Welcome to the course CJVA302: Current Events in English-speaking Countries!

This is a course for students of international relations and related fields. The main focus of the seminar will be discussions of current issues in world politics, informed by our watching, listening, and reading of news articles, blogs, videos, podcasts, and other sources. Great attention is also devoted to building vocabulary both from the field of international relations and Academic English. The content of the course will be created and adjusted together with the students according to your needs and preferences as discussed in the first seminar. Thus it is vital that you attend the first session!

We will meet each week at our scheduled time (Wednesdays at 12:00) in room U44 at FSS. We will take one "reading week" off sometime in the middle of the semester (the date will be negotiated at our first meeting). 

Course requirements

1) Regular attendance and participation: We will meet 12 times during the semester. I hope you can attend each meeting; however, you may miss two meetings with no excuse needed or wanted, and no penalty. If you miss more than two meetings, you will be at risk for failing the course - so if an emergency situation arises and you anticipate missing many lessons, let me know as soon as possible so that we can decide what to do about it. 

You are expected to actively participate in each lesson - speaking, writing, and sharing your views and ideas.

2) HW and readings: There will be required readings/viewings/listenings before each lecture - some chosen by me, but many chosen by you and your classmates. These readings will be the basis for our discussions, and they will expand your vocabulary and exposure to authentic English. Links to the required readings will be posted to the interactive syllabus on a weekly basis, or further in advance when possible.

3) Leading the discussion: During the semester, you will work with a classmate (or two) to lead the discussion for that day on a current political/social issue, question, or problem of your choice. You should be "in charge" of the class for about 30 minutes and guide us through some interactive activities (e.g. a class debate, writing prompts, questions for discussion) that aim to produce some change in the way we understand your chosen issue/question/problem. You will choose a reading/video/podcast to share with your classmates prior to the discussion.

4) Short analysis/argument paper: You will write a short (2 pages max.) analytical/argumentative paper on a current political/social issue of your choice, in the style of a blog post, popular science, or opinion article. In the paper, you will refer to 2 or 3 sources, summarize/synthesize their arguments/opinions, and then respond to them with your own critical analysis and reflection.