Objectives and competences
• The competence to think critically about a problem from their study field
• Competence for oral and written communication in professional English
• Competence to find information on professional vocabulary unassisted
• Competence to find information on lower-intermediate and intermediate grammar structures unassisted
Content (Syllabus outline)
Recalling and practicing the main building blocks of grammar (morphemes, phonemes, word families, syntax, etc.) and trying to get rid of any fosilised mistakes through practice and redirecting. The next step is recalling tense structures, conditionals, passives, articles and prepositions, as well as set phrases and verbs with prepositions and we go depper into the layers of tense use, conditionals, passives and prepositions (along with prepositional phrases and verbs). The biggest emphasis is on gaining vocabulary on agriculture and natural sciences, as well as imroving reading, writing, listening and speaking skills.
There is also an inclusion of shorter literary texts, used for extracting science vocabulary, vocabulary appropriate for interpersonal use, critical thinking techniques and empathy to gain understanding and ways of dealing with people in a business environment.
Learning and teaching methods
• lectures
• group work
• individual work
• clasroom discussions
• brainstorming
Intended learning outcomes - knowledge and understanding
Knowledge and understanding:
• A deepened knowledge on intermediate grammar structures
• Expanding professional English vocabulary
• A general improvement in language skills.
Intended learning outcomes - transferable/key skills and other attributes
Readings
• Brookfield, Stephen D. (2012). Teaching for Critical Thinking: Tools and Techniques to Help Students Question Their Assumptions. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
• Murphy, Raymond (2012). English Grammar in Use. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Swan, Michael and Walter, Catherine (2011). Oxford English Grammar Course. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• O'Sullivan,Neil and D. Libbin, James (2011). Career Paths: Agriculture - Student's Book. Express Publishing UK Ltd.
Additional information on implementation and assessment Oral presentation 40 %
Written exam 60 %
A positively assessed oral presentation is required for attending the exam. Both categories have to be assessed with a pass in order to pass the subject.
