with the whole class to be used for the vocabulary test (see
below); students will work on the list every other week.

Formal/informal exam

There will be an in-class exam in Week 7. The exam focuses on formal and informal vocabulary as
well as grammar and overall style.

Presentation in class

Students will give a presentation during the last few weeks of classes. The presentations should
last between 10 and 15 minutes and the topic will be chosen after a discussion with the instructor.

Vocabulary test

There will be a small vocabulary test during the last class of the semester. The test will contain
only words from the vocabulary list created by students.

Summary assignment

This assignment takes place during the exam period and has two parts. First, students will write a
summary of a source, and then they will review two other summaries written by their peers.


Course policies:

Students are allowed not to attend two classes.


Syllabus:

Week 1 – Feb 22

Introduction to the course, formal/informal language and vocabulary, using the appropriate register


Week 2 – March 1

Formal/informal language and vocabulary (continued), reporting verbs


Week 3 – March 8

Group discussion exercises


Week 4 – March 15

Understanding texts – facts vs. opinions


Week 5 – March 22

Understanding texts – arguments and levels of arguments


Week 6 – March 29

No class


Week 7 – April 5

Introduction to presentations, how not to give a presentation; the basics of summaries

Formal/informal exam


Week 8 – April 12

Summaries: the basics of summaries, focusing on important information.


Week 9 – April 19

Some problems with presentations, polishing presentations


Week 10 – April 26

No class – students discuss drafts of their presentation with the lecturer in his office/via email


Week 11 – May 3

Further presentation discussion – analysis of the presentation, understanding the construction and
argument; body language


Week 12 – May 10

Presentation session 1

Further discussion of class topics.


Week 13 – May 17

Presentation session 2

Vocabulary test

Course wrap-up