Section outline

  • General

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  • Topic 1: Introduction; Recognizing academic texts

    Course description and requirements

    The language of instruction of the Academic Reading course will be ENGLISH and CZECH. However, students are not required (though encouraged) to speak in English.
    The first half of the course will be dedicated to the exploration of reading strategies, building up academic vocabulary and detailed reading of texts from selected fields of humanities.

    By mid-term, the course participants will have searched for an original text (10-15 standard pages) written in English from their own field of study.
    During April/May, each participant will also introduce their text in a brief, 10-minute-long presentation in English or Czech. By the end of the course, each participant will have completed 1 summary (Czech or English) of the text and uploaded the original text and its summary in moodle.

    Students will also reflect on their own reading experience in their private "reader's journals". Their weekly entries will be available only to the teacher. 7 entries are required per semester.

    In order to obtain the 3 credits for this course, classroom activity, regular attendance (min 50% of all contact sessions), meeting all the deadlines in moodle as well as journal and classroom activity is required. A final test on the academic wordlist will take place via moodle on May 11, 4 p.m.

    Here is the link to the scheduled Zoom meeting:

    Topic: Akademické čtení
    Time: Feb 16, 2021 04:00 PM 
    Every week on Tue, until May 11, 2021, 13 occurrence(s)
    Feb 16, 2021 04:00 PM
    Feb 23, 2021 04:00 PM
    Mar 2, 2021 04:00 PM
    Mar 9, 2021 04:00 PM
    Mar 16, 2021 04:00 PM
    Mar 23, 2021 04:00 PM
    Mar 30, 2021 04:00 PM
    Apr 6, 2021 04:00 PM
    Apr 13, 2021 04:00 PM
    Apr 20, 2021 04:00 PM
    Apr 27, 2021 04:00 PM
    May 4, 2021 04:00 PM


    Join Zoom Meeting
    https://cuni-cz.zoom.us/j/93600540698

    Meeting ID: 936 0054 0698

    • Recognizing academic texts handout File
      Students must
      Mark as done

      in-class material

    • Reading assignment - Education

      For our next session on February 23, please read the texts on pp. 37 and 40 and do the related exercises on pp. 36 - 43. 

      Please download the whole material, we are going to work with it in our next class.

    • Academic Word List - Challenge!! URL

      Challenge yourselves!! Study the words from the AWL by the end of the semester! We will check your progress around mid-semester! If you take 1 sublist a week, you'll become an academic vocabulary expert by May - what a chance! Don't miss it!

    • Journal Entry 1 Assignment

      Please use this channel to enter your regular reflections on your reading progress/English usage.

      Reflective journal

      Record and reflect on your reading progress and experience weekly (deadlines are Mondays, 11 p.m.) Think about the following: How have I contributed to my vocabulary and reading development this week? What have I read? Which words have I learnt? Am I satisfied with this week's progress? Do I need any assistance from my teacher? How did I use English this week? Was this week's course topic useful for me?

      While writing, do not censor yourself too much, try to write freely and don't worry about any grammar errors, this is a journal. You can switch to Czech if you don't feel like writing in English. Write min.100 words per entry.

      Your answers will remain private with only your teacher having access and commenting on them.

  • Topic 2: Reading Strategies

    • Reading Skills for Academic Study presentation File
    • Reading for Week 3 - Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Assignment

      Read the attached article and prepare your answers to the 5 questions. 

      If you cannot join class on Week 3, upload your answers here by March 1, 11 p.m.

    • Academic Language in Practice URL

      Take this fun quiz and get acquainted with some key academic expressions. Deadline: March 1, 11 p.m. After that, the test expires and you will miss the chance to practice some useful academic terminology. 

      Note: Questions 16 and 17 contain mistakes, don't let yourselves be puzzled by them, consider them a challenge! :)

    • Reading Coprehension Quiz URL

      Practice your reading comprehension by taking this short quiz - by March 1st, 11 p.m. We will discuss your answers in class on Week 3.

    • Journal Entry 2 Assignment

      Please use this channel to enter your regular reflections on your reading progress/English usage. Write min. 100 words.

    • Practice English Phrasal Verbs URL
      Students must
      Mark as done

      Although phrasal verbs are not a feature of academic texts and belong to the genre of spoken English and journalism, you may find this source useful for your vocabulary practice.

    • Language aspects: American-vs-British-English File

  • Topic 3: Pre-reading Techniques; Discussing Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants

  • Topic 4: Searching for online sources; Note taking

  • Topic 5: Writing Summaries; Paraphrasing

    In this unit, we will be looking at summary writing. Please study the attached documents and upload a summary of the text you chose for the previous unit (mind-mapping exercise). 

