Course code ValoP227

Credit points 3

Professional English

Total Hours in Course81

Number of hours for seminars and practical classes32

Independent study hours49

Date of course confirmation10.12.2021

Responsible UnitLanguage Centre

Course developers

author Sociālo un humanitāro zinātņu institūts

Tatjana Šinkus

Dr. paed.

author lect.

Joseph Jack Horgan

Bc. art.

Course abstract

: The study course includes the acquisition of the English language knowledge and skills necessary for academic purposes and professional activities, serving as a means of improving professional qualifications, obtaining and exchanging information, and communicating in situations related to professional activities and/or academic purposes (practice abroad, participation in lectures by guest lecturers, work in joint ventures, etc.). The study course aims to improve students' skills in all forms of language activity - reading, speaking, listening, writing, emphasizing the acquisition of terminology related to sociology, society, social institutes, directions of sociological research and social issues. 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

Learning outcome Assessment method Level of achievement
Average High Very high
KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge and understanding of industry terminology: terminology related to sociology, society, social institutes, sociological research directions and social issues. Test 40-69% of questions are answered correctly 70-89% of questions are answered correctly 90-100% of questions are answered correctly
Knowledge and understanding of the use of language in the professional field. Individual task,
group work, discussion. Incomplete knowledge and understanding of language use in the professional field. There is knowledge and understanding of the use of language in the professional field. Excellent knowledge and understanding of the language used in the professional field.
Knows and understands the basic principles of academic English language and research, such as presentations, research reports. Individual task,
presentation, research plan.
Incomplete knowledge and understanding of basic principles of academic English language and describing research activities. There is knowledge and understanding of the basic principles of academic English language and describing research, but there is difficulty in using them effectively. Fully knows and understands the basic principles of academic English language and describing research.
SKILLS
Professional skills
Ability to find necessary professional information in the foreign language on the Internet; structure and classify it; and work with term and industry dictionaries. Individual task, informative summary, review plan. Incomplete ability to find necessary professional information in the foreign language Is able to find some necessary professional information in the foreign language in some communicative situations. Is able to effectively work with multiple information sources in the foreign language in various communicative situations.
Ability to use professional terminology in various communicative situations. Individual tasks, test, research plan. Difficulty in accurately applying the appropriate theoretical terminology of sociology in different communicative situations. Ability to apply relevant theoretical terminology of sociology in various communicative situations. Excellent ability to apply relevant theoretical terminology of sociology in various communicative situations.
Soft skills
Ability to responsibly plan time and complete all necessary tasks. Individual task. Difficulty in scheduling time and meeting deadlines. Ability to plan time, but showing carelessness and inaccuracy in work. Excellent ability to meet the set schedule, performing tasks accurately.
Ability to discuss and communicate freely about tasks and their results in the English language. Discussions, group work. Difficulty in using the English language in discussions and group work, very limited participation. Engagement with other group members and completing tasks in the English language. Using the English language, showing active involvement, interest in discussions and group work.
Ability to explain and substantiate his / her opinion with arguments. Debates, individual tasks. Difficulty accurately explaining and justifying opinions in the foreign language. Can partially explain and justify opinions in the foreign language. Effectively and independently explains and justifys opinions in the foreign language.
COMPETENCE
Knows and is able to use professional and academic English language in oral and written communication and professional and research activities, international student mobility and academic environment. Individual task, group work, presentation,
exam. Difficulty in using professional and academic English language in oral and written communication in professional activities. Partially able to use professional and academic English in oral and written communication in professional activities. Very effectively uses professional and academic English in oral and written communication in professional activities.

Succession of the study course (prerequisites): no prerequisites are required

Knowledge assessment and prerequisites for taking a test or examination

Topic Form of knowledge assessment Proportion of evaluation, % Assessment deadline Volume of individual studies in hours
Full time Part-time studies (distance learning)
Sociology, culture, society, status, and conflict Test 20 At the time specified for the test
5 10
Personal and social problems Informative summary 20 At the time specified for submission 8 10
Culture and society Individual task, presentation 20 At the time specified for submission and presentation 10 14
Sociological research methodology Research plan and presentation 40 At the time specified for submission and presentation 25 30
Test with a grade Cumulative study result assessment
10% corresponds with one point on a 10-point grading scale

