Language Institute, Thammasat University
EL 241 English for Economists 1
Course Outline Semester 1/2015
Course Description
Pre-requisite: EL 172 English Course III
A course to study English structures, vocabulary and expressions commonly used in economic
contexts, as well as writing, listening and speaking practice.
Course Objectives
The course is designed to promote students’ improvement in four language skills. At the end of the
course, students are expected to achieve the following learning targets:
Receptive skills (listening and reading):

Recognising text organization and the interconnectedness between paragraphs/parts

Identifying topics and main ideas of economic texts and lectures

Distinguishing main ideas from supporting details and separating facts from opinions

Judging statements
Productive skills (speaking and writing):

Rewriting/retelling the original contents with one’s own words

Organising ideas in order to develop a short paragraph/speech

Describing data and cause & effect

Expressing ideas through argumentative writing and debates.
Teaching Methods
The teaching and learning style of the course is based on cooperative learning, where students will
participate in group and peer activities with other students. Other methods that will be used in the
course include teaching with media, as well as lecture based interactive discussions. Language is a
communicative activity and the course is designed to be an interactive experience.
Course Materials
Main Textbook:
Rimkeeratikul, Sucharat (2010). English for Economics. Bangkok: Thammasat University Press.
Supplementary materials will be provided as necessary by the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to attend lectures and complete all requirements issued for the EL241 course.
To ensure that students achieve their best and meet attendance requirements, two points can be
deducted for each absence as well as lack of participation. Students who miss more than twelve
hours of classes before or after the midterm will be given an “F” for the course. To optimize your
education, it is advisable you attend lectures regularly.
Evaluation and Assessment
It is students’ responsibility, including absentees, to finish and hand in all assignments by the due
date. Late assignments will not be accepted. Also, there will be no substitution quizzes or tests for
those who miss any.
Score distribution of the course is as follows:
Attendance and Participation
Assignments (x4)*
Listening Quizzes (x2)
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
TOTAL
20 points
60 points
20 points
50 points
50 points
200 points
* Describing data and cause & effect (written)
Simple argumentative writing
Economic report (oral)
Expressing opinions about economic issues (oral)
15
15
15
15
points
points
points
points
Plagiarism Policy
One of the specific aims of Thammasat University is to instruct all students on how to be able to
produce work that is original, based on their own ideas, and is a product of their own creativity.
However, students at the university level often try to improve their assignments and grades by
copying the work of others. Typically students will go to websites such as Wikipedia and copy and
paste the text into their assignment, mix it with their own words and pass it off as their own work.
Please refrain from doing this. If you are considering doing this, be warned, you will be caught.
Plagiarism or the copying of other people’s work without proper acknowledgement is cheating and
could result in a loss of marks, repeating the assignment or a reduced grade for the course.
Schedule and Instructors
Add/Drop period
Drop “W” period
August 26 – 31, 2015
October 19 – 26, 2015
Sec/Gr
Day
Time
Room
Lecturer
070001
W, F
09.30 – 11.00
LI 309
A. Pierre Beaulne
070002
W, F
09.30 – 11.00
LI 310
A. Benjawan Sukpaiboon
070003
W, F
09.30 – 11.00
SC 1069
A. Worachart Amornpinyokiat
070004
W, F
09.30 – 11.00
SC 2054
A. Matthew P. Miklas
080001
W, F
11.00 – 12.30
LI 309
A. Pierre Beaulne
090001
W, F
13.30 – 15.00
LI 309
A. Dr. Upsorn Tawilapakul
090002
W, F
13.30 – 15.00
LI 307
Asst. Prof. Dr. Watjana Suriyatham
090003
W, F
13.30 – 15.00
SC 3057
A. Benjawan Sukpaiboon
090004
W, F
13.30 – 15.00
SC 3058
A. Worachart Amornpinyokiat
090005
W, F
13.30 – 15.00
SC 3059
A. Matthew P. Miklas
Teaching Schedule
EL 241 English for Economists 1 (1/2015)
WKS
Dates
Units / Activities
1
Course introduction
17 – 21 August 2015
Unit 1: Macroeconomics
2
24 – 28 August 2015 Unit 1: Macroeconomics
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
31 August, 1 - 4
September 2015
7 -11 September
2015
14 – 18 September
2015
21 – 25 September
2015
28-30 September, 1- 2
October 2015
Midterm
Examination
12 – 16 October
2015
13 October - No
class due to
Midterm Period
Unit 2: Macroeconomic Variables: GDP & GNP
Unit 2: Macroeconomic Variables: GDP & GNP
Unit 3: Microeconomics
Unit 3: Microeconomics
Listening Quiz 1
Oral presentation
Review Units 1-3
Sunday 11 October 2015/ Time 09.00 – 11.00
Unit 4: Opportunity Cost
*Public holiday 23rd October
10
19 – 22 October
2015
Unit 4: Opportunity Cost
11
26 – 30 October
2015
Unit 5: International Trade
12
2 – 6 November
2015
Unit 5: International Trade
13
9 – 13 November
2015
Unit 6: Trade Barriers
14
16 – 20 November
2015
Unit 6: Trade Barriers
15
23 – 27 November
2015
Oral presentation
16
30 November, 1 - 4
December 2015
Listening Quiz 2
Review Units 4-6
Final
Examination
No Classes:
Sunday 13 December 2015/ Time 13:00 – 16:00
- Tuesday 13 October 2015
- Friday 23 October 2015
Midterm Period
Chulalongkorn Memorial Day