JAT04  Unit 1

Task 1 About the course

Work in small groups. Share all the information you have about the current course and the
compulsory exam JA002 or talk about your hopes and expectations.

Consider the following:

-          credit requirements - attendance, homework, assignments…

-          exam – level, structure, content, pass mark…


Task 2 Speaking

Read the statements below. Do you agree or disagree with them? Why? Identify at least two reasons
in each case.

A)    Traditional written exams are the most effective way to measure intelligence.

B)    Levels of literacy for young people are generally increasing globally.

C)    There won´t be any teachers in the classrooms of the future.

D)    In the near future science will be commonly taught in English in Czech classrooms.



Task 3 Academic skills

A)    Which skills do you think are the most important for your academic studies? Which are the
least important?


B)    Which two skills do you think are your strengths and which do you think you need to practise
more?

·         Understanding lectures in English

·         Taking part in group work

·         Giving presentations

·         Reading academic texts

·         Finding information to include in my own writing

·         Summarising what I have read

·         Writing academic texts

·         Learning academic vocabulary

·         …………………………………..



C)    In pairs, discuss your answers. Do you have any advice to give on how to improve these
skills?


Task 4   Study habits

How do you learn best?

Tick a maximum of three options to complete each of the sentences. If you don´t agree with the
options provided, you can write your own.

1.       The kinds of classmates I like are…

·         supportive

·         creative

·         fun to be with

·         opinionated

·         serious-minded

·         similar to me

·         different from me

·         …………………….


2.       The strategies that help me most in my learning are…

·         time management

·         reviewing my learning regularly

·         writing detailed notes

·         setting myself objectives and deadlines

·         collaborating with other learners

·         using a variety with materials and technical resources

·         listening to relaxing music

·         ………………………………………………………..



3.       Sometimes during lessons…

·         I switch off and lose my place

·         I get uncomfortable and start to fidget

·         I suddenly understand something I´d been puzzling over for years

·         I prefer to listen to the teacher rather than contribute myself

·         I get distracted by other people

·         I wish the lesson didn´t have to finish so soon

·         my mind goes blank when I´m asked a question

·         ……………………………………………………………


4.       When I work in a group I…

·         learn a lot from others

·         have more fun

·         rely on other people

·         feel more motivated

·         get impatient with people

·         like having a task in common

·         dominate the group

·         …………………………………………………………..