Course code ValoP285
Credit points 3
Professional English I
Total Hours in Course81
Number of hours for seminars and practical classes32
Independent study hours49
Date of course confirmation09.06.2014
Responsible UnitLanguage Centre
Course developer
Inese Ozola
Dr. philol.
Course abstract
The aim of the course is acquisition of knowledge and skills for academic purposes and professional activities to serve such purposes as the development of professional qualification, obtaining and exchange of information, and improving students' communication skills in the situations related to professional activities and/or academic purposes.
Learning outcomes and their assessment
Students know terms from the field of:
- university education, soil science, soil structure, classification of agricultural land (Test No 1);
- surveyor’s responsibilities, cartography, environmental pollution, sustainable development, real estate, rights of ownership (Test No 2).
Students are able to apply professional terminology and skills: in writing essays, business letters; orally in discussions, dialogues, role plays, giving a presentation.
The assessment according to the 10 point scale.
Course Content(Calendar)
1.Introductory class. The course requirements. University Education.
2. Terminology in land management and surveying. Creating a glossary of terms for each topic.
3. Soil science. Structure of soil. Translation and definition of terms.
4. Types of soil. Types of land uses: urban space and rural areas.
5. Classification of agricultural land. Revision.
6. Test No.1. / Tips for presentations. Phrases used in presentations.
7. Land management. Surveying. Description of responsibilities of a surveyor.
8. Cartography. History of cartography. Scale, direction, relief of maps.
9. Environmental issues. Environmental pollution: problems and solutions.
10. UN concept of sustainable development. Word building patterns.
11. Real estate. Rights of ownership over land: an example of Sweden.
12. Local authorities and management of real estate. Types of properties.
13. Test No.2. / Question and answer session: local community and local government.
14. Real property market. Evaluation of glossaries. Getting ready for presentations.
15. Revision. Students’ presentations.
16. Students’ presentations.
Requirements for awarding credit points
Assessment: Formal Test (pass / fail).
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 (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;
3. Submitted glossary of terms (20 terms, 20 translations, 20 definitions).
Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes
The cumulative assessment (pass / fail) 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. Evans V., Dooley J., Blum E. Career Paths: Environmental Science. Books 1 - 3. Express Publishing. 2013. 123 p. ISBN 9781780986692
2. Akadēmiskā terminu datu bāze. [tiešsaiste] (skatīts 14.11.2018.). Pieejams: http://termini.lza.lv/
3. Czerw A., Durlik B., Hryniewicz M. Geo-English. Wydawniciwa AGH, Krakow, 2010. 219p. ISBN 9788374643566
4. Kalbro T., Mattson H., Urban Land and Property Markets in Sweden. UCL Press, 1995. 193p. ISBN 1857280520
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 05.12.2018] Pieejams: http://www.geoinformatics.com
2. Environmental Science. [tiešsaiste] [Skatīts 05.12.2018] Pieejams: http://www.environmentalscience.org/
3. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. [tiešsaiste] [Skatīts 05.12.2018.] Pieejams: http://www.fao.org
Notes
The study course is included in the compulsory part of the professional Bachelor’s degree programme “Land Management and Surveying