Course Name Year Term Period Faculty / Graduate School All Instructors Credits
12559:[2025 Spring]IR18‐BA102 English for International Studies II (Intermediate)(RJ) 2025 Spring Tue2,Fri1 College Of International Relations O’DAY DAWN 2

Campus

KIC/KIC

Class Venue

RYOYUKAN RY205/RYOYUKAN RY205

Language

English

Course Outline and Method

【+R-Jugyo】
Information for “+R-Jugyo” will be posted on the “Course News” on manaba+R by April 1. Be sure to check the “Course News” on manaba+R.

This class places relative emphasis on aural skills although all four skills (i.e., reading, listening comprehension, speaking, and writing) are duly incorporated. Students will be introduced to a number of social issues occurring in both domestic and international spheres. Using the textbook and supplementary materials, students will gain a deeper perspective of the causes, effects and possible solutions to issues of global relevance.

Class activities will be face-to-face and will include lectures, group discussions on global issues, weekly reviews of the units, and a group presentation. The evaluation for this course will be based on class participation, a group presentation, a reflection activity, and performance on the unit reviews, a midterm and a final test, which will all be based on basic concepts (definitions) and terms (jargons), and listening exercises as they concern global issues.

Classes will be conducted face-to-face in the classroom on campus.

Student Attainment Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to confidently read articles related to lifestyle, social issues, and environmental issues, which range from consumerism to crime, from global warming to global terrorism, and from urban pollution to unemployment. Students will be able to develop critical thinking skills and be able discuss which area(s) they are interested in or what global issue(s) they’d like to pursue further. That is, students will be able to

(1) Develop English reading skills while they think about important global issues
(2) Develop reading comprehension and listening skills
(3) Form questions (learning to clarify what you don’t know and what you do know after reading articles in English and listening to lectures in English)
(4) Support reasons with examples based on research
(5) Continue a discussion
(6) Expand upon answers
(7) Lead a discussion
(8) Politely interrupt a speaker
(9) Discuss both sides of an argument
(10) Discuss and express their own opinions and perspectives on the issues in English
(12) Present idea/opinions on the issues (discussion questions) in English
(13) Debate key issues on various topics

Recommended Preparatory Course

Course Schedule

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

Introduction

Focus of the first lesson: Getting to Know Each Other, Schedule, Overview
How to Spot Fake News

Lesson 2

Unit 1: The Cashless Society

Goal: Learn how to discuss opinions
Pair work/discussion activities, vocabulary building, and listening exercises
CRAAP PowerPoint

Lesson 3

Unit 1: The Cashless Society (Continued)

Unit 1: The Cashless Society
Discussion/debate
Brainstorming and Narrowing Down Topics for Group Presentations
Homework: Prepare for the Unit 1 Review Exercise and Learn about Thesis Statements/Thesis Statement Practice

Lesson 4

Unit 1: Review Exercise
Unit 2: Fast Fashion
Writing Thesis Statements for Group Presentations

Goal: Learn how to ask questions if you didn't hear or understand the speaker
Pair work/discussion activities, vocabulary building, and listening exercises
Homework: Download the Infographic: How to Write a Hook and read it.

Lesson 5

Unit 2: Fast Fashion (continued)

Discussion/debate

Unit 2 Review Exercise for credit
Group Time: Writing a hook
Steps to Using Photos and Videos
How to Source Photos and Videos

Lesson 6

 Unit 3 Plastic Packaging

Goal: Learn how to agree and disagree
Pair work/discussion activities, vocabulary building, and listening exercises

Lesson 7

Unit 3: Plastic Packaging (continued)

Unit 3 Review Exercise for credit

Lesson 8

Unit 4: Cell Phone Etiquette

Goal: Learn how to give yourself time to think
Pair work/discussion activities, vocabulary building, and listening exercises

Lesson 9

Unit 4: Cell Phone Etiquette (continued)

Unit 4 Review Exercise for credit

Lesson 10

Unit 5: Vegetarianism

Goal: Learn how to support reasons with examples
Pair work/discussion activities, vocabulary building, and listening exercises

Lesson 11

Unit 5: Vegetarianism (continued)

Unit 5 Review Exercise for credit

Lesson 12

Unit 6: Social Media

Goal: Learn how to continue a discussion
Pair work/discussion activities, vocabulary building, and listening exercises

Lesson 13

Unit 6: Social Media (continued)

Unit 6 Review Exercise for credit

Lesson14

Unit 7: The Soda Tax

Goal: Learn how to expand your answer
Pair work/discussion activities, vocabulary building, and listening exercises

Lesson15

Unit 7: The Soda Tax (continued)

Unit 7 Review Exercise for credit
Review practice for the Midterm Test
Group Presentation work

Lesson 16

Midterm test: Units 1-7

Group Presentation work

Lesson 17

Presentations

Lesson 18

Unit 8: Overtourism

Goal: Learn how to ask for, make, and respond to suggestions
Pair work/discussion activities, vocabulary building, and listening exercises

Lesson19

Units 8: Review Exercise for credit
Unit 9: Improving Education

Units 8: Review Exercise for credit
Goal for Unit 9: Learn how to support your opinion with multiple reasons
Pair work/discussion activities, vocabulary building, and listening exercises

Lesson 20

Unit 10: Voting Age

Unit 9: Review Exercise for credit
Unit 10 Goal: Learn how to check your understanding
Pair work/discussion activities, vocabulary building, and listening exercises

