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Professional English

Course developer

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 learning the terminology related to geographic information systems and remote sensing. 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

Students have knowledge and understanding of the terminology of the field and its application.
Students know terms from the field of:
- geographic information systems, cartography, topography, a job description of GIS and remote sensing specialist (Test 1).
- remote sensing, geodetic measurement tools, sectors of agricultural industry, forest industry, transport in logistics, real estate market (Test 2)
Skills:
students are able to define terms, select professional information, explain procedures, describe processes in relation economics and entrepreneurship, think critically, provide argumentation in discussions applying professional terminology and communication skills: in written form - writing descriptions of procedures, business letters; orally - in discussions, dialogues, giving a presentation.
Competence of professional 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)

Full-time studies:
1. The course requirements. University Education. English for specific purposes. Terminology. Creating a glossary for each topic. 2h
2. Terminology of geographic information systems and remote sensing. Various dictionaries and glossaries of terms, their structure. Scientific and science texts, lexical features. 2h
3. Geographic information systems. Terms of the subject field, translations and definitions of terms. 2h
4. Cartography. An insight into history of cartography. Types of maps. 2h
5. Topography. Measurements. Terrain. Surveying. 2h
6. Skills necessary for a specialist of geographic information systems and remote sensing, responsibilities. Writing Europass CV. 2h
7. Test No 1. / Presentation skills. Presentation phrases. 2h
8. Remote sensing. The structure and language use of a science text. Practicing presentations. 2h
9. Surveying tools. Description of measuring procedure. 2h
10. Sectors of agricultural industry. Classification of agricultural land. 2h
11. Forest industry in Latvia and Europe. The concept of sustainable development. Discussion in groups. 2h
12. Transports in logistics. Types of means of transport. 2h
13. Land management. Comparison of real property markets in the Baltic States. Discussion. 2h
14. Components and functions of photogrammetry, their description.2h
15. Test No 2. / Preparing presentations and getting ready for the seminar. 2h
16. The seminar. Students’ presentations of individual work. 2h
Part-time studies:
All topics specified for full-time studies are implemented, but the number of contact hours is 1/2 of the specified number of hours

Requirements for awarding credit points

Assessment: Formal 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 (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. Prepared PPoint presentation and oral presentation (5-10 minutes) in front of the class;
Submitted glossary of terms (30 terms, their translations and definitions).

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The cumulative assessment is composed of the grades in the following:
1) two terminology tests with a positive evaluation: 40 points
2) an oral presentation in front of the group: 30 points
3) active participation in the classes: 20 points
4) completed individual work (reading professional literature, a glossary of terms): 10 points

The grade in tests is successful if at least 70% of the answers are correct. It is allowed to repeat a test once. All home works should receive a successful grade.

Compulsory reading

1. Czerw A., Durlik B., Hryniewicz M. Geo-English. Wydawniciwa AGH, Krakow, 2010. 219 p. ISBN 9788374643566
2. Walsh S., Dooley J. Career Paths: Real Estate. Books 1–3. Express Publishing, 2018. 123 p. ISBN 9781471577000 Pieejams: http://storage1.expresspublishingapps.co.uk/leaflets/new/RealEstate.pdf
3. Evans V., Dooley J., Blum E. Career Paths: Environmental Science. Books 1 - 3. Express Publishing. 2013. 123 p. ISBN 9781780986692 Pieejams: http://storage1.expresspublishingapps.co.uk/careerpaths/EnvironmentalScience.pdf
4. Latvijas Nacionālais terminoloģijas portāls. [tiešsaiste]. Pieejams: https://termini.gov.lv/

Further reading

1. Cambridge Dictionary. Cambridge University Press. Pieejams: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/
2. McCarthy M., O'Dell F. English Vocabulary in Use. Upper-Intermediate. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2017. 309 p. ISBN 101316631753
4. Linder W. Digital Photogrammetry. Springer. 2016. 209 p. ISBN 139783662504628

Periodicals and other sources

1. Journal GEO Informatics. Pieejams: http://www.geoinformatics.com
2. Environmental Science. Pieejams: http://www.environmentalscience.org/
3. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Pieejams: http://www.fao.org

Notes

Professional Higher education Bachelor’s degree programme “Geographic information systems and remote sensing”, full-time and part-time