Students will be expected to have a knowledge of the English language of at least B2 level of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).

In this course, the topics of National Populism, Realism, Liberalism, Constructivism and Marxism will be explored as theoretical frameworks for analyzing events in the Real World in places like Ukraine, India, the USA, the UK and the EU, in order to understand them better. In addition, students will be expected to exchange opinions in groups and use their shared knowledge of the present situation to draw conclusions and make deductions. At the same time, the students must develop their communication skills in English, starting with improved pronunciation. By the end of the course, they must be able to follow a news report in English and summarize the development of a crisis, as it unfolds. They should be able to share their opinions regarding a possible solution to such a problem and encourage others to agree with them using conventional means, such as reports, proposals and PowerPoint presentations.

To this end, course work consists of the students submitting (i) a report, (ii) a proposal, written according to the professor’s instructions. 

At the end of the course, each student must take part in a 15-minute PowerPoint presentation which explains an economic and/or political problem and proposes

 a principled solution.  

The course covers the following topics.:

·          2025: pathways to peace – conflict resolution in various parts of the world;

·          The growing influence of National Populism on the world’s leading democracies, such as India, the United States of America, the UK and the European Union;

·          The activities and limitations of international organizations such as the United Nations, NATO, the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank;

·          Realism, Liberalism, Constructivism and Marxism as theoretical frameworks for interpreting real and imaginary dilemmas in international relations;

·          Economic, political and diplomatic measures available to resolve international crises. For example, the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

1)   ADOPTED RECOMMENDED/BOOKS (A=ADOPTED - C=RECOMMENDED)

·          (C) Grieco, J., Ikenberry, G.J., Mastanduno, M. 2022. Introduction to International Relations: Perspectives, Connections and Enduring Questions (3rd ed.). London: Bloomsbury Academic.;

·        (C) Eatwell, R. & Goodwin, M. 2018. National Populism: The Revolt Against Liberal Democracy. London: Pelican.;

·        (C) Paterson, K. & Wedge, R. 2013. Oxford Grammar for EAP. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Lessons will be taught entirely in English. The programme is the same for attending and non-attending students. Power Point presentations and exercises will be provided during the course. PDF files for each lesson should be downloaded from the professor’s university webpage (http://martinharper.pbworks.com/w/page/30763868/Martin%20Harper) and onto the students’ computers the day before. Students are requested to bring their laptops to the classroom, if possible. 

• The course combines a standard theoretical approach with historical examples and present-day case studies, and encourages students to apply their knowledge to contemporary dilemmas. Conventional lessons in the classroom comprise group work, audio-visual comprehension and web quests to find additional information online. The methodologies used include Register & Genre Analysis and Task-Based Learning.

  
  

• • In order to be admitted to the final exam, students have to produce two pieces of coursework: a Report and a Proposal, written according to the professor’s instructions.
  • The final exam is made up of two parts: a written test (50% of the final mark) and an oral one (50% of the final mark).
  • The written part consists of a written summary of a 4-5 minute-long video-clip from a news broadcast taken from the BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera, Deutsche Welle or France 24 English.

  The oral exam will consist of a PowerPoint presentation in which all group members have to speak. The presentation should identify a specific problem, suggest a practical solution and make recommendations. For example, a Development Aid Project.   

  Assessment of both parts will take equal account of linguistic correctness, accuracy and adequacy of content.

   

  Task 1 – (coursework) a Report

   

  Criteria: 5 points=excellent; 4=good; 3=acceptable; 2=poor; 1=weak; 0=insufficient sample of language

   

  Grammatical accuracy - 0-5 points - (8.5%)

  Punctuation, spelling, capitalization - 0-5 points - (8.5%)

  Appropriateness of language - 0-5 points - (8.5%)

  Relevance and adequacy of content - 0-5 points - (8.5%)

  Presentation, organization, cohesion and coherence - 0-5 points - (8.5%)

  Adequacy and range of terminology and lexis - 0-5 points - (8.5%)

   

   

  Task 2 – (coursework) a Proposal

   

  Criteria: 5 points=excellent; 4=good; 3=acceptable; 2=poor; 1=weak; 0=insufficient sample of language

   

  Grammatical accuracy - 0-5 points - (8.5%)

  Punctuation, spelling, capitalization - 0-5 points - (8.5%)

  Appropriateness of language - 0-5 points - (8.5%)

  Relevance and adequacy of content - 0-5 points - (8.5%)

  Presentation, organization, cohesion and coherence - 0-5 points - (8.5%)

  Adequacy and range of terminology and lexis - 0-5 points - (8.5%)

   

   

  WRITTEN TEST - Video-Comprehension and summary

   

  Criteria: 5 points=excellent; 4=good; 3=acceptable; 2=poor; 1=weak; 0=insufficient sample of language

   

  Grammatical accuracy - 0-5 points - (16.5%)

  Punctuation, spelling, capitalization - 0-5 points - (16.5%)

  Appropriateness of language - 0-5 points - (16.5%)

  Relevance and adequacy of content - 0-5 points - (16.5%)

  Presentation, organization, cohesion and coherence - 0-5 points - (16.5%)

  Adequacy and range of terminology and lexis - 0-5 points - (16.5%)

   

   

  ORAL TEST - PowerPoint Presentation

   

  Criteria: 5 points=excellent; 4=good; 3=acceptable; 2=poor; 1=weak; 0=insufficient sample of language

   

  Pronunciation and fluency - 0-5 points - (16.5%)

  Content - 0-5 points - (16.5%)

  Grammatical accuracy - 0-5 points - (16.5%)

  Adequacy and range of terminology and lexis - 0-5 points - (16.5%)

  PowerPoint Presentation - 0-5 points - (16.5%)

  Communicative effectiveness- 0-5 points - (16.5%)

   

English