Syllabus on Professionally-oriented English Language

Transcription

1 Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan Non-profit JSC Almaty University of Power Engineering and Telecommunications Information Technologies Faculty Department Foreign Languages «Approved» Dean of ITF S.Tabultayev 2014 Syllabus on Professionally-oriented English Language for 3 rd year students on 5В specialty «Automation and control» Year of study - 3-rd Semester - 5-th Form of education full-time Number of credits - 2 Total ECTS credits - 3 Total hours - 90 Practical classes(h) - 30 SSA (h) - 60 Including SSUTS - 15 Almaty, 2014

2 The Syllabus has been prepared by senior teacher L. Ya. Korobeinikova and senior teacher S.B. Bukhina, on the basis of the curriculum on 5B specialty Automation and control The Syllabus has been considered and approved at the meeting of the Department Foreign Languages dated 29 May, 2014, Minutes No.9 Head of Foreign Languages Department V.Kozlov The Syllabus has been considered and approved at the meeting of the Educational and Methodical Council of the Faculty of Information Technologies (Minutes No. 6 dated ).

3 1. Instructors: R.M. Parkhatova - senior teacher of AUPET, office 312, contact: Z.A. Raiymkyl - senior teacher of AUPET, office 312, contact: Length and place of classes can be found in the course schedule, consultation hours for SSUTS, information will be provided on the notice-boards of IT Dean s office (build. C, room 409) and FL Department ( build. A, room 312). 3. Prerequisites: to do the course you are required to get a passing grade for English-1 and English Characteristics of the discipline 4.1. Aim of the course The course is aimed at development and mastering of basic communication skills, required for further successful professional activity involving searching, processing and representing technical information in a foreign language Course objectives By the end of this course the student will acquire abilities and master skills of language competence, including comprehensive reading of authentic scientific and technical literature in the foreign language, develop skills of critical thinking, analysis, systematization of information, and proper two-way translation of special texts as well as writing abstracts and summaries Course description The course is designed to create basis for developing and mastering major communication skills, enabling you to deal with a variety of academic and real-life situations which require a certain level of language competence. You will learn to: - feel and comprehend the language of actual science and engineering, make proper and grammatically correct use of scientific and technical terminology in practical communication; - accomplish two-way translation of scientific and technical texts; - perceive and process technical information in English in compliance with solution-orientated practical task; - evaluate, analyze and summarize texts within the framework of the professional interaction medium. Aims, objectives, structure and content of the course comply with the specific professionally-oriented training at the chair-in-charge on specialty 5B Radio engineering, electronics and telecommunications. Upon completing the course the student will know: basic technical terms and relevant lexical units on specialty; main concepts and definitions specified in the covered program material; key grammar rules and patterns necessary for translating technical texts.

4 be able to: communicate using basic terms appropriately, in the correct context; participate in discussions on special topics using relevant terminology and observing the communication etiquette accepted in English speaking countries; search and retrieve information from textbooks, special journals and other sources of scientific and technical character; obtain practical skills of: reviewing the information and monitoring comprehension of the scientific or technical text by writing brief and overall summaries; translating special technical materials from English into the native language and from the native language into English, keeping to the norms of grammar, style, etc The discipline content Essential content of the course consists in teaching reading, speaking, writing and (less) listening in the sphere of professional and academic communication The main elements of teaching and their content: Reading The student is supposed to work on authentic texts from textbooks, special journals and other sources of scientific and technical information, develop automatic skimming, scanning and building comprehension of special original texts, mastering skills of dealing with reference materials, consolidation and extending active vocabulary, identifying the main ideas of the body part and supporting details, understanding logical organization of the text, sorting out redundant information, guessing the meanings of unfamiliar words and dealing with vocabulary problems. Translation/ interpretation Oral interpretation and, more essential, written translation from English into the native language and from the native language into English are regarded as positive means of learning the language and as most effective ways to control completeness and accuracy of understanding the content. Writing Developing skills and abilities to fulfill abstracts and summaries of scientific and technical sources on specialty. Translation of special texts from English into the native language and from the native language into English in harmony with the language norms.

