Basic English (FS)

Andrew Brown, andrew.brown@fhnw.ch

Students can:

• understand the main points of a scientific article from the main-stream press
• discuss ideas fluently and spontaneously
• produce grammatically accurate, logically coherent text
• understand the main points of a clear talk on a scientific topic

Consolidation and expansion of fundamental grammar and vocabulary (both general and scientific). Reading and analysis of basic scientific articles; group discussions & comprehension activities; presentation of findings. Listening comprehension exercises. Language input: Functions

• describing past experience and events
• expressing opinions, agreement/disagreement
• connecting ideas

Grammar

• wh- and yes/no questions
• present, past, perfect, future and conditional tenses
• common phrasal verbs
• passives
• modals: possibility, deduction, obligation & necessity
• countable and uncountable nouns
• determiners
• adjectives & adverbs

Vocabulary

• a wide range of basic scientific vocabulary
• word building/transformation

The course is designed for students who wish to revise the basic elements of English in an academic context. Students who have an English level of B2 or higher should not take this course. Students are expected to have some knowledge of:

• basic tenses (present/past/future)
• correct word order
• prepositions of time and place
• simple adverbs and adjectives

Students are expected to be able to:

• express themselves clearly at an elementary level
• understand basic sentences and frequently used phrases
• perform tasks requiring simple exchange of information

Module Preparation

• Online English Foundation Course (if required)

Course Material

• Lecture materials & homework handed out in class and available on Moodle

Additional exercises as necessary

Assessmentmodul in Studienrichtung Chemie

• Weekly lectures with whole-class and group activities.
• Compulsory homework exercises.

gemäss Modulverzeichnis in der aktuellen StuPO

Spoken Academic English Written Academic English

3 Lektionen / Woche KW 8 bis 22 (14 Wochen im Frühjahr-Semester) 3 Lektionen / Woche KW 38 bis 51 (14 Wochen im Herbst-Semester) 3 Lektionen / Woche KW 38 bis 51 (14 Wochen im Herbst- Semester)