Course: Academic English for Scientists 1

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Course title Academic English for Scientists 1
Course code VCJ/AAP1
Organizational form of instruction Exercise
Level of course Bachelor
Year of study not specified
Semester Winter and summer
Number of ECTS credits 2
Language of instruction English
Status of course Compulsory-optional
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Maliňák Tomáš, Mgr.
  • Fridrichová Alena, Mgr.
Course content
1 Communicate! Reading: Skimming and scanning (Whistling in La Gomera) Grammar: The passive Vocabulary: Spelling and numbers 2 A healthy diet Vocabulary: Food vocabulary (carbohydrate X protein, adjectives describing food) Grammar: Talking about similarities and differences Speaking: Discussion about factory farming, GM food, organic food, etc. Writing: Describing processes 3 Climate change Reading: Summary completion (A disaster in the making) Grammar: Countable and uncountable nouns Vocabulary: Collocations related to the environment 4 Animal life Reading: Multiple-choice questions (How similar are animals and human beings) Grammar: Review of present tenses Listening: Listening for detailed information Writing: Handling data - line graphs 5 The body clock Reading: True/false/not given (Who needs sleep?) Grammar: Review of past tenses 6 Application of language and study skills on specific fields of study.

Learning activities and teaching methods
Dialogic Lecture (Discussion, Dialog, Brainstorming), Work with Text (with Book, Textbook), Group work
Learning outcomes
The course VCJ/AAP1 is a one-semester academic English course focused on science and technology. The aim of the course is to develop key language and study skills necessary for successful study, research, and communication in the field of natural sciences, including mathematics and computer science, physics, chemistry, biology, ecology, and earth sciences. This course develops English at the B1-B2 language level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Acquisition of the language for academic purposes at the B1-B2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, study skills, and their application to one's own field of study. 1. Reading comprehension - the ability to understand scientific texts practising skimming, scanning, summary completion, multiple-choice questions and true/false/not given answers. 2. Academic vocabulary and scientific vocabulary - the ability to use academic vocabulary while talking about scientific topics. 3. Academic writing - the ability to use academic style for describing processes and handling data for graph description.
Prerequisites
Minimum language level B1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Assessment methods and criteria
Written exam

To successfully complete the course, a student is required to pass a written exam with at least 70% and actively participate in the lessons. A maximum of 2 absences in class per semester are allowed.
Recommended literature
  • Bořkovec, M. a kol. (2023). Kompetenční rámec absolventa a absolventky učitelství. Praha.
  • Michael Black and Wendy Sharp. Objective IELTS Intermediate. .


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Nanomaterial Chemistry (2026) Category: Chemistry courses - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Biophysics - Specialization in Molecular Biophysics (2026) Category: Physics courses - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Bioinorganic Chemistry (2026) Category: Chemistry courses - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Biochemistry (2026) Category: Chemistry courses 2 Recommended year of study:2, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Bioorganic Chemistry and Chemical Biology (2026) Category: Chemistry courses 2 Recommended year of study:2, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Biophysics - Specialization in General Biophysics (2026) Category: Physics courses - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -