To give students the opportunity and skills to discuss and debate the most current events and social issues in other countries and Japan in English; to see events and issues from a global perspective; to improve critical thinking skills; to express verbal and written opinions; to reinforce first semester computer skills.
課題・評価
Attendance; careful preparation of internet, listening, and reading homework; active participation in discussions; personal opinions about topics; semester report.
テキスト
No text
参考文献
To be chosen during the course.
受講生への要望
Most important will be steady attendance and your sincere effort to actively participate in the class no matter what your level of English.
授業計画
The most recent news and social issues in other countries and Japan provide topics for research and discussion. Students investigate topics by watching English news/documentaries, using the Internet, reading other media sources. Students are encouraged to explore online media sources from different countries to obtain a global perspective on the issues, to see them in a broader context and consider them from different points of view. Events and issues from both developing and developed countries are discussed and students must analyze information, judge the reliability of references, and try to separate fact from opinion. In class, students summarize their research results in small group discussions and present different sides of an issue in small group debates. Finally students write their own opinion about the issue. The course aims to increase students' awareness of what is now happening in other countries. It also hopes to make the students better spokespeople for their own country, to give them the opportunity and vocabulary to explain what is now happening in Japan in English and to formulate and express their opinions about that. The semester report gives students a chance to choose a topic, do extensive research, organize a longer writing, and review first semester computer skills: internet research, evaluating and citing references, word processing in English.
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