2024/2025

English for Specific Purposes. Physics - 3

Type: Optional course

Delivered by: School of Foreign Languages

When: 1-3 module

Open to: students of one campus

Language: English

ECTS credits: 3

Contact hours: 50

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The course "English for Specific Purposes. Physics-3" focuses on the development of language competences required for successful professional communication within the field of physics. This course is aimed at enabling learners to develop their key language skills which could allow them to listen to lectures on specific topics and problems of physics, discuss physics-related subjects with peers, perform presentations, read academic articles and write their reviews, describe complex processes and communicate adequately in different academic and professional settings. The course covers a set of specific topics, such as Numbers and Geometric Shapes, Mathematical Actions and Formulae, Molecules and Atoms, Forces, Motion and Velocity, etc. The key English-learning objectives are the expansion of students’ professional vocabulary and the development of reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. The course is recommended for the students of the B2+ level (CEFR) who are willing to succeed in professional use of English.

Learning Objectives

• - The development of language skills and competences corresponding to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) B2+ level of English (HSE Scale 60-69 points); - The improvement of reading, writing, listening and speaking skills for their practical use in academic and professional communication within the field of physics; - The expansion of specific vocabulary which will enable students to pose questions, express ideas and describe basic and complex processes and phenomena connected to the field of physics; - The elimination of language barriers through practical pair and group interaction and immediate application of the acquired knowledge of grammar and vocabulary in and outside the classroom.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• - Understand the main ideas and particular details of academic texts; read various relatively complex texts on familiar and unfamiliar topics; use basic reading techniques (skimming and scanning); pose text-related questions; provide text-based answers to questions; read and write formulae; describe geometric shapes; discuss questions connected with the subject of a lesson.
• - Read and distinguish academic texts of various types; translate extracts of academic articles from English into Russian and from Russian into English; make a plan of a studied text and provide its written or oral summary; analyse and compare information from the text; describe tables and diagrams; solve and invent physics problems; write clear and well-structured texts on a variety of subjects expressing points of view, developing arguments, performing synthesis and evaluation.
• - Understand relatively complex academic and professional presentations and lectures; use basic listening techniques (predicting, listening for a gist, listening for detail, listening for specific information); understand monologues and polylogues of native and non-native English speakers.
• - Perform descriptive and informative monologues and presentations; provide answers to instant questions; express an opinion and comprehensive reaction (both verbal and non-verbal) on a lesson-related subject; provide examples and the explanation of their connections with the topic.
• - Initiate a discussion and invite peers into it; participate in debates on abstract and specific topics; maintain extended speech and complex reasoning lines; address interlocutors’ opinions with correct, clear and appropriate questions or objections; provide arguments to support or oppose a particular point of view; give the advantages and disadvantages of various opinions; participate in discussions on a range of topics with good command of grammar and specific vocabulary.

Course Contents

• Physics as Science.
• Basics of Physics.
• History of Physics.
• Discoveries of Physics.
• Advances in Physics.

Assessment Elements

• Written assessment
  Written assessment includes minimum 1 reading test, minimum 1 listening test, minimum 1 vocabulary and grammar test and minimum 1 written work (a review). The test tasks can be of different types. If necessary, the number of tests and works can be increased by a course instructor.
• Oral assessment
  Oral assessment includes minimum 1 presentation with further discussion and minimum 1 dialogue.
• Independent work
  Independent work includes activities that students do at home, in the classroom and online. If necessary the number of activities can be increased by a course instructor.
• Final assessment
  The exam consists of 3 parts: Listening (30%), Reading (30%) and Writing (40%) respectively in the total mark for the exam. 0 points in case of cheating. Time limit: 80 minutes online/offline. Task complexity: B2+

Interim Assessment

• 2024/2025 3rd module
  0.3 * Final assessment + 0.25 * Independent work + 0.2 * Oral assessment + 0.25 * Written assessment

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Английский язык для технических вузов : учеб. пособие, Шевцова, Г. В., 2009
• Коваленко, И. Ю.  Английский язык для физиков и инженеров : учебник и практикум для вузов / И. Ю. Коваленко. — Москва : Издательство Юрайт, 2023. — 278 с. — (Высшее образование). — ISBN 978-5-9916-8624-2. — Текст : электронный // Образовательная платформа Юрайт [сайт]. — URL: https://urait.ru/bcode/511249 (дата обращения: 28.08.2023).

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Advanced grammar in use : a self-study reference and practice book for advanced learners of English, Hewings, M., 2013
• English grammar in use : a self-study reference and practice book for intermediate students: with answers, Murphy, R., 2002

Authors

• KULKOV DANIIL ANDREEVICH