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FutureLearn

EAL: English Language for Nature Conservation and Sustainability

Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) and Te Pūkenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills & Technology via FutureLearn

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Overview

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Improve your language skills with the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology

The themes of conservation and sustainability are present in most major academic English exams such as IELTS, TOEFL, and NZCEL. This four-week course will prepare you for reading, listening, writing, and speaking about these themes.

You’ll learn the language and vocabulary that go hand-in-hand with the important topics of conservation biology and sustainability. Specifically, you’ll explore the unique flora and fauna of New Zealand to broaden your understanding and help you progress further with your study of the English language.

Led by Dr. Ray Genet at the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, a specialist in delivering lessons on preserving biodiversity, you’ll learn how to advance your language skills and communicate your interest in sustainability.

Explore different techniques to help you learn English language

The course will help take your English language skills to the next level as you delve into responding to a variety of language formats.

You’ll increase your reading, vocabulary, and pronunciation skills as you examine academic and spoken texts.

Discover the unique New Zealand wildlife

Being isolated from the rest of the world has allowed New Zealand’s wildlife to evolve in distinctive ways. However, with the increase in the number of humans, there has also been an increase in the number and types of pests.

In this course, you’ll learn how these introduced pests are being managed to restore parts of New Zealand. You’ll also look at the work by the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary, which aims to re-create a historic piece of New Zealand where native birds, reptiles, and invertebrates can flourish.

By the end of this course, you’ll have the knowledge and vocabulary skills to discuss different sustainability topics with ease.

This course is designed for students of academic English with a CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference level of mid-B2.

It will be particularly useful if you would like to study conservation and sustainable development in an Anglophone academic setting.

To take part in this course you will need to use Padlet. This is to enable you to share drawings with the class. Padlet is free. sign up at: https://padlet.com/

Syllabus

  • Focus on Writing and Reading for understanding - Our connection to nature
    • Introduction to this course
    • Ideal landscapes
    • Reading 1: The Savanna Hypothesis
    • Reading 2: What artists and philosophers say about the Savanna Hypothesis
    • Reading 3: Biophilia - the instinctive love of nature
    • Reflection on Week 1
    • Discussion strategies
  • Focus on Reading - Conservation in New Zealand
    • Vocabulary of forest ecosystems
    • Reading an article about New Zealand forests.
    • Reflection on Week 2
  • Focus on Listening for understanding - Ecological restoration & The Brook Sanctuary
    • Vocabulary of ecological restoration
    • Listening to a talk and watching a video on ecological restoration
    • Reflection on Week 3
  • Focus on Speaking - How to give an effective presentation for biodiversity conservation
    • Presentations
    • Persuasion
    • Create a PowerPoint presentation
    • Reflection on Week 4

Taught by

Ray Genet

Reviews

4.4 rating at FutureLearn based on 14 ratings

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