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Academic language. Professional, academic, business and general English. Principles of a successful presentation: structure, phrases used in presentations, the text in slides. Preparation of presentations in English. (2 hours)
2. Sociology as a science and scientific study of society. Society. Society structure. Social strata. The place of sociology among other sciences, functions of sociology. The specific features of the sociology terms in English. Characteristics of monolingual and bilingual dictionaries of the field. (2 hours)
3. Development of society. Phases of society development and basic types of society. Social change. Social change as process and outcome. The process, types and causes of social change. Globalization. Different evaluations of globalization processes. Features and structure of various texts. (2 hours)
4. Culture and society. Understanding the concept of culture. Basic elements of culture. Diversity of cultures. Cultural integration. Definitions of terms, creating a glossary. (2 hours)
5. Conflict of cultures. Culture shock. Culture and identity. Social and cultural identity, concepts and terms. Personal identity. The seminar: students’ presentations. (2 hours)
6. Social structure. The main elements of the social structure. Socialization. Agents and stages of socialization. Social interaction, terms and their definition. Discussion. (2 hours)
7. Social status. Social role. Types of social status. Social role networks. Social groups and organizations. Characteristics of groups. The concept of organization. Specific features of word building patterns. (2 hours)
8. Social inequality. Forms of expression of social inequality. Social stratification and social mobility. (2 hours)
9. Social behaviour, its nature. Collective behaviour, its types. Public opinion, its functions. Deviance, its forms of expression, functions, causes, terms and their definitions. (2 hours)
10. Social control, its types. Crime and legal justice. The test. (2 hours)
11. Nation, the historical stages of its creation. National state, models of the formation of states. National self-awareness. Nationalism. Nationalities. Ethnic politics, its types and methods, terms and their definitions. (2 hours)
12. Personal and social problems. Classification of social problems. Global problems, their classification. Global socio-political and economic problems. Writing summaries. (2 hours)
13. Social institutes, their nature. Family and marriage as social institutions, understanding of these concepts in sociology. Family forms, types, functions. Forms of marriage. Changes affecting the family and marriage. Education as a social institute. Education as a social phenomenon. Educational functions. Education system, grades and types. Globalization of education. Lifelong education, terms and their definitions. (2 hours)
14. Religion as a social institution. Religion, its functions and understanding in sociology. Structure of religion, classification of religions. Religious organizations. (2 hours)
15. Economy as a social institution. Economic functions. Economic functions. Work and labour market. Understanding concepts in sociology. Job functions. Group work. (2 hours)
16. Sociological research. Methods of sociological research. The main stages of sociological research and their sequence. The seminar: students’ presentations. (2 hours)

Requirements for awarding credit points

Assessment: Test with a grade.
It is made up of cumulative assessment.
Successfully written 2 tests, the glossary of terms
for each topic, timely completed home works,
completed individual work (term paper and presentation on a selected topic). Tests and home works are with a positive evaluation. The number of missed classes shall not exceed 20%.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Individual work:
1. Written term paper – 5,000 printed marks with more than 30 terms
2. Individual presentation (5 -8 minutes) about the term paper.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The cumulative assessment is composed of the grades in tests, home assignments, assessment during classes and a presentation of the individual work. The grade in tests is successful if at least 70% of the answers are correct.

Compulsory reading

1. Andersen M.L., Howard F.T. Sociology. Understanding a Diverse Society. Belmont: Thomson Wadsworth, 2008. 691 p.
2. The Cambridge Dictionary of Sociology, Ed. by Turner B.S, Cambridge University Press. 2006. 708 pp. ISBN 0-521-83290-X
3. Latham-Koenig, C., Oxenden, C., Chomacki, K., Hudson, J., & Seligson, P. English file. Upper-Intermediate. Oxford University Press, 2020. 167 p.
4. Giddons, A., Duneier, M., Applebaum, R. P., & Carr, D. Introduction to sociology (12th ed.). W W NORTON, 2021. 984 p.
5. Browne, K. An introduction to sociology. Polity Press, 2020. 400 p.
6. Kassin S., Fein S., Markus H.R. Social Psychology. Belmont: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2011. 613 p.
7. Kelly K. Geography. Oxford: Macmillan, 2011. 232 p.
8. Macionis J.J., Gerber L.M. Sociology. Toronto: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2009. 695 p.
9. Newman D.M. Sociology 7. Exploring the architecture of everyday life. Thousand Oaks: Pine Forge Press, 2008. 547 p.
10. Oxenden C., Latham-Koenig with Byrne T. New English File. Intermediate. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010. 160 p.
11. Tepperman L., Curtis J., Albanese P. Sociology. Ontario: Oxford University Press, 2009. 778 p.

Further reading

1. Scott, J. A dictionary of sociology. Oxford University Press, 2014. 832 p.
2. Canavor, N. Business writing. John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 2021. 432 p.
3. Harris, A., & Tyner-Mullings, A. The Sociology Students’ Guide to Writing. SAGE, 2017. 272 p.
4. Brieger N., Pohl A. Technical English. Vocabulary and Grammar. Hampshire: Heinle Cengage Learning, 2008. 164 p.
5. Cullen P. Vocabulary for IELTS. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008. 174 p.
6. McCarthy M., O’Dell F. Academic Vocabulary in Use. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008. 176 p.
7. McCarthy M., O’Dell F. English Vocabulary in Use. Advanced. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008. 315 p.
8. Newbolt B. Climate Change. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009. 58 p.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Contemporary Sociology Journal. Pieejams: https://journals.sagepub.com/home/csx
2. Humanities and Social Sciences Latvia Journal. Pieejams: https://www.apgads.lu.lv/en/izdevumi/brivpieejas-izdevumi/zurnali-un-periodiskie-izdevumi/humanities-and-social-sciences-latvia/
3. Inernational Sociology Journal. Pieejams: https://journals.sagepub.com/home/iss
4. British Journal of Sociology. Pieejams: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/14684446

Notes

Missed lessons shall be made up in accordance with the LBTU Study Regulations and the requirements provided in the study course programme.