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

Oral Expression in English G IV

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: -
Course Code: LAE.E436
Number of credits: 020
Course offered: 2023
Offered quarter: 4Q
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 GⅠA and GⅢ are offered during the spring 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

Competencies

Specialist skills
Intercultural skills
Communication skills
Critical thinking skills
Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Specialist skills Liberal arts skills Communication skills Applied skills (inquisitive thinking and/or problem-finding skills) Applied 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 an exploration of timely issues in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Students will be expected to listen to and discuss various lectures (mainly TED Talks) and famous speeches. The pair presentation will focus on one of the issues already discussed in class, while the individual presentation will be about a topic chosen by each student according to his or her preferences and field of expertise. 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	Prepare for self-introductions
Class 2	Discussion and debate about timely STEM issues	Engage actively in discussions, be able to see various sides of an issue, give feedback and advice to others
Class 3	Strategies for pair and individual presentations, selection of topics	Research different techniques for more effective presentations
Class 4	STEM Presentations -- case study No. 1 (TED Talks)	Listen to TED Talk, ask instructor questions, engage actively in discussions
Class 5	STEM Presentations -- case study No. 2 (TED Talks)	Listen to TED Talk, ask instructor questions, engage actively in discussions
Class 6	Preparation time for pair presentations (group discussion)	Work with partner in polishing the presentation
Class 7	Pair presentations (timely STEM issue)	Give presentation, actively listen to others'
Class 8	Pair presentations (timely STEM issue)	Give presentation, actively listen to others'
Class 9	Feedback about presentations and group discussion	Listen to feedback from instructor and other students, engage actively in discussions
Class 10	STEM Presentations -- case study No. 3 (TED Talks)	Listen to TED Talk, ask instructor questions, engage actively in discussions
Class 11	STEM Presentations -- case study No. 4 (TED Talks)	Listen to TED Talk, ask instructor questions, engage actively in discussions
Class 12	Preparation time for final presentation (group discussion)	Work on presentation, get opinions from other students
Class 13	Final Presentations (personal area of interest)- individual	Give presentation, actively listen to others'
Class 14	Final Presentations (personal area of interest)- individual, final feedback	Give presentation, actively listen to others', talk with instructor about performance and points to be improved

Study advice (preparation and review)

Textbook(s)

All materials to be distributed in class.

Reference books, course materials, etc.