  • Topic 6: Online dictionaries; Strategies of dealing with unknown vocabulary.

    This week find another academic text from your field of study (10-20 standard pages).

    Focus on vocabulary: underline, check with a dictionary.

    Prepare a word document with copied extracts/sentences from your text containing 10-15  new/inspiring/useful/academic words from your text. Highlight the new vocabulary and translate it into Czech. 

    Write a short summary (150 -200 words) of the whole text in Czech or English. Include it in one document together with the vocabulary.

    Upload the original text (ideally with the highlighted words - depending on your technological possibilities). 

    Create a quiz in the quizlet app and share it via the forum with your groupmates. 

    Practice the Academic Word List vocabulary (sublists 1-5) and get ready for a short online quiz.

  • Topic 7: Presentations: Preparation. No contact session this week.

    Presentations: Let's get ready to overcome these:

    The human brain starts working the moment you are born and never stops until you stand up to speak in public. ~ Unknown

    Glossophobia, or a fear of public speaking, is a very common phobia and one that is believed to affect up to 75% of the population. Some individuals may feel a slight nervousness at the very thought of public speaking, while others experience full-on panic and fear.

    You can use any academic text for your presentation, of any length. Make the presentation useful for your as well (preparation for the B2 exam, preparation for the Academic Reading exam). Use Czech or English (or both:)) Prepare a visual aid - a PP or Prezi Presentation or a handout with images, graphs, useful vocabulary etc.

  • Topic 8: Presentations

    • Journal Entry 7 Assignment

      Enter your regular reflections on your reading progress/English usage here. Deadline: April 12.

  • Topic 9: Translation/Presentations

    This week you are asked to find a third text (this is the final one!) from your field of study, 10-15 pages. Choose a passage (ca 1 standard page /ca 250 words).

    Copy the selected passage to a word document and translate to Czech/Slovak. Include a brief summary of the text (max 200 words).

    Upload your translation by April 19. Include the original text (or a link) as well. 

    • Translations Assignment

      Upload your translation (both English and Czech version in 1 document). Include the complete original text with the highlighted passage, please, as well as a short summary of the whole text.

    • google translator - in-class exercise File
    • Academic Word List Study URL

      This is a reminder of the Academic Word List study that you have been asked to do in your own time throughout the semester. By the end of the semester, you are expected to have mastered the list. In this link, you can find an alternative source of online practice tests to help you get through the list. Please check it out.

    • Journal Entry 8 Assignment

      Enter your regular reflections on your reading progress/English usage here. Deadline: April 19.

  • Topic 10: Presentations of texts/Challenging vocabulary

  • Topic 11: Presentations

    This week, focus on completing your moodle assignments and journal entries. Practice the Academic Wordlist. 

    • Journal Entry - consolidation Assignment

      This is a chance to upload a comprehensive journal entry for those who have not written their journals regularly. If you have posted at least 7 entries, you don't have to worry about this assignment. This is a make-up chance for those who haven't-

    • Language focus: Abbreviations File
    • B2 exam reading practice: gap filling URL

      This exercise is useful for the B2 exam Use of English section.

    • Main Ideas and Making Inferences - Final Practice Assignment
      Students must
      Mark as done

      Do the attached exercises and upload your answers by May 4th, 5 p.m.

      You can either highlight the correct answers and upload the file or simply copy the main ideas and right answers in a word document.

  • Topic 12:

    There is no contact session on May 4. However, there is a chance to book a consultation or to take the Akademické čtení exam. Please let me know via email. You don't need to prepare anything special for the exam (you have already presented your text). However, I will need you to send me one of your summaries in Czech to my email, (by Sunday) because I need to file them as part of the exam protocol. The exam itself will take max. 10 minutes in which I will share an unknown text related to your field of study - you will just read it and then interpret it in Czech. 

  • Topic 13: May 11 - Final Academic Vocabulary Test

    Highlighted

    In this unit, you can find the Final Academic Vocabulary Test - very briefly checking your knowledge of the academic word list. Once you have completed the test and all the course activities and assignments in moodle, you are entitled to the 3 credits for this course.

    It will be open on Tuesday, May 11, 2021, from 4 - 4:30 p.m. 

    For booking an alternative term and any other questions, please send an email to michaela.konarkova@ff.cuni.cz.

  • Exam preparation materials + Text bank

    Below, you can find a list of texts from the field of education and humanities to practice your reading. Some of them are accompanied by questions for reflection.