Professional English in Agriculture II

Total Hours in Course81

Number of hours for seminars and practical classes32

Independent study hours49

Date of course confirmation14.04.2020

Responsible UnitLanguage Centre

Course developer

lect.

Aija Pētersone

Mg. paed.

Prior knowledge

ValoP031, Professional English in Agriculture I

Course abstract

The study course is aimed at the 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 agriculture. The English language proficiency level corresponds at least to 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 terms from the field of:
- animal husbandry, poultry farming; animal feed, welfare (Test No 1);
- agricultural mechanization; soil tillage, harvesting machinery; technological equipment of farms (Test No 2);
- entrepreneurship in the countryside, agricultural politics, rural tourism, organic farming (Test No 3).
Skills:
Students are able to define terms, select professional information, think critically, participate in discussions applying professional terminology and communication skills: in written form - writing descriptions, summaries, 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.
The assessment according to the 10 point scale.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Summer practical training and duties. Development of terminology vocabulary on every theme.2h
2. Animal husbandry. The main branches of animal husbandry. Poultry farming.2h
3. Raising livestock and breeding.2h
4. Animal feed. Animal welfare and health.2h
5. Test 1. Animal husbandry. Agricultural mechanization. Soil tillage machinery.2h
6. Sowing and planting machinery. Harvesting machinery.2h
7. Technological equipment of farms.2h
8. Test 2. Agricultural machinery. Entrepreneurship in the countryside.2h
9. Agriculture of Latvia – future perspectives.2h
10. Agricultural politics of the European Union.2h
11. Development of the rural environment. Rural tourism.2h
12. Ecological tasks of agriculture. Organic farming. Sustainable agriculture. 2h
13. Innovative technologies in agriculture. Biotechnologies in agriculture. Genetically modified organisms.2h
14. Test 3. Entrepreneurship. Business communication. 2h
15. Bioeconomy and agriculture.2h
16. Students` presentations of the individual work.2h

Requirements for awarding credit points

Assessment: Examination.
It is made up of cumulative assessment.
Successfully written 3 tests, a final terminology test,
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: 20 000 characters);
2. A written summary (the amount – 2000 characters);
3. Prepared PPoint presentation and oral presentation (5-10 minutes) in front of the class;
4. Submitted glossary of terms (30 translations, 20 definitions).

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The cumulative assessment is composed of the grades in 3 tests, the grade in the final terminology test and a presentation of the individual work.The grade in tests is successful if at least 70% of the answers are correct. All home works should receive a successful grade.

Compulsory reading

1. Developing sustainable value chains for small-scale livestock producers / Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2019, 158p. Tiešsaistes resurss E-grāmata (PDF) ISBN 9789251317273 [Skatīts 25.03.2020.]. Resurss pieejams: www.fao.org/3/ca5717en/CA5717EN.pdf
2. Kahan D. Entrepreneurship in Farming. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Rome: FAO, 2012. 128 p. ISSN 2071-4505
3. Advances in Agricultural Machinery and Technologies / edited by Guangnan Chen. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2018, 489 p. Tiešsaistes resurss E-grāmata (PDF) ISBN 9781351132398 [Skatīts 25.03.2020.] Pieejams: https://ezproxy.llu.lv:2062/books/e/9781351132398
4. Sullivan N. O., Libbin J. D. Career Paths: Agriculture. Books 1-3. Express Publishing, 2013. ISBN 978-1-78098-378-3

Periodicals and other sources

1. Regenerative Agriculture [tiešsaiste] [skatīts 26.03.2020.]. Pieejams: http://www.regenerativeagriculturedefinition.com/
2. Factsheet on 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme for Latvia [tiešsaiste] [skatīts 26.03.2020.]. Pieejams: https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/food-farming-fisheries/key_policies/documents/rdp-factsheet-latvia_en.pdf
3. Working safely with agricultural machinery [tiešsaiste] [skatīts 26.03.2020.]. Pieejams: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg241.pdf

Notes

The study course is included in the compulsory part of the professional Bachelor’s degree programme Agriculture.

Atsauksmes