2024/2025
English for Specific Purposes. English for International Studies – 1
Type:
Optional course
Delivered by:
School of Foreign Languages
When:
1, 2 module
Open to:
students of one campus
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
3
Course Syllabus
Abstract
English for International Studies -1 is a course designed for the first-year undergraduate students majoring in World Economy and International Relations. The course takes a balanced approach to building students’ confidence and skills required to excel in academic study, as well as to use English in the modern world. It combines (1) upgrading student English language and communication skills to the В1+ B2 level according to CEFR (including reading and listening comprehension, written and oral expression, and communicative interaction) and (2) building a strong foundation in the field of International Studies. Content-based language teaching increases students’ motivation, develops more comprehensive knowledge of the world and supports their general educational needs. The multifaceted holistic approach provides students with the tools for comprehending , exploring, and interpreting current trends in economic, political, and social development. Contemporary topics and issues stimulate students’ minds, develop their critical thinking skills, and motivate learners to meaningfully engage with language.
Learning Objectives
- The course aims at introducing students to topical business and international relations issues and building professional language and communication skills ● enriching the academic and subject-specific vocabulary and extending the grammatical range for discussing a variety of topics, such as International Politics and Foreign Policy, Economics and World Economy, Outstanding Political Leaders and Entrepreneurs, Small Business and Corporations, etc. ● equipping students with the reading strategies needed for tackling information-rich texts ● improving students’ writing skills using a scaffolding approach to writing ● increasing exposure to natural fluency and pronunciation using various video resources, such as TED Talks ● developing skills of target listening and extracting information from various types of texts (lectures, interviews, discussions, etc.) ● developing intercultural competence while focusing on the national aspects of cultures, comparing them to their own culture.
Expected Learning Outcomes
- to take part in discussions and give logically structured talks on various professionally oriented issues, providing reasons for their opinions, and expressing themselves fluently and spontaneously without obvious searching for expressions B2+
- to understand a wide range of texts, including technical discussions in the field of International Relations and Business; identify key information in a linguistically complex text; quickly scan long, complex texts for specific information B2+; understand differences and similarities between points of view B2+
- to understand the major specialised terms associated with economics, politics and international relations
- to use language flexibly and effectively for academic and professional purposes
- to develop skills of note-taking
- to develop understanding of specialised complex longer texts*/articles and reports concerned with contemporary problems (CEFR)
- to give a structured talk (monologue): descriptive/informative/reasoning
- to participate in discussions on various topics (active listening, questioning, responding to questions, emphasizing)
- to understand lectures, dialogues and polylogues on both familiar and unfamiliar topics
- to understand text structure
- to use basic listening techniques (predicting, understanding main ideas and details)
- to use basic reading techniques, skimming & scanning (predicting, understanding main ideas, understanding details)
- to develop skills in writing a summary
Course Contents
- What are international studies about? Economics vs world economy. World politics vs foreign policy
- What is a state? Territory, people and sovereignty
- Economic systems
- What do diplomats do? The most influential diplomats and political leaders
- Role and challenges of entrepreneurs. Outstanding entrepreneurs
Assessment Elements
- Oral assessment (OA)Structured talks (monologues).
- Student Independent Work Assessment (IWA)Independent work includes research activities (5%) and mid-term oral assessment in the first and the second modules (10% and 10%).
- Written assessment (WA)Written assessment includes Reading Tests, Listening Tests, Vocabulary Tests, Summaries.
- Final Assessment (FA)The interim exam lasts 70 minutes. The exam is a written paper-and-pen test and is aimed at checking whether the student can demonstrate the acquisition of the learning objectives set. The exam consists of two parts, i.e. Listening (L) and Writing (W) that weigh 50% and 50% respectively in the total mark for the exam: Listening (L): Listen to the text ONCE and complete the tasks. Max. 10 points. Writing (W): Read the text. Write a summary on the text you have read. A student should write a 150-word summary. Students have no more than 20 minutes to complete the Listening (L) part and 50 minutes to complete the Writing (W) part. Grading formula: L*0,5 + W*0,5 = 10 The actual scores for Listening are turned into percentages which are tuned into a final mark out of 10 points. Grading scale: 10 =100 - 96%, 9=95 - 91%, 8=90 - 86%, 7 = 85 - 78%, 6 =77 - 71%, 5= 70 - 61%, 4 = 60 - 51%, 3 = 50 - 36%, 2 = 35 - 21%, 1 = 20 - 1 %, 0 = 0%. Writing is assessed against the criteria. Period of FA: 10 days prior to the 2nd module’s session. The release of examination papers: during the session.
Interim Assessment
- 2024/2025 2nd module0.3 * Final Assessment (FA) + 0.2 * Oral assessment (OA) + 0.25 * Student Independent Work Assessment (IWA) + 0.25 * Written assessment (WA)
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- Newton, K., & Deth, J. W. van. (2010). Foundations of Comparative Politics : Democracies of the Modern World: Vol. 2nd ed. Cambridge eText.
- Якушева И. В., Демченкова О. А. - ДЕЛОВОЙ АНГЛИЙСКИЙ ЯЗЫК. INTRODUCTION INTO PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH 3-е изд., испр. и доп. Учебник и практикум для академического бакалавриата - М.:Издательство Юрайт - 2018 - 148с. - ISBN: 978-5-534-07026-2 - Текст электронный // ЭБС ЮРАЙТ - URL: https://urait.ru/book/delovoy-angliyskiy-yazyk-introduction-into-professional-english-426472
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- English for business studies : a course for business studies and economics students: student's book, MacKenzie, I., 2012