Course in Communication Skills 1

Relations:

In order to register for the course 04APK2, the student must have received credit for the course 04APK1 in a previous semester.

Course guarantor:

Nathaniel Patton

Lecturer:

Tutor:

Nathaniel Patton, Beatriz Vadillo Gonzalo

Supervisor:

Department of Humanities and Languages

Synopsis:

The course will develop communication strategy and skills of student acquired at secondary school or elsewhere. Competence at B1 level of CEFR is a prerequisite for registering for the course. It runs for 3 semesters, being a core course of the Applied Information Technology programme. It will develop student´s communication skills in an integral form (e.g., listening and discussion on a topic). The list of topics is similar to that of the State Language Examination. Student will develop their vocabulary for various communication situations and will master their communication strategy. He/she will be trained to express his/her ideas clearly and according to current English usage.

Requirements:

Students must receive at least 60% on the final test in order to pass (unless they are sanctioned for missing homework). Students are only allowed to re-take the test one time and the minimum re-take score is 70%.

Attendance is required. Only 3 absences are allowed per semester without a legitimate excuse (serious illness, for example). If a student is absent for more than 3 lessons, they will not be allowed to do the zápočet. Please come to class on time. Coming more than 20 minutes late will be counted as an absence.

Students who do not complete the homework will receive a 3% deduction from their final grade for each missed assignment. Students who miss 5 or more assignments will not be able to take the credit test.

Syllabus of lectures:

Training communication and comprehension skills on topics covering: family life, jobs and professions, food, culture, travelling, schools and studies).

Syllabus of tutorials:

The course is run as a series of seminars following the topics and scope od the syllabus mentioned above.

Study Objective:

Knowledge:

To extend vocabulary and develop communication skills on everyday topics (family, work and jobs, food, culture, travelling, studies). To train listening, speaking and discussing, as well as communication strategies relevant to the situation.

Skills:

To master communication and discussion skills on the topics studied, making use of the vocabulary and grammar structures for expressing one´s thoughts, perhaps with slight hesitation.

Study materials:

Key references:

[1] J.Fictumová, J.Ceccarelli, T.Long, English, Conversation for Advanced Students (in Czech), Barrister and Principal 2008

Recommended references:

[1] R. MacAndrew, R.Martinez, Taboos and Issues, Thomson Heinle 1998

[2] S.Cunningham, P.Moor, New Cutting Edge, Upper Intermediate, Longman 2003

[3] bilingual and monolingual dictionaries

Teaching aids:

language classroom, audiovisuals, PC lab

Note:

Student will have passed „maturita“ (school leaving) examination in English or acquired competence in English elsewhere, the prerequisite being at least B1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).

Time-table for winter semester 2025/2026:

Time-table is not available yet

Time-table for summer semester 2025/2026:

Time-table is not available yet

The course is a part of the following study plans:

• Aplikovaná informatika (compulsory course in the program)