2023 Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses English language courses

Oral Expression in English GI 2

Academic unit or major: English language courses
Instructor(s): Paul Narum
Class Format: Exercise (Face-to-face)
Media-enhanced courses: -
Day of week/Period (Classrooms): Intensive
Class: 2
Course Code: LAE.E181
Number of credits: 020
Course offered: 2023
Offered quarter: 2Q
Syllabus updated: Jul 8, 2025
Language: English

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

In keeping with the title, all of the “Oral Expression in English” courses are devoted to improving students' skills in speaking. Apart from making presentations, effective speaking also involves effective listening, so the classwork and homework in the course require that students carry out both interactive speech and are engaged in listening exercises. Oral Expression in English GI is offered during the summer vacation as an intensive course.
This course aims to provide students with English oral expression skills necessary to study abroad, with a specific focus on discussion and presentation.

Course description and aims

By the end of this course, students will be able to discuss and give presentations on the topics of their choices, and thus be ready to study abroad.

Student learning outcomes

実務経験と講義内容との関連 (又は実践的教育内容)

Experience since 1983 translating documents from Japanese into English, specializing in business, governmental, economic, scientific, historical, cultural and literary topics, among others. Experience since 1985 editing and fact-checking articles for a weekly newsmagazine published in Japanese. Experience since 1994 teaching English and related subjects at Japanese universities in the Tokyo-Yokohama area, with special concentrations on culture, history, media and translation. Travel experience to 155 countries and 74 dependent territories.

Keywords

speaking, listening, discussion, presentation, study abroad

Competencies

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

Class flow

This week-long intensive course is geared to those students wishing to improve their English oral expression skills, particularly discussion, debate, and presentation, through a comparative look at different countries around the world. The main subjects to be dealt with shall include world travel, comparative culture, education, health, welfare, and science and technology. The pair presentation will focus on a travelogue to a certain country, while the individual presentation will be about criteria for what can be considered the "best country." Critical thinking strategies will be emphasized as students become more effective speakers, with timely feedback given.

Course schedule/Objectives

	Course schedule	Objectives
Class 1	Course introduction, self-introductions, selection of topics	Prepare for self-introductions
Class 2	Strategies for pair and personal presentations	Research different techniques for more effective presentations
Class 3	Theme A (Example: Travel)	Research discussion topic online, listen to lecture, ask instructor questions
Class 4	Discussion and debate	Engage actively in discussions, be able to see various sides of an issue, give feedback and advice to others
Class 5	Theme B (Example: Education, Health, and Welfare)	Research discussion topic online, listen to lecture, ask instructor questions
Class 6	Discussion and debate	Engage actively in discussions, be able to see various sides of an issue, give feedback and advice to others
Class 7	Pair Presentations (Travelogue) - Warm-up and practice	Work with partner in polishing the presentation
Class 8	Pair Presentations (Travelogue) - Final version, feedback, and assessment	Give presentation, actively listen to others'
Class 9	Theme C (Example: Science and Technology)	Research discussion topic online, listen to lecture, ask instructor questions
Class 10	Discussion and debate	Engage actively in discussions, be able to see various sides of an issue, give feedback and advice to others
Class 11	Preparation time for final presentation (discussion and feedback)	Work on presentation, get feedback from other students
Class 12	Final Presentations (Best Country) – individual	Give presentation, actively listen to others'
Class 13	Final Presentations (Best Country) – individual	Give presentation, actively listen to others'
Class 14	Student evaluation and feedback, personal interviews, course wrap-up	Give presentation, actively listen to others'

Study advice (preparation and review)

This five-day intensive course is designed for students looking for a forum that will allow them to speak English on a wide array of topics. It will be student-centered and (very) active participation will be expected. The general daily format is discussion/debate with presentations at the end of the day. Aside from general fluency, other areas that will be addressed include critical thinking skills, presentation skills, listening skills, and vocabulary building.

Textbook(s)

All materials to be distributed online during class.

Reference books, course materials, etc.