2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses English language courses
English 1 14
- Academic unit or major
- English language courses
- Instructor(s)
- Ahram Han
- Class Format
- Exercise (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 1-2 Mon
- Class
- 14
- Course Code
- LAE.E111
- Number of credits
- 010
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 1Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 19, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
English 1 defines and solidifies the foundational skills for effective communication in English as well as fosters international awareness, as both are typically required in the globally expanding domain of scientific and technological research activities. It also prepares students to study or do research abroad in the future. Students are assigned training exercises that cover the four language skills — reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The reading and listening materials include topics such as international and intercultural issues as well as the fundamentals of science and technology. Practice exercises in writing and speaking are provided so that students can develop confidence and competence to participate in discussions and conferences where opinions are exchanged through both text and speech. TOEFL-type exercise problems are also used in the course.
This course aims to establish a base on which students can build toward a higher level of communication competence specifically in an English language environment. The base is composed of three elements: (1) identifying relevant information accurately, (2) exercising fair judgement to form a valid opinion, and (3) stating opinions clearly and persuasively. English 1 covers these three elements, and the communication abilities acquired will help students in the future when they have to assume positions of responsibility in group activities.
Each student is assigned to a group led by an instructor. Instructors for each group conduct the course using the "Course description and aims" and "Student learning outcomes" as the basic framework. "Class direction," "Course schedule," and other information below explain the features of each class.
Course description and aims
By the end of this course, students will:
・Become aware of the degree to which practical English abilities are required for learning at university and for research activities both in Japan and abroad
・Be able to grasp the main ideas and arguments of written and spoken materials in diverse areas including international and intercultural issues, science, and technology
・Have increased their knowledge of effective vocabulary and expressions to actively communicate their ideas and opinions in English
・Have gained confidence in using English to state their opinions
・Be able to understand the structural characteristics of good paragraphs and write their own short paragraphs with unity and coherence
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
This class uses the textbook "English for Science / Practical English for Science and Technology" to develop practical English skills needed in the field of science and technology.
Each unit is composed of two parts. In the first half, students will understand the linguistic learning objectives that form the foundation of scientific and technical English through grammar exercises and short text reading. In the second half, students will tackle long text reading and work on problems focused on reading strategies such as grasping the main idea, skimming, scanning, and inference to improve their reading comprehension.
Through these activities, students will not only be able to read and accurately grasp the necessary information from English articles and papers in the field of science and technology, but also aim to understand and appropriately use basic grammar and vocabulary of scientific and technical English.
Course schedule/Objectives
Course schedule | Objectives | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Unit 1-1 Language Focus: Classifying Topic Focus: The Composition of Matter Unit 1-2 Main Reading: The Infinitesimal Atom | Prepare for Unit 1 |
Class 2 | Unit 2-1 Language Focus: Comparing Topic Focus: The Elements Unit 2-2 Main Reading: The Life-Supporting Gases | Prepare for Unit 2 |
Class 3 | Unit 3-1 Language Focus: Cause and Effect Topic Focus: Color, Light, and Sound Unit 3-2 Main Reading: Reflecting on Light | Prepare for Unit 3 |
Class 4 | Unit 4-1 Language Focus: Hypothesizing Topic Focus: Motion and Gravity Unit 4-2 Main Reading: Newton Explains Motion | Prepare for Unit 4 |
Class 5 | Unit 5-1 Language Focus: Defining Topic Focus: Energy Unit 5-2 Main Reading: E = mc² | Prepare for Unit 5 |
Class 6 | Unit 6-1 Language Focus: Exemplifying Topic Focus: Heat Unit 6-2 Main Reading: How Heat Is Transferred | Prepare for Unit 6 |
Class 7 | Final Exam | Review of Units 1-6 |
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)
English for Science, NAN’UN-DO, ISBN: 9784523174585
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Other materials may be suggested or uploaded for students by the teacher during the term.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Attendance and Class Participation: 20%, Vocabulary Tests: 30%, Final Exam: 50%
Related courses
- 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.E214 : English 8
- LAE.E311 : English 9
Prerequisites
None
Other
None