Course Name Year Term Period Faculty / Graduate School All Instructors Credits
16144:IR18‐BC105 Intensive English V (RA) § 16145:RUIR-0905 Intensive English V(RA) 2024 Fall Wed5 College　Of　International　Relations SHEFFRIN ALEXANDER 1

Campus

KIC

Class Venue

GAKUJIKAN　GJ307

Language

English

Course Outline and Method

The aim of this course is to increase students' command of general academic English in the areas of speaking and listening.
This course will focus on IELTS test preparation as means to prepare students for the demands of academic speaking and listening while focusing on both marco and micro skills.
Students will practice with IELTS practice tests and learn the necessary speaking and listening test taking skills to succeed in the IELTS standardized test. In principle, classes will be held face to face.

Student Attainment Objectives

1. Students will have the ability to express opinions and report information about topics in clear and coherent sentences.
2. Students will have the ability to comprehend the main ideas, supporting information and examples from academic course lectures.
3. Students will learn how to apply skills from this course in various fields of interest within International Studies.

Recommended Preparatory Course

Preview and review of vocabulary in the textbook

Course Schedule

Lecture/Instructor（When there are multiple instructors) Theme
Keyword, References and Supplementary Information
1

Introduction. Explanation of syllabus and requirements for grading, as well in-class methods

IELTS Test Overview and explanation
IELTS Speaking Test Practice and Overview
Introduction to textbook LMS system

2

Unit 1: The Man Made Environment

Exam skills:
 - common speaking topics (for IELTS speaking task 1)
 - short answer questions (for IELTS listening)
Learning strategies:
 - responding to Wh- questions (speaking)
 - listening for specific information (listening)
Language focus: (speaking)
 -vocabulary to describe places
-syllabus stress

3

Unit 2: Leisure and Recreation

Vocabulary Quiz # 1
Exam skills:
 - opinions about sport (for speaking task 1)
 - short answer questions (for listening)
Learning strategies:
 - paraphrasing responses (speaking)
 - listening and understanding directions (listening(
Language focus:
 - connecting focus
 - talking about sport

4

Unit 1: The Man Made Environment and Unit 2: Leisure and Recreation Review
IELTS Practice Test # 1

30-minute Review on Unit 1 and Unit 2 exam skills, learning strategies, and language focus
60-minute IELTS speaking and listening test

5

Unit 3: The News and the Media

Vocabulary Quiz # 2
Exam skills:
 - news and media and describing an event (for speaking tasks 1 and 2)
 - identifying speakers and an opinion (for listening)
Learning strategies:
 - expressing your feelings (speaking)
 - identifying speakers and opinions (listening)
Language focus:
 - current affairs topics (speaking)

6

Unit 4: Travel and Transport

Exam skills:
 - travel and transport (for speaking tasks 1 and 2)
 - matching questions and multiple choice questions (for listening)
Learning strategies:
 - Preparing your answer for part 2 (speaking)
 - dealing with follow up questions (speaking)
 - identifying different functions
Language focus:
 - using sequencing words (speaking)
 - pronouncing sequencing words (speaking)

7

Unit 3 News and Media and Unit 4 Travel and Transport Review

Review on Unit 3 and Unit 4 exam skills, learning strategies, and language focus
Class presentations

8

Unit 5: Business and Work

Exam skills:
 - work and business (for IELTS speaking task 1 and 2)
 - completion tasks (Part 4)
Learning strategies:
 - extending the part 2 task card (speaking)
 - using notes to follow a lecture (listening)
Language focus:
 - talking about wishes and intentions (speaking)
 - contracting modal verbs (speaking)

9

Unit 6: The Natural Environment

Vocabulary Quiz # 3
Exam skills:
 - the environment (speaking parts 2 and 3)
Learning strategies:
 - making timed notes (speaking)
 - understanding sign posting words (listening)
 - recognizing and using functions (speaking)
Language focus:
 - talking about the environment (speaking)
 - vocabulary of certainty and doubt (speaking)

