Course detail

Conversation through Hot Current Issues

FP-IkonPAcad. year: 2022/2023

• The aim of the English conversation class is to involve students effectively and in a stress-free way in discussions so they could feel more confident when engaged in more sophisticated debates.

• We want students to practise a range of speaking skills such as negotiating, persuading, expressing and defending opinions, giving presentations, and also proper using stress and intonation.

• Vocabulary including slang and idiomatic expressions will be constantly extended and revised.

TOPICS TO BE COVERED IN THE CONVERSATION CLASS:

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY – WHERE DO WE GO?
What are the main dangers of scientific advances? Will science end the world or save the world? What are the most important inventions / discoveries ever? Will machines rule the world?
THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
What is (un)happiness? What makes us feel happy? Does it lie within us or outside us? Do you think some nations are happier than others?
MONEY - THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL?
Can you imagine living in a world without money? Would there be no poverty? How would the world be different if all the money was shared out equally among all people? Is money really the root of all evil? Are rich people more attractive?
NOBODY NEEDS A GUN
Gun massacres in schools. Why do people keep guns? Why do men love guns that much? Would you ever use a gun?

CAR - A DANGEROUS WEAPON?
Do we make way for cars or cars make way for us? What countries produce the best cars? Do you think the car a person drives is an extension of his/her personality?

SPACE EXPLORATION - LIVING ON MARS FOREVER?
Is everything perfect in the Universe? Is it worth spending so much money on space research? Is colonizing space essential?

TELLING LIES
Are we honest? How honest are we? Are we strong enough to face the truth? How to tell the truth? When to hide it?
DEATH PENALTY
Are you in favour of death penalty? An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth? Is capital punishment deterrent to crime? How many innocent people have died from the death penalty?

NOT MY TYPE
Biting nails, thin legs, bad complexion - what do you avoid in a partner?

COMPUTERS - FOR BETTER OF FOR WORSE?
How have computers changed the world? In which areas of our life is a computer vital? Does a computer give us a greater freedom?

ADDICTIONS
Alcohol, smoking, drugs, chocolate, shopping, football, sex - what are we hooked on?

ART
What is art? Does art change the way we think or feel? How would the world be different without artists?

BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING
Do we really care for freedom? Do you think that a surveillance society is a safe society? Do our parents respect our privacy?

IMMIGRATION AND RACISM
Why are we racists? Will racism ever disappear from the world? What are the benefits of immigration?



Language of instruction

English

Number of ECTS credits

3

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Students will develop the ability to speak English fluently and confidently, especially in less formal contexts. The activities will also increase the students' sensitivity to the way conversations work.

Prerequisites

The subject knowledge on the secondary school level is required.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Exercises promote the practical mastery of the subject presented in lectures or assigned for individual study with the active participation of students.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

Credit - active participation in seminars
credit test
Exam - presentation

Course curriculum

TOPICS TO BE COVERED IN THE CONVERSATION CLASS:

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY – WHERE DO WE GO?
What are the main dangers of scientific advances? Will science end the world or save the world? What are the most important inventions / discoveries ever? Will AI rule the world?

SUCCESS/ HAPPINESS – I WILL WIN NOT IMMEDIATELY, BUT DEFINITELY
What is success? Is success measurable in terms of money, power, knowledge? Does success equal happiness? What makes us feel happy? Does happiness lie within us or outside us? Do you think some nations are happier than others?

NOT MY TYPE – FALL IN LOVE OR RAISE IN LOVE?
How do we select our mates? What is the most annoying thing about women (men) and what inspires us? What definitely brings you on your knees? Would you forgive a one-night stand?

MONEY - THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL?
Can you imagine living in a world without money? Would there be no poverty? How would the world be different if all the money was shared out equally among all people? Is money really the root of all evil? Are rich people more attractive?

IMMIGRATION AND RACISM – NO HUMAN BEING IS ILLEGAL
Why are we racists? Will racism ever disappear from the world? How do you feel about black and white marriages? What are the benefits of immigration?

FUTURE – IF YOU CAN DREAM IT, YOU CAN DO IT
Are we able to learn from history? To what extent can we influence the future? Should we worry about the future? What should we worry about? What are the future challenges we are going to face?


RELIGION – NO NEED FOR CHURCHES
Is political Islam a threat to the world? What do you think about a Muslim dress code? Do we need religion? Do we need God?

SPORTS – YOU ARE YOUR OWN LIMIT
Why do we do sports? What is good/bad about competition? How easily do we give up? Where are our limits?

LIFE IS A JOURNEY
Why do we travel? Is travelling a journey to ourselves? To what extent are we willing to go beyond out comfort zone? What are the (dis)advantages of solo travelling?

TELLING LIES, FAKE NEWS, CONSPIRACY THEORIES
Is it better to get hurt by the truth than comforted with a lie? Are conspiracy theories trustworthy? Why are they created? Does truly objective news reporting really exist?

ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF LIVING – TIME TO DROP OUT OF MAINSTREAM SOCIETY
Is it the right time to change our lifestyle? Why? Which way of life speaks to your soul?

TOPICS TO BE COVERED IN THE CONVERSATION CLASS:

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY – WHERE DO WE GO?
What are the main dangers of scientific advances? Will science end the world or save the world? What are the most important inventions / discoveries ever? Will AI rule the world?

SUCCESS/ HAPPINESS – I WILL WIN NOT IMMEDIATELY, BUT DEFINITELY
What is success? Is success measurable in terms of money, power, knowledge? Does success equal happiness? What makes us feel happy? Does happiness lie within us or outside us? Do you think some nations are happier than others?

NOT MY TYPE – FALL IN LOVE OR RAISE IN LOVE?
How do we select our mates? What is the most annoying thing about women (men) and what inspires us? What definitely brings you on your knees? Would you forgive a one-night stand?

MONEY - THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL?
Can you imagine living in a world without money? Would there be no poverty? How would the world be different if all the money was shared out equally among all people? Is money really the root of all evil? Are rich people more attractive?

IMMIGRATION AND RACISM – NO HUMAN BEING IS ILLEGAL
Why are we racists? Will racism ever disappear from the world? How do you feel about black and white marriages? What are the benefits of immigration?

FUTURE – IF YOU CAN DREAM IT, YOU CAN DO IT
Are we able to learn from history? To what extent can we influence the future? Should we worry about the future? What should we worry about? What

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

• The aim of the English conversation class is to involve students effectively and in a stress-free way in discussions so they could feel more confident when engaged in more sophisticated debates.
• We want students to practise a range of speaking skills such as negotiating, persuading, expressing and defending opinions, giving presentations, and also proper using stress and intonation.
• Vocabulary including slang and idiomatic expressions will be constantly extended and revised.

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

The content and forms of instruction in the evaluated course are specified by a regulation issued by the lecturer responsible for the course and updated for every academic year.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Basic literature

MacAndrew, Richard and Martínez, Ron: TABOOS AND ISSUES. (EN)
Haines, Simon: ADVANCED SKILLS (A resource book of advanced-level skills activities). (EN)
Gammidge, Mick: SPEAKING EXTRA (A resource book of multi-level skills activities). (EN)

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme MGR-SI Master's

    branch MGR-IM , 1. year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional

Type of course unit

 

Language exercise

26 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer