120101 Introduction to academic agricultural English

Type
Lecture and exercise
Semester hours
2
Lecturer (assistant)
Salhofer, Klaus , Leeb, Christine , Kaul, Hans-Peter , Zollitsch, Werner , Weber, Elisabeth , Winckler, Christoph , Knaus, Wilhelm Friedrich , Walzer, Andreas , Holzinger, Andreas
Organisation
Offered in
Sommersemester 2025
Languages of instruction
Englisch
Content

Content:
* Reading and summarizing specialized texts from various agricultural sciences using dictionaries and other references.
* Generating appropriate general comments on specialized texts written in English.
* Delivering professional opinions on specialized texts in academic settings and responding effectively to others' viewpoints.
* Practicing and utilizing specialized vocabulary relevant to agricultural sciences.
* Applying specialized language in professional and academic contexts with flexibility and efficiency.
* Cultivating self-confidence in using specialized English language skills.

This is a continuous assessment course (VU). Attendance for the content lectures is compulsory (max 3 sessions may be missed)! These content lectures are normally in-classroom sessions. The English coaching part is video-based and time- and location-independent.

PLEASE WATCH THIS INFORMATION VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/XX7sfJld05o
(can also be found as 120101 Introduction to Academic Agricultural English on YouTube).

In addition to the content lectures, you must watch English coaching videos and complete weekly assignments online.

There are four modules, specializing on
- Technology & Environment,
- Plant Sciences,
- Livestock Sciences and
- Economy.

Each module takes up two weeks and includes two module lectures, English Coaching input videos and assignments on our e-learning platform.
Previous knowledge expected

none, ideally: English language skills at Matura level (= B2) or better.
Objective (expected results of study and acquired competences)

Students develop their competences to process and communicate agricultural contents in an international context using English as a means of international communication.

In order to reach this goal students learn to

- Read and process the quintessence of specialized texts from relevant fields of agricultural sciences with the help of dictionaries and other sources,
- Understand and produce appropriate general comments on specialized texts produced in English,
- Present professional opinions related to a specialized text in an academic context and respond adequately to opinions expressed by others,
- Practice and apply specialized vocabulary,
- Transform specialized knowledge from the first language into English in a comprehensible way and vice versa,
- Apply specialized language in their professional and academic field(s) in an efficient and flexible manner,
- Develop a healthy and supportive level of self-esteem when using specialized language in English,
- Understand the importance of and actively promote lifelong learning.
You can find more details like the schedule or information about exams on the course-page in BOKUonline.