Course detail

English Everyday Conversation

FEKT-XJA3Acad. year: 2012/2013

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

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

Mgr. Agata Walek, Ph.D.

Department

Department of Foreign Languages (UJAZ)

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

Teaching methods depend on the type of course unit as specified in the article 7 of BUT Rules for Studies and Examinations.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

40% semester tests
60% exam

Course curriculum

Not applicable.

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

Not applicable.

Basic literature

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

Type of course unit

Language exercise

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Mgr. Agata Walek, Ph.D.

VUT

Faculties

University Institutes

Parts

English Everyday Conversation

Type of course unit