2021 Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses English language courses
English 8 45-RW
- Academic unit or major
- English language courses
- Instructor(s)
- David Pomatti
- Class Format
- Exercise
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Thu (H116)
- Class
- 45-RW
- Course Code
- LAE.E214
- Number of credits
- 010
- Course offered
- 2021
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
Based on English 7, English 8 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, studying abroad, TOEFL
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
The course units focus on the textbook topics 5-8 for English 8. Lessons focus on the text topics by checking background knowledge, reading passages, explaining and practicing featured skills, and doing writing exercises, with a final writing task. I provide considerable help for students through audio & video clips and grammar & vocabulary practice.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Unit 5: “In Business, Size Matters,” about the advantages and disadvantages of doing business on a large, multinational scale. Reading on “Starbucks.” | Infer words from context, identify synonyms, idiomatic expressions. |
| Class 2 | Continue Unit 5: Reading on “Walmart.” Start Unit 6: “Staying Connected,” about social media and privacy issues. Reading: “Privacy Invasion and Social Media.” | Distinguish between infinitives and gerunds. Use transitional sentences. Write essay describing advantages and disadvantages. |
| Class 3 | Continue Unit 6: Reading on “Using Social Networking Sites Wisely.” | Organizational structures and elements of cause-and-effect essays. Write essay. |
| Class 4 | Unit 7: “The Cellist of Sarajevo,” about the role of art, particularly music, in life. Reading: “The Cellist of Sarajevo.” | Grammar: passive voice. Vocabulary: word connotations, participles as adjectives. |
| Class 5 | Continue Unit 7: Reading “The Soloist.” Start Unit 8: “The End of Poverty,” about the problems in developing and developed countries. Reading: “Can Extreme Poverty Be Eliminated?” | Analyzing narrative essays and descriptive language. Write a descriptive narrative essay. Noun clauses in apposition, negative & positive connotations of words. |
| Class 6 | Continue Unit 8. Reading: “Making Ends Meet” (minimum-wage earners). | Arguments, counterarguments and refutations, statements of concession. Write an argumentative essay. |
| Class 7 | Finishing up topics and review. Final exam | Exam will cover lesson points, grammar, vocabulary, and reading skills presented in the units. |
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)
NorthStar (4th ed.) Reading & Writing 5, International Student Book ISBN: 978-0-13-404978-6
Reference books, course materials, etc.
I will post lesson files for each class that include supplementary YouTube video clips, outlines and sometimes additional articles, and the lesson plans for the class.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Evaluation will be based on participation (breakout rooms) and in-class work (listening/video viewing), written homework and essays, and unit quizzes & a final exam. Essays count twice as much as other homework and quizzes. The final exam counts three times as much.
Related courses
- LAE.E111 ： English 1
- LAE.E112 ： English 2
- LAE.E113 ： English 3
- LAE.E114 ： English 4
- LAE.E211 ： English 5
- LAE.E212 ： English 6
- LAE.E213 ： English 7
- LAE.E311 ： English 9
Prerequisites
None
Other
None