Courses designed specifically for Erasmus students in spring semester
07-01-2012
Apart from the
elective courses available for English Department students, we are also offering extra courses taught by our staff members which are intended for incoming Erasmus students. We recommend them for all the Erasmus students.
In the spring semester these are the following courses (all worth 3 ECTS points, except Global Understanding, which is worth 4 ECTS points):
Introduction to Poland - taught by Dr Krzysztof Kasprzyk
Ethnic Minorities in British School System - taught by Ewa Rusek, M.A.
Apart from these we also recommend the following elective courses:
Holocaust - taught by Professor Fritz Konig
International English- taught by Dr Piotr Romanowski
Short descriptions of these and other selected courses available in the Department:
Introduction to Poland
The aim of the course is to bring closer to students coming to Krosno on an Erasmus visit the selected historical, cultural, social, political and economic aspects of Polish identity, so that they they can understand better the country where they spend their study semester. The program of the course also includes the discussion of the very special identity of the Subcarpathian region as well as visits to some points of interest in Krosno and the area.
Ethnic Minorities in British School System
The course is intended for the students who want to get acquainted with a multicultural society, so different from the Polish model they know so well. The aim of the course is to make the students aware of the problems hampering the teaching in classes with 20 per cent E2L/EAL( on average) and how hard it is for these to access the curriculum. During the course, the importance of maintaining students’ mother tongue in the learning process of a new language is emphasized. Students will also discuss some superficial assumptions that are often made about the nature of multiculturalism in Britain. The statistics used come from 2001 Census of England and Wales plus estimates available every year.
Holocaust
This course will include the following:
- A brief survey of the history of the Jews in the European diaspora
- The Jews in Germany during the Nazi period, highlighting the anti-Jewish legislation, segregation and persecution, the Wannsee conference and the extermination camps
- A class visit to the Auschwitz Museum
- Some key pieces of Holocaust literature, such as The Diary of Anne Frank, Eli Wiesel´s Night as well as some movies, e.g. Schindler´s List
Global Understanding
Global Understanding gives you the opportunity to talk to students from different countries about College life, Family, Traditions, Stereotypes, Prejudices and other topics. You will be linked with a partner from a foreign college and use videoconferencing and chat to be in touch with your partner during the class time. Also, you can develop friendships and talk about other issues with your partner on Facebook and using email outside of class. The contact and friendships you make will help you to develop new experiences of English speakers around the world. During the course you will develop understanding of places which are difficult to visit (such as Algeria, Pakistan, India, China and the USA). Most importantly, the course allows you to develop practical communication skills by using your English with non-native speakers as well as develop intercultural skills which are increasingly important in the modern business world.
You will be asked to keep a journal and record of your thoughts and email communication and write two assignments reporting your personal experience and reflecting on what you have learnt.
The course is worth 4 ECTS points and takes 60 hours (2x90 min per week on Mondays and Wednesdays at 2:45 pm at the Library classroom - second floor). The class starts on 20 February.
International English
The course will provide answers to questions such as: How does English vary across the world, and why? How can we account for the present-day similarities and differences between British English, on one hand, and Australian English on the other? To what extent is there a Celtic influence in Irish English? What sorts of varieties developed when English came into contact with other languages? How did English-based creoles emerge?
American Popular Culture
This class will focus on American popular culture and art to include the fine arts,
radio, television, film, theatre, music and sports. It is aimed at an understanding
of mass culture in America. Text for the course will be Jim Cullen's The Art of
Democracy, a history of American popular culture.
European Identity
This is a course about Europe, not the European Union.
What is Europe? Where is it? Who lives in the area we call Europe? What do we have in common and what makes us “European”? And how do we ‘see’ Europe?
Europe is not easily definable and often a patchwork of sometimes similar and sometimes conflicting ideas, theories and customs. During the course we will discuss the idea of Europe and how each of us relates to Europe, from both a national and individual perspective. We will also explore some of the diversity of Europe and try to find out what (if anything) defines European.
Let Us Argue
The focus will be on how we argue effectively in debate: how we advance our own case against someone else’s. Up to 15 different issues will be chosen which concern both the United Kingdom and Poland, such as Is there enough work for everyone to do?; Are we teaching the right things in schools?; Should we spread the nation’s wealth more equally?
