International Communication Classes for International Graduate Students

1. General Outline

International Communication Classes for International Graduate Students have two purposes. One is to enable students to read and understand specialist academic publications by utilizing and improving their reading and comprehension skills through close reading of selected texts. The other is to provide students with the essential skills to enable them to communicate and state a case in spoken and written English at the academic conference level.

 

2. Class Outlines and Faculty

International Communication Classes for International Graduate Students, conducted by Foreign Language Research and Teaching Center, are composed of several major categories: Advanced Oral Expression in English, Academic Writing in English, and Academic Presentation in English.

 

3. Guide to Study in International Communication Classes

International Graduate students in need of a higher level of international communication skills in academic fields are eligible to participate in the classes.

 

4. Tables of Course Subjects

There are four classes in 2011 autumn semester.

Registration
Number
Subject Credit Chair Semester
S: Spring
A:Autumn
Opening year
a: Annually
e: Even
o: Odd
Remarks
(See footnotes)
99072 Academic Writing in English CII 0-2-0 Morton, Leith A a  
99086 Advanced Oral Expression in English CIIb 0-2-0 Tokita, Alison A a  
99090 Advanced Oral Expression in English CIId 0-2-0 Morton, Leith A a  
99128 Academic Presentation in English CIId 0-2-0 Kiyama, Lorinda A a  

Classes are in preparation for 2012 spring semester.

 

5. Syllabus of Course Subjects

99072
Academic Writing in English CII
Autumn Semester (0-2-0) (Annually)
Professor Leith MORTON

[Aim and Outline]
Students will be instructed on how to write good academic English by examining a sample of such writing in class. In addition, every week students will write a brief essay as an example of academic English.

[Evaluation]
Weekly Essays/Reports (60%), Final Class Essay (40%)

99086
Advanced Oral Expression in English CIIb
Autumn Semester (0-2-0) (Annually)
Professor Alison TOKITA

[Aim]
This course will focus on discussion and debating skills. Students will learn how to discuss a topic and to voice their opinion in a logical way. The course will deal with a variety of contemporary topics which will be introduced through weekly textbook readings and other materials. Small group discussion will be the focus of the first half of the course. Other activities will include interview skills, with an emphasis on actively asking questions. The second part of the course will develop more formal debating skills. By the end of the course students should feel confident speaking in English in front of their peers.

[Outline: Autumn Semester, 2011]
[Textbooks and References]

Taking Sides: Critical Thinking for Speech, Discussion and Debate, Kinseido, Expanded edition, 2010.

[Schedule of Topics]

Week / date Topic Reading Assignment
1 /
October 5
Future ambitions   Homework 1
Write two pages about yourself and your research
Due: Mon. Oct. 17
2 /
October 12
  Chapter 1
Cell phone usage in public
 
3 /
October 19
  Chapter 2
Smoking on campus
Homework 2
4 /
October 26
  Chapter 3
Daylight saving
Homework 3
5/
November 2
Talking about your research to a specialist audience; academic societies and conferences. Chapter 4
Working mothers
Homework 4
6/
November 9
  Chapter 5
Maiden names and marriage
Homework 5
7/
November 16
  Chapter 6
English in primary schools
Homework 6
8 /
November 30
  Chapter 7
English and entrance exams
Homework 7
9 /
December 7
  Chapter 8
Criminal law and juveniles
Homework 8
10/
December 14
  Chapter 9
Atomic bombs
Homework 9
11 /
December 21
  Chapter 10
Whaling
Homework 10
12 /
January 11
Debates Chapter 11
Nuclear power
 
13 /
January 18
Debates Chapter 12
Okinawan bases
 
14 /
January 25
In-class test    

[Evaluation]

Homework (10 tasks)   20%
Class participation and communication tasks   20%
Project   20%
Debate   20%
In-class test   20%
Total:   100%

99090
Advanced Oral Expression in English CIId
Autumn Semester (0-2-0) (Annually)
Professor Leith MORTON

[Aim and Outline]
This course aims to prepare students to speak confidently in public through participation in the annual English Speech Contest. Students will learn how to construct speeches for different purposes, and will practice delivering them in front of peers. They will be guided in the writing and presentation of a speech that will be judged by a panel of native speakers at a contest held during normal class hours. Evaluation for the course will not depend on final ranking in the speech contest.

99128
Academic Presentation in English CIId
Autumn Semester (0-2-0) (Annually)
Associate Professor Lorinda KIYAMA

[Aim and Outline]
This course aims to prepare students for all aspects of oral communication at academic conferences. Students will have opportunities each class to discuss academic topics. They will deliver PowerPoint presentations and will respond to questions afterwards. The instructor and classmates will provide detailed feedback on pronunciation, intonation, and presentation style. Video recordings will enhance awareness of personal strengths and areas for improvement.