120101 Introduction to academic agricultural English

Type
Lecture and exercise
Semester hours
2
Lecturer (assistant)
Salhofer, Klaus , Kaul, Hans-Peter , Zollitsch, Werner , Walzer, Andreas , Leeb, Christine , Holzinger, Andreas , Winckler, Christoph , Weber, Elisabeth , Knaus, Wilhelm Friedrich
Organisation
Offered in
Wintersemester 2024/25
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).


Dates for winter term 2024:
Orientation Week: Sept 6 - Oct 2
Module 1: Oct 3 - Oct 16 - content lecture: Oct 7 + 14
Module 2: Oct 17 - Oct 30 - content lecture: Oct 21 + 28
Module 3: Oct 31 - Nov 13 - content lecture: Nov 4 + 11
Module 4: Nov 14 - Nov 27 - content lecture: Nov 18 + Nov 25
Round Off: Nov 28 - Dec 11

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.