5 Speaking This course will provide students with more confidence while conducting different kinds of dialog in situations of professionally-oriented interaction, giving presentations and participating in academic class discussions, as well as when answering the teachers questions General content of the academic process Theme (topic) Practical classes Hours SSA Including SSUTS Module 1. Automated control systems. Field of cybernetics Professionallyoriented texts Module 2. Automated control systems. Field of cybernetics Professionally-oriented texts Total over the semester 90 h (of 60) Working week-by-week plan 5В specialty Automation and control Weeks Themes (topics) Academic materials Module Тheme 1. Development of automatic control. Automatic control theory. Closed-loop and open loop control systems - 4 hours. 3-4 Theme 2. Elements and structure of automatic control systems. Forward and feedback controllers.4 hours. Radovel, V.A. English for tech. HEIs, textbook, M., Bukhina S. Nurkhodjaieva Kh. (English

6 5-6 Theme 3. Elements and structure of automatic control systems. Forward and feedback controllers. 4 hours. for students in automation and control) AUPET, Almaty, Midterm test 2 hours Module Theme 1. - Distributed control systems. Servomechanism, regulator and process control. Programmable logic controller. Microcontrollers. Sensors and transducers. Data acquisition. - 6 hours Theme 2. An introduction to artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence. Intelligent machines. (How to write a resume)- 4 hours. Radovel, V.A. English for technical HEIs, textbook, M., Bukhina S. Nurkhodjaieva Kh. (English for students in automation and control) AUPET, Almaty, Theme 3. Robot programming and interfaces. Industrial robots. (How to write a summary)- 4 hours. Radovel, V.A. English for tech. HEIs, textbook, M., Final test 2 hours.

7 5. Self-study Activities Self-study of the student is aimed at individual fulfillment of academic assignments, generating cognitive interest, extending knowledge in the area of professional occupation through language-learning practice. The students are to complete 2 term papers (SSA self-study assignments) consisting in written translation of professionally-oriented texts with volume of no less than 3,000 symbols each, compile a terminological glossary, and fulfill lexical and grammar assignments, and tasks for monitoring comprehension of the text, including writing of an abstract or a summary. Completing translation assignments the student must demonstrate ability to use generally accepted technical terminology and terms used in specific branches of science and technology, as well as polysemantic terms having certain special meanings Content and methodological recommendations on completing term papers. A term paper of the student is a special kind of academic activity directed at self-dependent fulfillment of assignments for extending the resource of knowledge and obtaining definite communication skills and language competences. Generally, a term paper should be written in out-of class conditions, in accord with the suggested list of topics and assignments. Term papers will include translation of authentic scientific and technical texts with specialized content. It will be a 3,000 symbol text, lexical and grammar assignments and a task to write a summary. One of the main tools for understanding the text content is its lexical and grammatical analysis which is applied while reading and checked in the process of fulfillment the assignments. When dealing with professionally-oriented texts the students develop skills of skimming, scanning and reading for detailed analysis. They also learn to deal with reference sources. Compiling a terminological glossary is part of the term paper assignment, which helps to acquire the covered lexical material. 5.2 Term paper assignments 1. Translate the text from English into Russian (volume 3,000 symbols). 2. Compile a terminological glossary (no less than 20 per term paper). 3. Fulfill the task on text comprehension (for each term paper). 4. Fulfill the tasks on vocabulary and grammar (for each term paper). 5. Write a summary in English and Russian (for Term paper 2).

