CJVA402 Academic Presentations and Other Study Skills

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2022
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 2 credit(s) (plus 2 credits for an exam). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. et Mgr. Petra Trávníková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
PhDr. Athena Alchazidu, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Abigail Mokra, M.A. et M.A. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Zuzana Vašíčková (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Dana Plíšková (assistant)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. et Mgr. Petra Trávníková, Ph.D.
Language Centre Faculty of Social Studies Division – Language Centre
Contact Person: Mgr. et Mgr. Petra Trávníková, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Language Centre Faculty of Social Studies Division – Language Centre
Timetable of Seminar Groups
CJVA402/01: Mon 8:00–9:40 U36, P. Trávníková
CJVA402/02: Mon 16:00–17:40 U44, A. Alchazidu
CJVA402/03: Wed 8:00–9:40 U36, P. Trávníková
CJVA402/04: Thu 8:00–9:40 U44, P. Trávníková
CJVA402/05: Thu 12:00–13:40 U36, A. Mokra, Z. Vašíčková
Prerequisites
((FAKULTA(FSS)&&FORMA(P)&&TYP_STUDIA(BMN))||(OBOR(MUSFSS)))&&( ADAPT_B2 Adaptivní test B2 )&&(!NOWANY( CJVA401 Academic Writing and Other Study Skills ))
Passing ADAPT_B2 Adaptivní test B2 with the result indicating that you are on the B2 level or higher. (https://is.muni.cz/auth/el/fss/jaro2022/ADAPT_B2/index.qwarp)
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
The capacity limit for the course is 77 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 4/77, only registered: 0/77, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/77
Course objectives
This course, intended for master’s students of all disciplines, is a skills-based course at the B2+ level of the European Referential Framework of Languages. Its aim is practise students’ academic language and critical thinking skills. Students will practice listening (listening to lectures and note-taking, identifying the speaker’s point of view), speaking (delivering presentations, developing an argument, small talk), reading (how to understand academic articles, strategies helpful for efficient reading) and writing (writing a presentation abstract and position paper, paraphrasing and summarizing).

Special attention will be paid to presentations, which is a skill that is essential not only in the academic world but also in their future careers. Students will be presented with a wealth of practice opportunities to enhance all the aforementioned skills.
Learning outcomes
Students will be able to (at the C1 level of CEFR): • give presentations on academic and non academic topics (pecha kucha, elevator pitch) • recognise and employ various registers • write various academic genres (abstract, position paper) • be involved in academic debates (art of argumentation) • use linking and transition words.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction. Academic Orientation, academic culture, study expectations. Individual goals and study goals- discussion.
  • 2. Language. Collecting information and presenting about one's partner. Summary writing. Reading Whose English is it anyway.
  • 3. One-to-one sessions. Five-minute individual meetings (discussing personal strengths and weaknesses in presenting).
  • 4. Tandem presentations. Visuals. Reporting verbs.
  • 5. Minipresentations on the field of study.Video: 5 tips to a killer opener.
  • 6. Politeness. Elevator pitch presentation. Cultural differences in being polite. George Mikes: How to be rude. Reported speech and indirecteness.
  • 7. Red Thread. Referring backwards and forwards in your presentation. Signposting. Relative clauses.
  • 8.One-minute improvisations. Formal x informal style. Registers.
  • 9. Faith. Video: What Islam really says about women. Presentation structure-revision. Writing an abstract.
  • 10. Questions and answers. Discussion after the presentation: strategies and stages. Small talk: how to politely say no. 11. and 12. Minipresentations on students' Bc. theses.
Literature
  • L. A. Ford Brown: Guide to Public speaking. Longman 2012. ISBN ISBN-13: 978-0-205-75011-5
Teaching methods
planning and giving presentations, reading academic texts, class discussions, academic writing
Assessment methods
active attendance proved by a portfolio of 5 presentations delivered in the seminars during the term
written assignment - summary,abstract, position paper
final presentation
written assignment - summary
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught each semester.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2016, Spring 2017, Autumn 2017, Spring 2018, Autumn 2018, Spring 2019, Autumn 2019, Spring 2020, Autumn 2020, Spring 2021, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Spring 2023, Autumn 2023, Spring 2024, Autumn 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2022, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2022/CJVA402