CJVA153 English for Environmental Studies and Social Policy and Social Work

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 2 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Šárka Roušavá, B.A. (lecturer)
Bc. Klára Hanzlíková (assistant)
Mgr. et Mgr. Petra Trávníková, Ph.D. (assistant)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Šárka Roušavá, B.A.
Language Centre Faculty of Social Studies Division – Language Centre
Contact Person: Bc. Klára Hanzlíková
Supplier department: Language Centre Faculty of Social Studies Division – Language Centre
Timetable
Thu 16:00–17:40 U36
Prerequisites
Minimum English level of B1+ (according to CEFR)
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
The capacity limit for the course is 15 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 11/15, only registered: 0/15, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/15
Course objectives
Students will have a B2 level (CEFR) of English in academic writing, speaking, reading and listening in fields that pertain to topics related to environmental studies and/or social policy/work. They will be able to give short academic presentations, lead discussions and engage in simple debates related to these social studies themes. They will be capable of summarizing and analysing written and audio texts, as well as contributions from other students in a cohesive, polite and concise manner. They will also have the ability to think critically about issues, and to present coherent responses and critiques, both verbally and in writing.
Learning outcomes
At the completion of the course, the student is able to do the following at a level of at least B2 (CEFR):

1. Give a short presentation based on the criteria presented in the course, and respond appropriately to discussion questions posed afterwards; speak spontaneously and comprehensibly in the context of the class (e.g. discussion, debate, expressing one's own ideas, paraphrasing and summarizing others' ideas, including those that are in person, recordings and texts).

2. Read, understand and work with academic texts;

3. Write a variety of short texts (e.g. academic summary, abstract and other texts that pertain to the student's field of study);

4. Understand spoken language in the context of discussions, presentations, debates and recordings.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction & Presentation Skills: structure, topic selection, introduction, purpose statement, conclusion
  • 2. Social Sciences: topic outlines, paraphrasing, summarizing, abstracts, topic sentence development
  • 3. Problems in the Natural World: paragraph planning, expressing polite disagreement
  • 4. Social Policy Meets the Environment: brain-storming, mind-mapping, reporting on research
  • 5. Green Social Work: writing abstracts, evaluating a grant proposal
  • 6. Social Entrepreneurship: note-taking, articles, linking words
  • 7. CO2 Output: Policy and Lifestyle: predicting, interpreting visuals
  • 8. Energy Policy: interactive listening, position paper
  • 9. Bringing About Change: Social Policy: critical reading, academic style & register, impersonal opinions
  • 10. Controversies: hedging, argumentative text
  • The content and order of the seminars may vary slightly.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • HEWINGS, Martin. Cambridge academic English : an integrated skills course for EAP : student's book : upper intermediate. Edited by Michael McCarthy. First published. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012, 176 stran. ISBN 9780521165204. info
  • THAINE, Craig. Teacher training essentials : workshops for professional development. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010, 127 s. ISBN 9780521172240. info
  • Zapf. M.K. Social Work and the Environment: Understanding People and Place. Canadian Scholars' Press Inc., 2009.
Teaching methods
Class discussions, debates, presentations, weekly current event reports, homework, reading, writing, mind-mapping, peer-review, language quizzes
Assessment methods
Course Requirements

1) Active participation at 70% of the lessons during the semester.

2) Preparation for classes and class work with approximately 5 smaller assignments (35 points); for example:
A) written leads on current issues (30-50 words) – to be done at home and presented orally in several classes
B) written/oral introductions of 2 topic ideas for a short presentation – 50-100 words
C) 7-8 minute-long presentation on an academic topic (delivered in class) [12 points]
D) written abstract (to accompany the presentation; 170-220 words) [8 points]
E) written summary of a class presentation or video (about 200 words) [5 points]
F) written argumentative text (about 200 words) [10 points]
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Spring 2022, Spring 2023.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2024/CJVA153