Course detail

English for Chemists IV (B1+)

FCH-BCV_A4Acad. year: 2018/2019

Extension of vocabulary in the field of chemical engineering. Writing texts, personal (reading and writing - events, feelings, experience,...) and business letters based on a model text. E-mails - reading and writing, Applying for a job and related activities (reading, listening, writing and speaking), replying to advertisements, arranging an interview or a meeting.
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, IT English
Writing abstracts. Selected structural aspects of technical and professional texts (e.g. compound terms, conversion of word classes), reading professionally oriented texts
Aids for writing professional texts, IT vocabulary. 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

3

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Learning outcomes of the course unit

The output of the course covers extension of special and general vocabulary in the fields of chemical engineering, business and cover letters and e-mails, CV and abstract writing and IT. Students will be able to write a business letter, abstract , CV and cover letters. They will understand compound terms and terms with converted words and they will also be able to use essential corresponding language supporting aids. Students will be able to succeed in a personal interview. They will use relative clauses to describe various subjects in English. 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 (lower B1) level, acquired credits from the predecessing subjects English for Chemists I, II and III.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course uses teaching methods in form of Language exercise - 2 teaching hours per week. The e-learning system (LMS Moodle) is available to teachers and students.
Teaching methods - lecture, 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

Prerequisites: Completion of the English for Chemists III course is essential for registration to the course.

To acquire the credit, 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 (part of the exam) and successful completion of final credit test (75%). Essay on laboratory work.


Credit test will be focused on the following (in terms of English for Chemists IV electronic textbook) items: special and general vocabulary in the fields of chemical engineering, business and cover letters, CV and abstract writing and IT. Students will be able to write a business letter and e-mail, abstract , CV and cover letters. They 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 for gist and particular information will be examined, too.

Examination:

Prerequisites: Successful completion of the English for Chemists I.-IV. courses

Examination (Related to English for Chemists I-IV courses) consists of two parts: a complex written test (60% of the mark) focused on grammar, vocabulary, reading, listening and writing skills coresponding to CEFR B1 level and oral examination (40% of the mark) that tests speaking skill corresponding to the CEFR B1 level. Students will speak about themselves, threir hobbies, motivation to study chemistry, branch of chemistry they study and they will be able to present interests from their specialization. They are also required to be able to answer relevant questions in an interview. Evaluation of students´ performance and delivery of a presentation is a part of examination mark.

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, vocabulary - "Chemical Engineering - separation methods".

2nd week: Relative clauses,description of technological procedures based on the use of relative clauses, listening.

3rd week: Writing personal and business letters - vocabulary I and style. Business letters writing: types, vocabulary II.

4th week: Writing a business letter - training, business e-mail. Introduction to abstract writing, vocabulary, genre, grammar and style.

5th week: Abstracts - specification of the genre II, vocabulary, guided writing, writing own abstract of a scientific text.

6th week: Applying for a job - example CV I and II, characteristic features of CV, training of CV writing.

7th week: Cover letter - characteristic features, writing a cover letter based on the particular job openings; interview - features and practical training.

8th 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.

9th week: Reading chemistry focused articles in English with the focus on meaning of compound terms and structures with converted words.

10th week: Useful supporting aids applicable in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) - PhraseBook, concordancers, practical use. Basics of academic texts writing.

11th week: Academic English, useful vocabulary, writing a scientific text on laboratory work. Self-study: completion of the text.

12th week: Feedback to students´ specific/academic texts. IT English.

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, succeed in their future professional career and, moreover, to 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 (English for Chemists IV). Full-time students take tests throughout the semester and they are required to deliver a chemistry oriented presentation once a semester; part-time students are assigned homeworks.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Fišerová L., Clemensová G. : Angličtina pro chemiky IV(B1) (CS)

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme BKCP_CHCHT Bachelor's

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

  • Programme BPCP_CHCHT Bachelor's

    branch BPCO_SCH , 2. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    branch BPCO_CHTOZP , 2. year of study, summer semester, compulsory

  • Programme BKCP_CHCHT Bachelor's

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

  • Programme BPCP_CHCHT Bachelor's

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

  • Programme BKCP_CHCHT Bachelor's

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

  • Programme BPCP_CHCHT Bachelor's

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

  • Programme BPCP_CHTP Bachelor's

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

  • Programme BKCP_CHTP Bachelor's

    branch BKCO_BT , 2. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    branch BKCO_PCH , 2. year of study, summer semester, compulsory

  • Programme BPCP_CHTP Bachelor's

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

  • Programme CKCP_CZV lifelong learning

    branch CKCO_CZV , 1. year of study, summer semester, compulsory

Type of course unit