Course detail
English for Northern America
FEKT-XASAAcad. year: 2012/2013
This course is designed for students who have a good enough ability to communicate in English. The aim of this course to make language students aware of North American culture, the different dialects, political and economic differences from the European way, along with a better orientation of Canada and the United States. The course is intended to improve the communication abilities of the student in specific situations, and to improve writing skills of each student as well.
Language of instruction
Number of ECTS credits
Mode of study
Guarantor
Department
Learning outcomes of the course unit
Prerequisites
Co-requisites
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes
60% exam
Course curriculum
1. Political Systems. Differences between the United States and Canada and comparison with Europe. Attitudes towards their own sovereignty.
2. Comparison of American English and British English-with a comparison of Canadian English too. Greetings/Telephoning.
3. Geography of the USA. Comparison of different regions in the country. Demography, ethnic and religious background of population.
4. Geography of Canada. Comparison of different regions in the country. Differences between Quebec and the rest of Canada. Linguistic issues.
5. Traveling across the USA and Canada. Use of buses, trains and cars. Natural and man-made sites to visit. How to respond and react as a tourist?
6. Technological feats-the building of the Hoover Dam given as one example. Other major technological feats in North America.
7. Educational system. Differences between North America and Europe. Requirement for entrance into universities.
8. Employment in North America. What are the necessary requirements? What type of engineers are needed? Presentation of C.V., going to interviews, etc.
9. Invitations and restaurants. How to make and respond to an invitation? Different attitudes towards food in different parts of each country.
10. Recreational and cultural activities in the United States and Canada.
Sports, music, national holidays, other freetime activities.
11. Taboos. Political correctness in the areas of sex and gender, religion, politics and alcohol. Race relations and multiculturalism.
12. Review of above topic areas for semester test.
13. Semester test for course written.
Work placements
Aims
Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences
Recommended optional programme components
Prerequisites and corequisites
Basic literature
Recommended reading
Classification of course in study plans
- Programme ZRZT-J Bachelor's
branch J-ZRT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch J-ZRT , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective general - Programme BTBIO-F Master's
branch F-BTB , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch F-BTB , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective general - Programme BTBIO-A Bachelor's
branch A-BTB , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch A-BTB , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective general - Programme EECC Bc. Bachelor's
branch B-AMT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch B-AMT , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch B-MET , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch B-MET , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch B-TLI , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch B-TLI , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch B-SEE , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch B-SEE , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch B-EST , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch B-EST , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective general - Programme EEKR-M Master's
branch M-BEI , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch M-BEI , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch M-MEL , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch M-MEL , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch M-KAM , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch M-KAM , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch M-SVE , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch M-SVE , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch M-EST , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch M-EST , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch M-EVM , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch M-EVM , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch M-EEN , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch M-EEN , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch M-TIT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch M-TIT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective general - Programme EEKR-M Master's
branch M-BEI , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch M-BEI , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch M-EST , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch M-EST , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch M-EVM , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch M-EVM , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch M-EEN , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch M-EEN , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch M-TIT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch M-TIT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch M-MEL , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch M-MEL , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch M-KAM , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch M-KAM , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch M-SVE , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective general
branch M-SVE , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective general