PřF:JAB03 English for Biology III - Course Information

JAB03 English for Biology III

Extent and Intensity

0/2/0. 2 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).

Teacher(s)

PhDr. Hana Němcová (lecturer)
Agnieszka Suchomelová-Polomska, M.A. (lecturer)
Anthony Kerr (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Eva Čoupková, Ph.D. (assistant)
Mgr. Štěpánka Dillingerová, Ph.D. (assistant)
Mgr. Daniela Dlabolová (assistant)
Bc. Mgr. Petra Chládková (assistant)
Mgr. Kateřina Martiníková, Ph.D. (assistant)
PhDr. Eva Složilová, MA, Ph.D. (assistant)
Mgr. Monika Ševečková, Ph.D. (assistant)
Mgr. Daniela Veškrnová (assistant)
Mgr. Michal Zeman, Ph.D. (assistant)
Mgr. Jitka Žváčková (assistant)

Guaranteed by

Agnieszka Suchomelová-Polomska, M.A.
Language Centre, Faculty of Science Division – Language Centre
Contact Person: Lenka Pavlíková
Supplier department: Language Centre, Faculty of Science Division – Language Centre

Timetable of Seminar Groups

JAB03/01: Mon 17. 9. to Fri 14. 12. Tue 13:00–14:50 C15/227, H. Němcová
JAB03/02: Mon 17. 9. to Fri 14. 12. Tue 15:00–16:50 C15/227, H. Němcová
JAB03/03: Mon 17. 9. to Fri 14. 12. Mon 11:00–12:50 C15/227, A. Suchomelová-Polomska
JAB03/04: Mon 17. 9. to Fri 14. 12. Mon 15:00–16:50 C15/114, A. Kerr

Prerequisites

The knowledge of English - B1+ level CEFR - English for Specific Purposes

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

there are 58 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display

Course objectives

The aim of JAB03 course is:
-to raise students‘ awareness of modern trends and practices among members of specific discourse communities (introducing language in the context of typical genres, practising those genres)
-to practise and extend academic vocabulary and basic specialized vocabulary in biological context (e.g.: academic CV and cover letter for field-related jobs, job interview, poster presentation, genetic engineering, radioactivity, malaria, genetic diseases, genetic screening, stem cell research, sound and hearing phenomena)
-to practise language skills and functions typical for natural sciences (e.g. process description, cause-effect, argumentation: persuasive/balanced, analysing: comparing/contrasting, evaluating, etc.) which the students will be able to apply to a narrower/more specific context of their specializations (transferrable skills)
-to practise academic skills, e.g.: formal writing/note-taking from a lecture, identifying and formulating main ideas, identifying specific information, interpretation of information, text summary, taking part in discussions, speaking in public about biology-related topics, politeness markers in negative answers/giving negative feedback
-to practise B2 grammar in academic or specialized context

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to:
better understand an authentic global problem from the angle of their specialization and at the same time
communicate it with other specialists in their team
better understand interdisciplinary relationships
formulate their key skills and motivation for the work in a research team (CV, letter of application for an internship, mock interview)
think critically
use English as a tool of communication, use functional academic language, specific language of the subject
communicate their results effectively by making their presentations understandable

Syllabus

• Seminar groups of Hana Němcová
• (see https://is.muni.cz/auth/el/1431/podzim2018/JAB03/nemcova.qwarp)
• Global Issues: global priorities, discussion
• Malaria: discipline-based approach, project design, presentation of the results (individuals and/or teams). Content of projects supervised by a PhD student
• Job Application (CV, cover letter, mock interview) - based on authentic materials
• Theories of History of Life – comparison, key ideas + (Evolution x Intelligent Design - video-based case study : argumentation – giving opinion, role-play) . Language: definitions, making connections
• Ageing, Telomeres, Telomerase (discussion, reading and listening comprehension, focus on pronunciation of difficult words). Language/grammar: word formation, making questions, wish clauses, I´d rather/better
• Lifespans: reading and listening comprehension, comparative ageing studies. Language: reporting verbs, modal verbs
• Comparison Methods (plant biology) - reading comprehension, writing, Language/grammar: comparing-contrasting markers, adjectives
• Seminar groups of Agnieszka Suchomelová:
• Applying for a job: writing CV, cover letter, mock job interviews (politeness markers, giving advice, indirect questions, unreal past, action verbs)
• Radioactivity: balanced argumentation (text analysis, comparing-contrasting, taking a stance, determiners, linking phrases)
• GMO: persuasive argumentation (text analysis, evaluating, hedging)
• Ethical questions (cause and effect, developing an argument, conditionals, inversion)
• Speculating: sound and hearing (describing degrees of certainty, drawing conclusions, process description, modal verbs of deduction, hedging)
• Poster presentation: introducing and describing one's area of research, presenting it in a concise but explicit manner, effective ways of using visuals and effective text organization, interacting with the audience (indirect questions, signposting language)

Literature

• online: New Scientist, Science Daily, Nature, National Geographic, BBC, How stuff works,
• The recommended literaure - see the information of the teacher
• WALLWORK, Adrian. English for research : usage, style, and grammar. New York [N.Y.]: Springer, 2013, xvi, 252. ISBN 9781461415923. info
• PATERSON, Ken and Roberta WEDGE. Oxford grammar for EAP : English grammar and practice for academic purposes : with answers. First published. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013, 223 stran. ISBN 9780194329996. info
• DE CHAZAL, Edward and Sam MCCARTER. Oxford EAP : a course in English for academic purposes. First published. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012, 152 stran. ISBN 9780194001809. info
• ARMER, Tamzen. Cambridge English for scientists. Edited by Jeremy Day. 1st pub. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011, 128 s. ISBN 9780521154093. info
• WALLWORK, Adrian. English for writing research papers. New York: Springer, 2011, xxii, 325. ISBN 9781441979216. info
• MCCARTHY, Michael and Felicity O'DELL. Academic vocabulary in use. First published. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008, 176 stran. ISBN 9780521689397. info
• Academic writing course :study skills in English. Edited by R.R Jordan. 1st ed. Essex: Longman, 1999, 160 s. ISBN 0-582-40019-8. info

Teaching methods

H. Němcová groups:
The course shares elements of three teaching approaches: collaborative learning, problem-based learning, CLIL (content and language integrated learning). Reading and listening comprehension, writing skills, team work, discussion, presentation.

A.Suchomelová groups:
The course is aimed at practising academic English in specialized context, and practising model activities and language techniques for English for Specific Purposes exam (JA002) preparation.
Reading and listening comprehension, writing skills, team work, discussions and other spoken delivery, presentations.

Assessment methods

H. Němcová groups:
Each course is concluded with a final assessment (project and its presentation, CV, cover letter, mock interview) + 80% attendance

A. Suchomelová groups:
The course is completed upon successful accomplishment of coursework assignments: writing CV, writing cover letter and taking part in a mock interview, and receiving at least 60% score for the final credit test.
At least 80% of attendance is required.

Language of instruction

Czech

Follow-Up Courses

• JAB04 English for Biology IV

Further Comments

Study Materials
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is taught annually.

• Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2018, recent)
  
• Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/autumn2018/JAB03