Grammar and Conversation for International Students / English A

TaiK & University of HelsinkiSpring 2010

04/18/23Kielikeskus Språkcentrum The Language Centre 2

Contact details

Course Instructor: Fergal Bradley

tel. 050 9365700

fergal.bradley@helsinki.fi

WIKI link: http://gramcon-spring10.wikispaces.com

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Course Aims

To develop skills in Speaking Listening Reading Writing

both generally and in academic situations

To gain confidence to communicate in academic and

professional life

To take responsibility for learning, through active

participation and self-evaluation

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Completing the Course

This course is worth 3 credits.

To earn them you must:

Attend: 80% is required

Complete the Course Tasks

Participate Actively

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Course Tasks

Discussion Leading

Essay

Summary

Language Learning Diary

(including Website Review)

Feedback Form

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Discussion Leading

Deadline:

Discussion leader – before the discussion:

Choose a topic that you find interesting and important.

It can be academic or general.

Remember: It should be a topic that everyone can talk about.

Make a list of questions or points we could discuss during your discussion leading

Make a vocabulary list of the important/useful/new/difficult words/expressions

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Discussion Leading... Continued

Attach the list to our WIKI at …….. in your own page (mark it clearly!)

Idea!

When putting together your list, visit http://www.vuw.ac.nz/lals/research/awl/ to see if you have included any

of the words frequently used in academic texts. These words are, by the way, among the words you

could aim at using in your summaries. In addition, they are words one should be familiar with

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Discussion Leading... Continued

Discussion leader – during the discussion:

tell us briefly and informally about the topic

give us some background to the issue

You can use visuals if you want

(transparencies, pictures, graphs, powerpoint, etc.)

N.B. Make sure to tell Fergal if you need any special equipment

5-10 mins...

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Discussion Leading... Continued

activate the rest of us

For example:

ask people’s opinions about the topic

divide the group into those who are against the idea and those who are in favour

ask people to tell more about the topic

tell about the words you have collected

(Why them? In what way are they a challenge? Etc.)

summarise the discussion at the end

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Discussion Leading... Continued

Rest of the Group – before the discussion:

Read each outline on our WIKI before each discussion.

Think about what you would like to say / ask

during the discussion.

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Discussion Leading... Continued

Rest of the Group – during the discussion:

Be active!

Get involved!

Ask questions!

Give your opinions!

Agree or disagree!

Interrupt (politely)!

Speak!

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Essay

Deadline:

Write a short essay of around 300 words

Topic related to your studies or a topic of general academic interest.

Make a first draft of the essay

Revise it based on the comments given to you.

Share your writing (via the WIKI) with your peers. 

Formal, Academic style.

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Summary

Deadline:

Write a summary of between 150 and 200 words

Base it on a text of from your field of study.

Use the guidelines given on the WIKI

Revise your summaries based on the comments given to you.

Share your writing (via the WIKI) with your peers 

Formal, Academic style.

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Language Learning Diary

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Language Learning Diary... Continued

Activity Time Spent Comment

Reading an article for my course called:“The Something of Something”

1.5 hrs New vocabulary was difficult, but I tried to read without using a dictionary until the end of each section.

New words & phrases:•To adapt to new surroundings•To make a hypothesis•It tends to do something

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Website Review

Choose a site linked to the WIKI

Write a review of the site (½ -1 page)

Describe the site

Outline positive and negative aspects

Give your own opinion and experience

Use formal, academic language in your review. 

Your opinions will have no effect on your success on the course.

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Feedback form

Fill out the feedback form at the end of the course!

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...and finally!

I hope you enjoy this course and find it useful!