About the Course

English for Specific Purposes GCD-1022


Course Description

This course is designed for Applied Diploma students in their first semester and focuses on the use of English for Specific Purposes. It will benefit students in their studies and in their career. The exit level expected is approximately CEFR mid-B1.


Course Content

• Understand the main points from short talks, discussions, and mini-lectures 
• Academic and technical vocabulary
• Reading and research skills
• Research paper
• Oral presentations and reports

Course Objectives

• Read simple texts in appropriate technical literature 
• Locate key information on selected topics and summarize it in diagram or note form. 
• Learn how to select relevant data to support an argument and solve a specific problem
• Use a range of general and semi-specialist terms
• Participate in discussions on both technical and nontechnical topics
• Learn how to use notes and PowerPoint
• Write brief descriptions of graphs and charts, summaries of discussion, and short texts in both technical and nontechnical English
• Write a mini-research paper using appropriate reference materials 

Course Outcomes

• Understand the main points from short talks, discussions, and mini-lectures given in a range of native and non-native speaker accents on basic concepts and practices, and summarize key information in diagram or note form. 
• Understand and use a range of general and semi-specialist terms, be able to demonstrate acceptable word choice, and select and transform language appropriate to a given task (100 – 150 items). 
• Participate in discussion and other activities to work out and agree solutions to problems related to the content subject. 
• Give short oral presentations on both technical and nontechnical topics. The presentations should have a basic logical structure and be presented in appropriate English. Notes or PowerPoint may be used. 
• Read simple technical texts with good understanding of both text purpose and detail. Locate information on selected topics using internet searches and transfer key information to diagrams, charts or notes. 
• Write a brief research paper and describe graphs, charts, tables, write summaries of discussion, and short texts in correct technical and nontechnical English. 

Course Delivery

Group work, lectures, videos, case studies, online discussions, projects, research and independent learning.


Assessment

• Academic and technical vocabulary: 10% 
• Reading and research skills: 20% 
• Research paper: 20% 
• Oral presentation / Report: 20% 
• Final Assessment: 30%

Late Submission of an Assignment 

In order to be fair to students who have submitted their assignments on time and to encourage effective time-management skills, late submission of an assignment without prior approval will receive the following penalties: 

• work submitted 1 working day late will be deducted 10%, 
• work submitted 2 working days late will be deducted 20%, 
• work submitted 3 working days late will be deducted 30% 
• any work submitted more than 3 days late will get a zero mark.