10

Unit 5: Business and Work and Unit 6: The Natural Environment Review
IELTS Practice Test # 2

30-minute Review on Unit 5 and Unit 6 exam skills, learning strategies, and language focus
60-minute IELTS speaking and listening practice test

11

Unit 7: Education Systems

Exam skills:
 - talking about education (for speaking task 2 and 3)
 - completing charts and diagrams (part 4 listening)
Learning strategies:
 - reason, cause, and effect (speaking part 3)
 - giving reasons for your answer (speaking)
 - following conversations (listening)
Language focus:
 - making suggestions using modal verbs (speaking)

12

Unit 8: Festivals and Traditions

Vocabulary Quiz # 4
Exam skills:
 - completing a full speaking test
 - summary completion (for listening part 3)
Learning strategies:
 - looking at both sides of the argument (speaking)
 - identifying and classifying information (listening)
Language focus:
 - comparing past and present (speaking)
 - adjectives for celebrations (speaking)
 - contrastive stress (speaking)

13

Unit 7: Education Systems and Unit 8: Festivals and Traditions Review
IELTS Practice Test # 3

30-minute Review on Unit 5 and Unit 6 exam skills, learning strategies, and language focus
60-minute IELTS speaking and listening practice test

14

Unit 1-8 Review and vocabulary practice

Vocabulary Quiz # 5
Discussion and reviewing speaking and listening tests
Feedback on speaking and listening tasks and review
Test taking strategies and vocabulary review
Mini Presentation assignment introduction

15

Final Reflection, Discussions and Class presentations

Reviewing and talking about exam skills, learning strategies, and language focus
End of semester Reflections
Class Presentations

Class Format

All classes are to be conducted face to face.

Recommendations for Private Study

Students should prepare well for all classes and make sure reviewing and homework are all currently up to date. Students should expect to spend at least one hour a week outside of class preparing for class and completing class assignments, Students should keep a weekly vocabulary notebook and preview and review academic vocabulary.

Grade Evaluation Method

Kind Percentage Grading Criteria etc.
Final Examination (Written) 0

Report Examination
(A report to be submitted by the unified deadline)		 0

Exams and/or Reports other than those stated above, and Continuous Assessment　
(Evaluation of Everyday Performance in Class)		 100

Manaba/LMS Textbooks assignments: 20%
    • Based on the textbook. There will be 8 assignments (Students must complete at least 4)
Active participation: 20%
IELTS practice tests (3): 15% (5% each)
Homework and Classwork: 15% (reflections, vocabulary lists, and other assignments)
Vocabulary quizzes (5): 15%
Presentations (2): 15%

Grade Evaluation Method （Note）

The textbook will required every week.

Students must bring their textbook to class and be prepared and on task with a pen and paper to receive full participation points.

Coming to class late will affect participation points. Arriving to class late 3 times will be treated as one absence.

Students must participate in at least two thirds of class meetings in order to pass the course.



Advice to Students on Study and Research Methods

Your opinions count, so please don not feel shy about contributing to all activities during class.
All class themes and assignments will be informed through course news on Manaba R, so please check regularly.

Textbooks

Title Author Publisher ISBN Code Comment
Mindset for IELTS Level 2 Student’s Book with Digital Pack Greg Archer, Lucy Passmore, et al. Cambridge University Press 978-1-00-928030-3

Textbooks （Frequency of Use, Note）

The textbook will be used every week.

Reference Books

Reference Books （Frequency of Use, Note）

Web Pages for Reference

How to Communicate with the Instructor In and Out of Class(Including Instructor Contact Information)

Learning Management System （manaba+R）,Talk with Students,Other (Separate instructions will be provided)

Other Comments

Course syllabus is subject to change during the semester.
【科目ナンバリング・カリキュラムマップはこちらから/Click here to see the Curriculum-Map and Course-Numbering】
URL:http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp//students/pathways-future/course/curriculum.html