Sunday, February 1, 2015

Introduction to the Course

Dear Student,


This course focuses on the use of spoken English in academic and professional contexts. It will help you to improve your face-to-face communication and public speaking skills.


Course Content
  1. Understanding verbal and non-verbal communication
  2. Note taking strategies in lectures and seminars
  3. Face-to-face communication: developing interview skills
  4. Classroom presentations: impromptu speeches, demonstration speeches, informative speeches, and persuasion speeches
  5. Designing effective outlines of speeches and PowerPoint presentations

Course Objectives
  1. Develop verbal and non-verbal public presentation skills which are needed in academic environment by practicing methods and techniques used in the following forms of oral discourse: impromptu speech, demonstration speech, informative speech, and persuasion speech
  2. Develop library and Internet research skills to select a topic and prepare an effective public speech
  3. Learn how to prepare a public speech outline and give an effective public speech
  4. Develop critical listening skills
  5. Design effective PowerPoint presentations
  6. Develop face-to-face-communication skills and learn how to work effectively in small groups.

Course Outcomes 
  1. Use English effectively in verbal and non-verbal communication; understand the main ideas in extended formal speech, including complex lines of argument, when the topic is reasonably familiar. 
  2. Extract information from a clearly structured mini-lecture and record sufficient details. 
  3. Take an active part in face-to-face semi-formal discussions and problem-solving activities, being able to present his or her views clearly in accurate English with few hesitations, and to handle turn-taking conventions smoothly. The required level is about CEFR B2+
  4. Give a clear, systematically developed presentation, highlighting significant points and supporting detail. Handle questions from an audience in a professional manner. 
  5. Prepare effective public speeches and use language with a high level of clarity and fluency.
  6. Take part in an interview as either interviewer or interviewee, following up ideas and spontaneous questions as well as more structured ones.