Soft-skill Based Syllabus in Legal English Courses

HRADILOVÁ, Alena. Soft-skill Based Syllabus in Legal English Courses. Journal of Teaching English for Specific and Academic Purposes. Niš, Serbia: University of Niš, 2018, 6/2018, No 2, p. 235-243. ISSN 2334-9182.

Basic information

Original name

Soft-skill Based Syllabus in Legal English Courses

Authors

HRADILOVÁ, Alena (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Journal of Teaching English for Specific and Academic Purposes, Niš, Serbia, University of Niš, 2018, 2334-9182

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Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

60202 Specific languages

Country of publisher

Serbia

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

URL

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14640/18:00104956

Organization unit

Language Centre

Keywords in English

soft skills task chaining experiential learning LSP needs analysis

Tags

International impact, Reviewed

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Abstract

V originále

The article discusses reasons why a team of teachers at Language Centre of Masaryk University decided to abandon the traditional topic based syllabus in order to focus on soft skills and life skills. It offers an application of needs analyses carried out among faculty graduates to our course syllabi and its result in major changes to structuring the courses in terms of moving from topics as our starting point to life skills, and from atomized language exercises to task chaining. This approach leads to useful soft skills development where topics serve the purpose of soft-skill practice fillers and vocabulary building is a natural by-product of the activities. The paper offers examples of chained lesson plans based on experiential learning. Student feedback and a small-scale action research illustrates how they perceive and appreciate the changes and how the changed approach towards syllabus design influences their motivation to learn.