Lesson 21

Unit 11: Rethinking Zoos

Unit 10: Review Exercise for credit
Unit 11 Goal: Learn how to lead a discussion
Pair work/discussion activities, vocabulary building, and listening exercises

Lesson 22

Unit 12: Alternative Energy

Unit 11: Review Exercise for credit
Goal for Unit 12: Learn how to discuss the pros and cons of something
Pair work/discussion activities, vocabulary building, and listening exercises

Lesson 23

Unit 12: Alternative Energy (continued)

Unit 12: Review Exercise for credit

Lesson 24

Unit 13: Equal Pay in Sports

Goal: Learn how to discuss both sides of an argument
Pair work/discussion activities, vocabulary building, and listening exercises

Lesson 25

Unit 13: Equal Pay in Sports (continued)

Unit 13: Review Exercise for credit

Lesson 26

Unit 14: Gaming Addiction

Goal: Learn how to interrupt politely and deal with interruptions
Pair work/discussion activities, vocabulary building, and listening exercises
Submit reflection exercise to assignments in Manaba-R

Lesson 27

Unit 15: Britain's Royal Family

Unit 14: Review Exercise for credit
Goal: Learn how to summarize a discussion
Pair work/discussion activities, vocabulary building, and listening exercises

Lesson 28

Unit 15: Britain's Royal Family
Final Test: Units 8-15

Unit 15: Review Exercise for credit
Course Wrap-up
Reflection and Discussion

Class Format

All classes are to be conducted face to face; however, in the case of an emergency the instructor may elect to provide online (live-streamed) classes provided that the maximum number of online classes remains less than 1/2 of the total number of classes for the specified course. If an instructor does conduct a live-streamed class, then the link will be posted on Manaba+R.

Recommendations for Private Study

To promote success, students will be expected to...
• Arrive to class on time, attend class and be ready by completing homework and assignments on time.
• Bring pen and paper to each class and come to class with the handouts they will be given for this course.
• Spend approximately 180 minutes on course-related studies outside of class each week.
• Engage in group and pair work that will be used in this classroom throughout this course. Be sure to talk, listen and use your group wisely.
• Come to class every day, complete homework on time, read the material before discussions, participate in discussions and group work, and ask the instructor about any questions they might have.
       Note: If students are absent, late or not prepared, their grade will suffer because they will not be able to fully participate in the classwork.

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

Participation (use of English, group discussions, etc.): 15%
Review Exercises (15 units): 20%
Homework: 15%
Group Presentation: 10%
Reflection exercise (end of semester): 10%
Midterm test: 15%
Final test: 15%

Grade Evaluation Method (Note)

Advice to Students on Study and Research Methods

(1) Be responsible for your own learning (Responsibility/Self Management);
(2) Keep up with the assignments and do not fall behind. Be sure to keep in mind that in order to participate fully in the classroom discussions and activities, students must do the homework every week. (Meeting the deadline/Time Management);
(3) Read (understand) the designated readings in the textbook thoroughly (Preview).
(4) Make vocabulary notes and terminology notes (Organizing Skills).
(5) Make notes on quotes that you do not understand, and form questions or explain why you find it difficult to understand or unsure in 2-3 sentences. (Preview, Critical Thinking Skills)
(6) Use the forms that will be posted in Resources in Manaba-R to help form personal opinions about the issues that will be discussed in class. Read the form entitled Discussion Tactics that will be posted in Resources and practice linking sentences together to express opinions. Use the links that will be provided in Resources to watch videos will help students learn how to express opinions and practice what the native English speaker models for students (Critical Thinking Skills, Academic Communication Skills).

Textbooks

Title Author Publisher ISBN Code Comment
Global Issues: An Introduction to Discussion Skills Pearson, G, Skerritt, G., Francis, A., Yoshizuka, H. Seibido 978-4-7919-7225-8 Students will be expected to bring the book on the first day of class.

Textbooks (Frequency of Use, Note)

Students will be expected to bring the book on the first day of class. This textbook will be used in-class and outside of class on a weekly basis.

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

This course schedule may be modified based on student needs. Any such modifications will be clearly communicated to students in class and via Manaba+R.

Note: In order to maintain equity, there may be a grading curve applied to the final scores.

Course News

Students must check Course News at least three times a week for homework, and any changes that might take place.

Tests and Presentations

Students must not be late on the day of their test or on presentation day. Students who arrive late without a valid excuse will not be able to give the presentation. In the case of tests, students who arrive late can take the test, but only if the test is being given at the time they arrive. Additional time to complete the test will not be given unless a valid excuse is presented to the instructor.

Unless students have a valid excuse and the instructor has been notified ahead of time, make-up tests and/or presentations will not be given. In the case of illness on the day there is a test or a presentation to be given, students must go to Tutoring Collections in Manaba-R, and write the instructor before class begins on the day of the test or the presentation. Students must also go to see the doctor and send a copy of their receipt in Tutoring Collections. In the case of official excuses provided by the university for extracurricular activities, students must notify the instructor via Tutoring Collections prior to the test or presentation, and they must submit their official excuse as soon as possible after the event. Students who follow these instructions will be able to take the test or give their presentation on another day.

Late Homework
Students must seek permission to submit late work. This must be done through Tutoring Collections. Late work will not be accepted without a valid reason and permission.

Contacting your Instructor:

Please contact the instructor via Tutoring Collections in Manaba-R.
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