Culture-oriented English practice: Debate workshop 15-COEP-DW-ES-12

(First semester of a two-semester course. Next semester: 15-COEP-DW-ES-22.)

Learning contents:

1. Entertainment and culture
2. Politics and persuasion
3. Art and culture
4. The commercialization and culture of sport
5. Ways of living – conformists and non-conformists in society
6. Popular culture today
7. The mass media and society
8. The tourist industry
9. Gender Issues and cultural diversity
10. Immigration today

Module learning aims

Both content and form of the 2BA Culture oriented English practice: Debate workshop is of primary importance in developing students speaking skills in EFL. Thus, the development of both content and form should constitute the main goal of teaching/learning practice. The specific course objectives listed below relate to these two areas in the following way: In order to discuss a topic intelligently students need information: facts, opinions, attitudes. To meet this aim students will be supplied with texts/ materials that are rich in information and at an appropriate linguistic level (depth of topic, lexical complexity, range of views discussed, and challenging throughout. In this course students will develop discussion and argumentation skills to professionally engage in academic discussions and other formal or informal speaking and writing situations. This COURSE will provide students with texts that are culture specific by using materials which will cover a wide range of topics. The analysis will take into account the purpose of the texts, its audience and indented and produced meaning. Students should be able to read texts critically and be able to analyse the content. This means that students will be able to do the following: 1. distinguish between facts, opinions and attitudes 2. extract arguments presented in texts and evaluate them 3. evaluate arguments and spot biased interpretations 4. formulate their own opinions on matters presented; gather arguments 5. foresee points of controversy 6. prepare arguments 7. develop a line of argumentation in a logical way (avoid contradictions)

Major

English Studies: Literature and Culture

Methods of teaching for learning outcomes achievement

1. Giving presentations 2. Class debates 3. Joint discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) 4. Using learnt vocabulary in discussions 5. Giving viewpoints on various issues that have been discussed 6. Express oneself, put across an opinion to others 7. Using persuasion techniques in a debate. 8. Commenting on and or providing support or criticism of others.

Student workload (ECTS credits)

13 ECTS after completing all two-semester COEP courses and passing the final exam

Cycle of studies

1st cycle

Module type

compulsory

Year of studies (where relevant)

Year 2

Course coordinators

Term 2018/SZ:

Christopher Whyatt

Term 2020/SZ:

Kamila Dębowska-Kozłowska

Term 2022/SZ:

Maciej Kielar
Christopher Whyatt

Term 2019/SZ:

Paulina Zagórska

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course and validation of its learning outcomes, the student:
1. Can give clear, detailed descriptions and presentations on a wide range of subjects related to his/her field of interest, expanding and supporting ideas with subsidiary points and relevant examples.
2. Can explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
3. Can develop an argument well enough to be followed without difficulty most of the time.
4. Can give a clear, prepared presentation, giving reasons in support of or against a particular point of view and giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
5. Can take a series of follow up questions with a degree of fluency and spontaneity which poses no strain for either him/herself or the audience.
6. Can enter unprepared into conversations on familiar topics.
7. Can account for and sustain his/her opinions in discussion by providing relevant explanations, arguments and comments.
8. Can follow much of what is said around him/her on general topics provided interlocutors avoid very idiomatic usage and articulate clearly.
9. Can give brief comments on the views of others.
10. Can put over a point of view clearly, but has difficulty engaging in debate.

Assessment criteria

Assessment methods:

1. Writing summaries of texts (100-150 words)
2. Reading texts before class
3. Taking vocabulary tests
4. In-class written text analysis
5. Question and answer tasks
6. Quality of oral presentations

Assessment criteria:

Very good(5.0): excellent performance on all required skills, only very few minor errors

Good + (4.5): very good performance on all required skills, only very few minor errors

Good (4.0): good performance on most required skills, few minor errors

Satisfactory + (3.5): performs to a satisfactory degree on most required skills, few major errors

Satisfactory (3.0):performs to a satisfactory degree on most required skills, several major errors

Failing (2.0): does not meet the requirements in terms of performance.

Bibliography

Jacobson, Michael, Pros and Cons a debater’s handbook: Routledge press, 2007.
Otto, Barbara and Marcin, Here is the news: WSIP press, 2000.
Nation, Michael A dictionary of Modern Britain: Penguin books, first edition.
Garwood, Christopher, Gardani, Guglielmo, Peris, Edda Aspects of Britain and the USA: Oxford University Press, 2000.
Lucas, Stephen E. The Art of Public Speaking: Ninth Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007.
Richards, Jennifer. Rhetoric. 2008. New York: Routledge.

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 15-COEP-DW-ES-12 in USOSweb