2021 Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses English language courses

English 5 15-LS

Academic unit or major: English language courses
Instructor(s): Jon Mitchell
Class Format: Exercise
Media-enhanced courses: -
Day of week/Period (Classrooms): 5-6 Mon (W332)
Class: 15-LS
Course Code: LAE.E211
Number of credits: 010
Course offered: 2021
Offered quarter: 1Q
Syllabus updated: Jul 10, 2025
Language: Japanese

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

English 5 is designed to improve students’ English language skills for academic purposes and provide them with more knowledge in relevant areas. The materials include topics such as international and intercultural issues as well as current topics of science and technology. Expectations require students to practice: reading academic articles, listening to English lectures, speaking before an audience, and developing skills to write paragraphs and short essays.

Course description and aims

By the end of this course, students will:
・be able to express their ideas and opinions in classes confidently
・be able to write paragraphs or short essays
・be able to better understand academic lectures
・practice effective reading strategies

Keywords

Four language skills, fostering international awareness, communication skills, studying abroad, TOEFL

Competencies

Specialist skills
Intercultural skills
Communication skills
Critical thinking skills
Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

Usually, we will start the lesson with a discussion of the day’s topic followed by listening to a news story from the U.S.A. This approach will allow us to gain a better understanding of international perspectives and also to compare them with our own countries’.
After this, we will critically explore the issue. You will be asked to produce a short piece of work based upon the class’s topic - for example a short presentation, a summary or reaction paper. Such integrated skills will also come in useful for the TOEFL exam.
This is not a lecture-style course. Please envisage this classroom as a community where everybody has different strengths and weaknesses. By cooperating with each other, together we can overcome any difficulties.

Course schedule/Objectives

	Course schedule	Objectives
Class 1	You have one identity	Exploring privacy issues in the 21st century - and the role of social media.
Class 2	A courtesy campaign	To what extent should the government legislate to “improve” public manners and morality? Are manners universal?
Class 3	Give me my place to smoke!	Individual vs Group. Exploring whether smoking ought to be banned - or whether it is a private choice.
Class 4	What’s happening to home? (1)	First of two-week exploration of changing work patterns and their impact on our sense of home.
Class 5	What’s happening to home? (2)	Second of two-week exploration into changing employment patterns. This class will include short presentations about the pros and cons of recent blurring of work/home distinctions.
Class 6	Is autism underestimated?	Speculation on the reasons why autism is on the rise; the wider issue of “What is normal” or, perhaps more accurately, “Is there such a thing as ‘normal’?”
Class 7	Medicine by the minute; Review and Exam.	Discussion on future advances in medicines and the limits of technology.

Study advice (preparation and review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.

Textbook(s)

Consider the Issues (4th edition), Pearson.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

None.

Evaluation methods and criteria

Presentation: 50%
Exam: 50%

Related courses

LAE.E111 ： English 1
LAE.E112 ： English 2
LAE.E113 ： English 3
LAE.E114 ： English 4
LAE.E212 ： English 6
LAE.E213 ： English 7
LAE.E214 ： English 8
LAE.E311 ： English 9

Prerequisites

None