8 5.3 Schedule of completing and submitting term papers Course Professionally-oriented English Language Starting work on term papers 1-1 week 2 7 week Due date of term paper submission 7 week 14 week 5.4 Criteria for evaluating translation skills (professionally-oriented texts) - Volume of the material worked up; - currency and relevance of the text (to the profile of the chosen discipline); - logical sequencing and clear presentation; - terminological and style and grammar accuracy; - abilities and skills of text analysis, generalizing, organization and delivery of factual information; - argumentation, support and conclusion. 5.5 Self-Study Under Teacher Supervision (SSUTS) Self-study under the teacher s supervision is a form of out-of-class activity of the student by an individual schedule, where he/she reports on the progress and possible problems in self-study assignments, and receives the required help and recommendations. There are two main functions of SSUTS consultation and control. Joint teacher-student efforts are realized in a dialogic format. Consultations serve to: - render help in completing self-study assignments; - help to select appropriate research methods and learning strategies for better mastering of the course material; - providing opportunities for more detailed explanations of the topics which the student might find difficult to understand; - getting and completing practical assignments to review and consolidate the covered material. The control function is realized through systematic current assessment of the obtained knowledge and skills, supporting and strengthening the most effective learners motivating factors. 6. Assessment of the students academic achievements Access rating is identified as the sum of economic indicators of the student s academic progress by the midterm tests, self-study assignments, which makes 60 % of the final grade. Access rating (AR) includes the results of current control (CC) of the student s academic progress, results of midterm tests (MT1 and MT2), and term papers. Self-study of the student is evaluated by the results of 2 term papers (TP) with written assignments. For identifying access rating the following formula is applied:

9 AR = (CC + MT1+ MT2 +TP1+TP2)/5. Grading points may be added for participation in extracurricular events or lowered for unexcused missing of classes or late submission of home assignments, etc. Final Grades (evaluation) is calculated by the formula: F = 0.6AR + 0.4E, where E stands for Exam, including final written test. Repeated examination may only be allowed after repeated fee-based study of the course, in the following academic term Requirements to the final control in the form of oral examination. Students who performed all the tasks of the course and submitted 2 term papers are allowed to take an examination. Examination includes 3 tasks: 1. Reading of the professionally-oriented text 1. The volume of the text is printed symbols. The task should be done on 45 minutes. 2. Discussing the main idea of the text 1 in the form of dialogue with the teacher. 3. Reading of the general technical and professional-oriented text without a dictionary, closely connected with the previously learnt themes. Retelling the text in English. The task should be done in 25 minutes. 6.2 Credit transfer at academic mobility of the university students Credit transfer under ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) into the graderating alphabetic system and vice versa is carried out according to Tables 1 and 2. Table 1 - Credit transfer under ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) into the grade-rating alphabetic system of assessment of the achievements of the Kazakhstani students ECTS evaluation Letter evaluation Digital equivalent of points Score in % Traditional evaluation А А 4,0 100 Excellent В В+ 3,33 85 С В 3,0 80 Good D С 2,0 65 E D 1,0 50 Satisfactory FX, F F 0 0 Unsatisfactory

10 Table 2 - Transfer of credits of the grade-rating alphabetic system of the Republic of Kazakhstan into the ECTS Letter evaluation Digital equivalent of points Score in % Traditional evaluation ECTS evaluation А 4, А- 3, Excellent А В+ 3, Good В В 3, Good В- 2, С С+ 2, Satisfactory С 2, С- 1, Satisfactory D D+ 1, D 1, Satisfactory E F Unsatisfactory FX, F 7. Course policy: - do not be late and do not miss classes; - monitor closely the class scenario suggested by the teacher and participate actively in all class activities; - submit term papers for defense in due time ( next to last week of the semester); - study independently in the library and at home. 8. Norms of academic ethics: - discipline; - politeness; - goodwill; - honesty; - responsibility; - work in the classroom with deactivated mobile phones. Conflict situations shall be discussed in an open way in the student groups with a teacher and advisor; if it is impossible to solve the conflict it shall be reported to the Dean Office. 9. Recommended books and materials Main: 1. Radovel, V.A. English for technical this, textbook, M., Bukhina S., Nurkhodjaieva Kh. (English for students in automation and control) AUPET, Almaty, 2012.