English for Academic Purposes: Oral Discussion and Presentation

• demonstrate the oral communicative skills and critical thinking skills necessary for English-medium university-level studies
• demonstrate knowledge of the grammar and vocabulary necessary for English-medium university studies
• apply appropriate linguistic registers in different communicative situations
• participate in discussions of a general and academic nature through listening, analysing and giving spontaneous feedback to others’ presentations and contributions during the seminars, and orally express their own opinions and arguments in English
• prepare and give oral presentations to a small audience
• make use of different types of reference material, such as the phonetic transcription in dictionaries, to improve their communicative abilities in spoken English
• identify their own problem areas as regards oral communication in academic contexts and show an ability to improve their oral communication skills.

The course contains an introduction to basic presentation techniques and takes up common communication problems and how they can be avoided. The course contains increasingly advanced exercises in different types of oral presentations, both spontaneous and prepared, in the form of discussions, role-play and different academic and general presentations. The course also addresses the importance of pronouncing words in a way that is easily understood and using English that is grammatically and lexically suited to the situation.
The course consists of several modules:

1.Discussion Skills and the International Phonetic Alphabet, 1.5 Credits
Students develop their oral skills through discussion exercises. They also learn the symbols of the International Phonetic Alphabet that are used in English to aid in learning the pronunciation of new vocabulary.

2. Descriptive Language in Oral Production, 1.5 Credits
Students focus on the vocabulary and grammatical structures needed to make an oral presentation of a descriptive nature and to participate in discussions with other students on related topics.

3. Narrative Language in Oral Production, 1.5 Credits
Students focus on the vocabulary and grammatical structures needed to make an oral presentation of a narrative nature and to participate in discussions with other students on related topics.

4. Persuasive Language in Oral Production, 1.5 Credits
Students focus on the vocabulary and grammatical structures needed to make an oral presentation of a persuasive nature and to participate in discussions with other students on related topics.

5. Oral Presentation Skills, 1.5 Credits
Students build on and demonstrate the skills and vocabulary learned in modules 1-4 to produce longer oral presentations and participate in follow-up discussions with other students on one another’s presentation topics.

Continuous assessment of students’ participation in the different group activities and individual presentations. The ability to read phonetic transcription is examined through an oral and written exam.

Obligatory seminars including group discussion, lectures and self-study. All teaching is conducted in English.

The Swedish grades U–VG.

To earn a VG for the course, the student must earn a VG in module 5 and at least two other modules.

Reporting of grades:
Module 1: Discussion Skills and the International Phonetic Alphabet - 1.5 cr
Module 2: Descriptive Language in Oral Production - 1.5 cr
Module 3: Narrative Language in Oral Production - 1.5 cr
Module 4: Persuasive Language in Oral Production - 1.5 cr
Module 5: Oral Presentation Skills - 1.5 cr