Course detail

English for Chemists IV S (B1+)

FCH-BC_A4Acad. year: 2019/2020

Extension of vocabulary in the field of chemical engineering. Writing technical texts and scientific abstracts.
Listening to profesionally oriented audios (e.g. listening for main ideas, general message or particular information, ..), reading for particular information and for gist.
Speaking (enquiry for and provision of information, arranging meetings and interviews)
Electronic aids for writing professional texts.
Selected structural aspects of technical and professional texts (e.g. compound terms, conversion of word classes, SVOMPTII), reading professionally oriented texts
Aids for writing professional texts; writing a semi-scientific text on work in a laboratory.
Complex enhancement of language skills and knowledge, preparation for final examination corresponding to CEFR B1+ level.

Language of instruction

English

Number of ECTS credits

4

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Learning outcomes of the course unit

The output of the course covers extension of special and general vocabulary esspecialy in the field of chemical engineering. Moreover, students will understand compound terms and terms with converted words and they will also be able to use essential language supporting aids. They will use relative clauses to describe various subjects in English. Students will deliver a presentation on a field-specific topic and write a text on a chemical topic including its abstrakt. They will also complete their knowledge and develop essential skills to pass the examination in English corresponding to the CEFR B1+ level successfully. Their four skills, grammar and vocabulary will be developed at the level corresponding to B1+ CEFR.

Prerequisites

English at B1 CEFR level, ability to read and understand specific texts of lower medium difficulty including grammar used; knowledge of English for Chemists I.-III., namely of vocabulary, structures and grammar discussed.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course is delivered in the form of language exercises - 2 teaching hours per week. The e-learning system (LMS Moodle) is available to teachers and students.
Teaching methods: lectures, activating methods, individualized learning, support of learning styles and strategies leading to life-long enhancement of language competence, problem learning.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes



To complete the course, the following requirements must be fulfilled: Attendance in lessons (2 absences are allowed), completion of individual tests during the semester, satisfactory performance at seminars, bringing a printed/electronic copy of study materials into seminars, delivery of a chemically oriented presentation (points included in the exam score), and successful completion of the final semester test (75%). Essay on laboratory work.


Final semester test will be focused on items discussed in English for Chemists IV electronic textbook. Students will show understanding compound terms and terms with converted words and they will also be able to use essential corresponding language supporting aids. Use of relative clauses to describe various subjects in English will be tested, too.
Listening to a profesionally oriented audio (e.g. listening for main ideas, general message or particular information, etc.) and reading a specific text for gist and particular information will be examined, too.

Examination:

Prerequisites: Knowledge from English for Chemists I.-IV. courses.

Examination (Related to English for Chemists I-IV courses) consists of two parts: a complex written test (45% of the mark) focused on grammar, vocabulary, reading, listening and writing skills coresponding to CEFR B1+ level and oral examination (30% of the mark) that tests speaking skill corresponding to the CEFR B1+ level. Students will speak about themselves, threir hobbies, motivation to study chemistry, various branches of chemistry and branch of chemistry they study and they will be able to show interest in their specialization. They are also required to be able to answer relevant questions in the interview. Evaluation of students´ performance and delivery of a presentation is a part of examination mark (25%).

Marks: 90-100% - A; 80-90% - B; 70-80% C; 60-70% - D; 50-60% E; less than 50% - not passed.

Course curriculum

1st week: Introductory information; summary of basic specific vocabulary and grammar. Delivery of a branch-oriented presentation II.

2nd week: Vocabulary - "Chemical Engineering - separation methods".Relative clauses,description of technological procedures based on the use of relative clauses, listening.

3rd week: Abstracts - specification of the genre, vocabulary, guided writing, free writing an abstract of a scientific text.

4th week: Word class conversion - reading and understanding terms with words created using conversion of word classes. Compound terms - types and structure, understanding compound terms in special and technical texts. Summary of English for chemists I.-III. vocabulary.

5th week: Reading chemistry focused articles in English with the focus on meaning of compound terms and structures with converted words I, listening exercise.

6th week: Reading chemistry focused articles in English with the focus on meaning of compound terms and structures with converted words II.

7th week: Rules for writing a specific technicaly oriented text: micro- to macrostructure and cohesion, SVOMPT summary, supporting aids (PhraseBook). Listening exercise.

8th week: Academic English, useful phrases, guided writing according to a sample text.

9th week: Writing a text on work in a laboratory. Listening exercise.

10th week: Writing a scientific text on laboratory work II, peer evaluation.

11th week: Peer evaluation, feedback on the above written text.

12th week: Techniques for teacher-independent learning and life-long language learning

13. week: Students´ presentation on a chemically oriented topics, preparation for examination in English for Chemists (corresponding to CEFR B1+ level).

All the four skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking are trained during the whole semester in relation to the discussed topics. Preparation for the examination corresponding to the CEFR B1+ level is also included into the course curriculum.

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

The aim is to enhance and develop students skills (reading, listening, writing, speaking), grammar and vocabulary so as the students would be able to prepare for chemistry oriented courses delivered in English and to complete successfully their bachelor thesis; moreover, their knowledge of English will help them succeed in their future professional career, and pass the examination in English corresponding to the CEFR B1+ level successfully.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

The attendance at seminars is monitored (2 absences are allowed). The part-time students also participate in face-to-face lessons and they can consult the course issues with teachers and use electronic study materials Angličtina pro chemiky IV (B1+) (English for Chemists IV (B1+)). Full-time students take tests throughout the semester and they are required to deliver a chemistry oriented presentation once a semester and to produce a chemically oriented shorter text; part-time students are assigned homeworks.
Students are asked to pass a test on vocabulary and grammar used in English for chemists I.-III and also a test covering the course curriculum.
Examination tests grammar, vocabulary, reading,listening and writing skills in written form (45%) and speaking in oral part (30%). Presentation contributes with 25% to the examination mark.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

English for Chemists IV (B2). Fišerová, L.; Clemensová, G. (EN)

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

eLearning

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme BPCP_CHCHT Bachelor's

    branch BPCO_CHMN , 2. year of study, summer semester, compulsory

  • Programme BPCP_CHCHTE Bachelor's, 2. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
  • Programme BKCP_CHCHTE Bachelor's, 2. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
  • Programme BKCP_CHTOŽP Bachelor's, 2. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
  • Programme BPCP_CHTOZP Bachelor's, 2. year of study, summer semester, compulsory

  • Programme BKCP_CHTPO Bachelor's

    specialization PCH , 2. year of study, summer semester, compulsory

  • Programme BPCP_CHTPO Bachelor's

    specialization PCH , 2. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    specialization BT , 2. year of study, summer semester, compulsory

  • Programme BKCP_CHTPO Bachelor's

    specialization BT , 2. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    specialization CHPL , 2. year of study, summer semester, compulsory

  • Programme BPCP_CHTPO Bachelor's

    specialization CHPL , 2. year of study, summer semester, compulsory

  • Programme BKCP_CHTM Bachelor's, 2. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
  • Programme BPCP_CHTM Bachelor's, 2. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
  • Programme AKREDITACE revize Bachelor's, 2. year of study, summer semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Exercise

26 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

eLearning