In


September 20, 2021

This page is a course guide and teaching supplement for my students at Seijo University, Tokyo, Japan. It is not a part of the official website of the university, as it contains information related only to my classes.

I will communicate with students through this website, the university's WebClass system, email, and internet tools such as Zoom. As of September 2021, the corona virus pandemic is still in a severe stage and an emergency declaration is in effect in Tokyo. On September 24, we will start holding classes online. If the emergency declaration is lifted, then we will hold classes on campus.

The important things that students need to do is make an effort to keep in contact with the teacher, stay informed about assignments, and finish the assignments quickly.

You have to check four things regularly:

1. This website

2. WebClass

3. Campus Square

4. Your university email account (studentnumber@u.seijo.ac.jp). Set up your university email account and check it every day.

THIS SYLLABUS WILL BE ADAPTED AS NECESSARY DURING THE CORONA VIRUS PANDEMIC. WE WILL TRY TO FOLLOW THE PLAN IN THE ORIGINAL SYLLABUS, BUT CHANGES MAY BE NECESSARY, DEPENDING ON PROBLEMS THAT ARISE WITH HOLDING CLASSES ON THE CAMPUS.

The number of students in this course is usually low, so I will change my plans a lot according to the students' abilities and interests. Don't hesitate to register for the class if you think it seems too difficult. I will adjust assignments to a level of difficulty that is right for the abilities of the students who register for the course. However, the general level of study is high intermediate and above.

Advanced Oral Interaction in English 

Course Description

This course will build upon the skills that students acquired in previous compulsory English courses. The content will focus on the language used in careers and in academic studies. As such, this course is likely to help students obtain better scores on TOEIC and TOEFL, but it is not a test preparation course. The teacher will select various English training materials and authentic English language materials arranged around specific themes.

Course Goals          　

This course will share many of the objectives of English I: Academic Interaction, but it will have a greater focus on classroom interaction. In addition to being able to summarize, analyze and present information, students will have to ask questions, discuss, and engage in formal debates.

Teaching Methods    　

The teacher will use primarily videos featuring short interviews and lectures that are subtitled in English. These are authentic samples of language use, not materials that have been edited and simplified for language learners. The course will begin with short videos (about four minutes long) and proceed to longer videos up to thirty minutes in length. Students will be required to study the vocabulary of the videos, comprehend their content, and use them as a starting point for discussion of the issues introduced by the speakers in the videos. Assignments will be graded, and feedback will be provided collectively or individually.

If the corona virus (Sars-Cov-2) presents too much of a danger at any time during the academic year, the teacher will conduct classes by Zoom sessions and by using some on-demand materials. If such a change is necessary, a revised syllabus will be given to students. Regardless of the general level of risk posed by the corona virus, there may be some students who have special health reasons for not wishing to attend classes on campus. Such students will be able to follow the course through independent study methods.

Course Schedule

SECOND SEMESTER

  1. Introduction of theme for this semester, The Nature of the Economic System We Live In. Video 1: Economic History 1930-2018, Mark Blyth Explains Post-WWI Economics (8 minutes).
  2. Review and Discussion of Video 1. Homework: Prepare an oral summary of Video 1.
  3. Video 2: Interview with economist Michael Hudson (15 minutes) (Part 1).
  4. Interview with economist Michael Hudson (Part 2). Homework: Prepare a summary of Video 2.
  5. Discussion of Video 2.
  6. Video 3: Speech by Gabor Mate: How Society Makes You Feel Alienated (6 minutes).
  7. The 2008 Global Economic Crisis. Preparation for viewing the dramatic film The Big Short. Specific scenes assigned for home viewing.
  8. Study of parts of The Big Short film script. Discussion of the concepts explained in the film and of the practices of the financial industry that led to catastrophe. Homework: Write a commentary about the The Big Short.
  9. Final discussion of The Big Short.
  10. Video 4: Why Capitalist Innovation Cannot Fix Humanity's Most Serious Problems. Speech by Peter Joseph, August 29, 2021 (35 minutes). Study of selected passages only.
  11. Discussion of speech by Peter Joseph, study of transcript. Homework: Write a commentary on the speech.
  12. Discussion of student commentaries.
  13. Review lesson.
  14. Review lesson.
  15. Student presentations--final comments of materials studied. Students select the topics they want to focus on in this final assignment.

FIRST SEMESTER

  1. Course introduction. Student introductions. Assessment of English skills.
  2. Theme: Education. Video 1: Noam Chomsky on the meaning of being educated (3.5 minutes).
  3. Theme: Education. Video 1: Vocabulary quiz, comprehension quiz. Summary of Video 1 and discussion of the theme.
  4. Theme: Medical ethics. Video 2: Ethical issues of surrogate pregnancy (4 minutes).
  5. Theme: Medical ethics. Video 2: Vocabulary quiz, comprehension quiz. Summary of Video 2 and discussion of the theme.
  6. Theme: Film studies. Video 3: Two cast members of 2001: A Space Odyssey look back on the famous film from 1968 (5 minutes).
  7. Theme: Film studies. Video 3: Vocabulary quiz, comprehension quiz. Summary of Video 3 and discussion of the theme.
  8. Theme: American History. Video 4: The civil trial for the murder of Martin Luther King (5 minutes).
  9. Theme: American History. Video 4: Vocabulary quiz, comprehension quiz. Summary of Video 4 and discussion of the theme.
  10. Theme: Contemporary politics: Video 5: Russel Brand discusses the 2016 US presidential election result (7.5 minutes).
  11. Theme: Contemporary politics: Video 5: Vocabulary quiz, comprehension quiz. Summary of Video 5 and discussion of the theme.
  12. Theme: Economics: Video 6: Economist Mark Blyth explains post-World War II economics (8 minutes).
  13. Theme: Economics: Video 6: Vocabulary quiz, comprehension quiz. Summary of Video 6 and discussion of the theme.
  14. Review lesson(1)
  15. Review lesson(2)
Self-study outside of Course Hours (Assignments, Preparation and Review etc.)            　

Students will be required to review and do homework each week in order to prepare for the next lesson. Students will have to do a lot of reading, but because this is a course in oral communication, performance in class and preparation for performance in class will be the main criteria of evaluation. Approximately one hour of preparation for each class is expected.

Assessment Criteria and Methods     　

Preparedness and homework completion: 40％, Participation in discussions 40％, Final test: 20％

A final report will be assigned if the final test is cancelled due to circumstances concerning the spread of the Sars-Cov-2 corona virus.

Textbook     　 

No textbook required. 

Expectations for Enrolled Students   　

Do the essential reading, vocabulary study and preparation before each class. Be prepared to participate in the discussions based on the videos. 

Method to Contact the Lecturer         　 

riches[at]seijo.ac.jp or WebClass

If the chosen materials appear to be too difficult for the students who enroll, the teacher will adjust the plan described above to suit the students' abilities. Do not hesitate to join the class just because it seems to be too "high level." However, the general level of students should be high-intermediate or above.