JAD02 Advanced English for PhD studies (C1)

Faculty of Science
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Joseph Lennon, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Eva Čoupková, Ph.D. (assistant)
Lenka Pavlíková (assistant)
Mgr. Monika Ševečková, Ph.D. (assistant)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Eva Čoupková, Ph.D.
Language Centre, Faculty of Science Division – Language Centre
Contact Person: Mgr. Monika Ševečková, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Language Centre, Faculty of Science Division – Language Centre
Prerequisites
Knowledge of English: Instructor: native or minimum C2, Participant: C1 or B2+
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives
The course will help students increase the impact and accuracy of their spoken interactions in English in academic settings. We will analyse and practice ways to take advantage of brief encounters – such as poster presentations, Q and A sessions, and small talk at conferences. The emphasis will be not only on building vocabulary with useful turns or phrase, but also on practicing templates and formats that can be used in many social and academic situations.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to: Feel more confident presenting at conferences and symposia, and highlighting their contribution to their field; Introduce their work quickly and succinctly (in just a few sentences) by “creating a space” for their research; Choose which details to leave out and which to emphasize in a short presentation; Recognize typical mistakes (and wasted opportunities) in academic English, and use much more effective phrasing; Appeal to different audiences by “code-meshing“ and varying the texture of their presentation; Provide and receive feedback professionally and politely.
Syllabus
  • We will cover these topics (and others based on the needs of the students in the course): The “Creating a Research Space” model for academic introductions, and how it can be applied to different genres; How to craft a great opening line that includes both the “what” AND the “why” of your research; Design principles for posters/short presentations, with a focus on often overlooked/underused elements of design (such as the infamous “final slide”); Showing” versus “telling” and other ways of making abstract concepts come alive for an audience; How to use good repetition, and how to recognize and eliminate bad repetition; Tricks for overcoming “institutional blindness” and for imagining different perspectives on your own work; Methods for giving your audience (and yourself) “breathing room” and chances to reflect/participate.
Literature
  • The presumption is that students will research and choose their own literature. The course will provide context-setting and other supportive resources
Teaching methods
This is a language and skills course, and students will be actively speaking and presenting in each seminar. Most seminars will follow this basic pattern: Students will do some brief preparation before class (usually a short reading or video-watching about the principles we will practice in class, and perhaps some brainstorming/note-taking). The instructor will lead a discussion and/or short presentation on the principles we will practice. The students will practice presenting and conversing about their work. The students and the instructor will respond to the presentations/discussions, reflecting on the performances and giving feedback.
Assessment methods
Assessment is continuous throughout the semester. Since the course is a language and skills course, attendance and active participation at the majority of seminars is expected, Students will be expected to be “on stage” 3 or 4 times during the term, speaking briefly in front of (or with) others, and receiving and responding to questions and feedback. All work will be completed by the final teaching day of the semester.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Information on completion of the course: Continuous and portfolio assessment
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
Credit evaluation note: Output level C1, C1+ or C2, depending on level at entry + performance.
Teacher's information
This one-semester presentation course is complemented with a one-semester writing course in the alternating semester. Although initially offered only to PhD students of the Life Sciences, the course is designed to be suitable for students from any Faculty or academic background. Seminar content will be adapted to the attending students’ projects.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2024.
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  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/spring2025/JAD02