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Professional English

Course developer

Course abstract

The study course is aimed at the of development of students’ foreign language (English) knowledge and skills necessary for comprehending, interpreting and evaluating professional information, explaining and comparing processes, participating in discussions, giving presentations in professional and academic environments as well as for communication with foreign students, specialists and academic staff. The focus is on the terminology related to environment and water management. The English language proficiency level corresponds at least level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for foreign languages.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Knowledge and understanding terminology of field. Students know the terms from the field of:
- university education, atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere, soil science, soil structure, classification of agricultural land (Test No 1);
- water resources, water cycle, water supply, environmental protection, sustainable development, wastewater treatment, runoff (Test No 2).
Skills:
students are able to define terms, select professional information, think critically, participate in discussions on environment and water management issues applying professional terminology and communication skills: in written form - writing descriptions, business letters; orally - in discussions, dialogues, giving a presentation.
Competence of professional and academic English language in order to apply it creatively in spoken and written communication for student mobility, professional and academic activities in international environment.

Course Content(Calendar)

1.Introductory class. The course requirements. University education.2h
2. Terminology in environmental science and water management. Creating a glossary of terms for each topic.2h
3. Atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere. Translation and definition of terms.2h
4. Soil science. Structure of soil. Types of soil. Types of land uses.2h
5. Classification of agricultural land. 2h
6. Test No1. / Tips for presentations. Phrases used in presentations.2h
7. Water resources. Water cycle. Examples from other countries.2h
8. Water supply. Residential rainwater collection. Description of processes.2h
9. Environmental protection. Water pollution: problems and solutions.2h
10. UN concept of sustainable development. Word building patterns.2h
11. Wastewater treatment. The problem of runoff. 2h
12. Climate and precipitation. Getting ready for presentations.2h
13. Test No.2 / Description of responsibilities of an environmental engineer.2h
14. Skills necessary for environmental engineering. CV and the letter of application in the EU. 2h
15. Evaluation of glossaries. Getting ready for presentations.2h
16. Students’ presentations.2h
Part time extramural studies:
All topics specified for full time studies are accomplished, but the number of contact hours is one half of the number
specified in the calendar

Requirements for awarding credit points

Assessment: Examination. The examination consists of: a terminology test, a talk on one of the topics acquired during the semester. A student is admitted to the examination if there are: successfully written 2 tests, the glossary of terms for each topic, timely completed home works, completed individual work (reading of professional texts, presentation on a selected topic, the glossary of terms). Tests and home works are with a positive evaluation. The number of the missed classes shall not exceed 20%.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Individual work:
1. Reading of the independently chosen professional texts (the amount: 10 000 characters);
2. Prepared PPoint presentation and oral presentation (5-10 minutes) in front of the class;
Submitted glossary of terms (30 terms, 30 translations, 20 definitions).

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The examination grade is calculated as an arithmetic mean of grades obtained in two examination tasks. The grade in the terminology test is successful if at least 70% of the answers are correct.

Compulsory reading

1.Evans V., Dooley J., Blum E. Career Paths: Environmental Science. Books 1 - 3. Express Publishing. 2013. 123 p. ISBN 9781780986692
2. Czerw A., Durlik B., Hryniewicz M. Geo-English. Wydawniciwa AGH, Krakow, 2010. 219p. ISBN 9788374643566
3. Cech T., Principles of Water Resources: History, Development, Management and Policy. Wiley, 2009. 531p. ISBN 0470136316
4. Akadēmiskā terminu datu bāze. [tiešsaiste] (skatīts 14.11.2018.). Pieejams: http://termini.lza.lv/

Further reading

1.Andersson M., Migula P., Ryden L. Environmental Science. 2003. Uppsala: The Baltic University Press. 97 p. ISBN 91-970017-0-8
2.Cambridge Dictionary. Cambridge University Press. [tiešsaiste] (skatīts 14.11.2018.). Pieejams: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/
3.McCarthy M., O'Dell F. English Vocabulary in Use. Upper-Intermediate. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2011. 309 p. ISBN978052167743

Periodicals and other sources

1.Journal GEO Informatics [tiešsaiste] [Skatīts 14.08.2020] Pieejams: http://www.geoinformatics.com
2. Environmental Science. [tiešsaiste] [Skatīts 14.08.2020] Pieejams: http://www.environmentalscience.org/
3. Food and Agriculture Organizsation of the United Nations. [tiešsaiste] [Skatīts 14.08.2020.] Pieejams: http://www.fao.org

Notes

The study course is included in the compulsory part of the professional Bachelor’s degree programme “Environment and Water Management”