Course detail

English for Europe

FEKT-XAEUAcad. year: 2016/2017

An innovated English course with a particular focus on the development of the students´verbal and written skills and their further professional application within the wider framework of both the Czech and the European job markets.
The course aims at providing the students with a comprehensive background for dealing with the problems of everyday life and work in a European Union country.
In this respect, the central elements of the course consist in practising business meetings and negotiations, written document completion, informal communication and activities designed to describe and question European cultures in comparison with the Czech Republic.
Within the wider course framework, there are two notions that should be pointed out, namely the overview of the European union institutions and the introduction to English as the key providing access to education and jobs for Czech and Moravian university graduates.
Coursework: panel discussion, opinion presentation, interpretation of written and audiovisual sources, homework presentation and discussion, language games.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

PhDr. Milan Smutný, Ph.D.

Department

Department of Foreign Languages (UJAZ)

Learning outcomes of the course unit

The ability to find one´s way in the cultural and professional maze of the EU.
The ability to use English in a wide range of everyday situations. The knowledge of
various writing techniques plus the rules of team work and business communication in
English. The ability to understand natural spoken English.

Prerequisites

The subject knowledge required corresponds to the standards of the XAN3 exam (successfully completed).

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Teaching methods include language seminars and homework. Students have to actively participate in classes.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

Credit
Examination

Course curriculum

1.Introduction. Everyday English I: meeting new people, conversation topics. Taboo areas. Family life, housing, work and leisure across Europe.
2.Everyday English II: living in Europe. Meeting people, conversation topics. Food and
eating out. Restaurants, hotels and hostels. Doing business in restaurants.
3.Everyday English III: meeting people, conversation topics. Shops and shopping. Prezentace evropských zemí.
4.Across the continent: Employers and employees. Listening comprehension.
5.Everyday English IV: English in the workplace. Interviews, starting a job. Prezentace evropských zemí.
6.Everyday English V: how to manage a business meeting. Communication: dealing with problems, responsibility. Coming into conflict and the difference of opinion: in and out. Writing: business meeting papers and reports.
7.Everyday English VI: English in the workplace. Writing: ads and offers. E-mails and fax messages. Speaking on the phone. Film: business communication. Prezentace evropských zemí.
8.Everyday English VII: Role play and writing: how to apologize for…, letter of complaint.
9.Social language. Role play: accepting and declining an invitation. Welcoming a guest. Writing: letters of invitation. Prezentace evropských zemí.
10.English for authorities; housing and finance. The police and crimes.
11.Informal language II: across Europe. Prezentace evropských zemí.
12.Course evaluation and revision.
13.Semester test.

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

Vocabulary development and practising the general ability to work with language Encouraging the students to communicate actively. Further broadening of European horizons. Teaching the techniques of writing.

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

a set of selected texts
Wellman, Guy. The Heinemann English Wordbuilder. Praha: Státní pedagogické nakladatelství, 1991.

Type of course unit

Language exercise

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

PhDr. Milan Smutný, Ph.D.

Syllabus

1.Introduction. Everyday English I: meeting new people, conversation topics. Taboo areas. Family life, housing, work and leisure across Europe.
2.Everyday English II: living in Europe. Meeting people, conversation topics. Food and
eating out. Restaurants, hotels and hostels. Doing business in restaurants.
3.Everyday English III: meeting people, conversation topics. Shops and shopping.
4.Across the continent: Employers and employees. Listening comprehension.
5.Everyday English IV: English in the workplace. Interviews, starting a job.
6.Everyday English V: how to manage a business meeting. Communication: dealing with problems, responsibility. Coming into conflict and the difference of opinion: in and out. Writing: business meeting papers and reports.
7.Everyday English VI: English in the workplace. Writing: ads and offers. E-mails and fax messages. Speaking on the phone. Film: business communication.
8.Everyday English VII: Role play and writing: how to apologize for…, letter of complaint.
9.Social language. Role play: accepting and declining an invitation. Welcoming a guest. Writing: letters of invitation.
10.English for authorities; housing and finance. The police and crimes.
11.Informal language II: across Europe.
12.Course evaluation and revision.
13.Semester test.

VUT

Faculties

University Institutes

Parts

English for Europe

Type of course unit