Language Institute
Thammasat University
EL 216 English for Lawyers 1
Course Outline 1/2015
Course Description
This course is designed to improve students’ English speaking, listening, research, reading,
and paragraph writing skills by exploring legal areas of interest. Students will form research
groups during the first class and select legal areas to present in class. Illustrative examples of
topics are included in this course outline; however, students will make the final selection of
the legal areas to be studied.
Course Objectives
1. To actively engage students in a process of identifying legal areas of interest and sharing
knowledge they gain with other students about related issues while using the English
language.
2. To expose students to vocabulary about a wide range of legal issues.
3. To give students an opportunity to speak, present, share opinions, and discuss legal issues
in English, with an emphasis on ethical issues related to areas of interest.
4. To enable students to use English language to write short answer paragraphs, which
express their views about legal issues.
5. To enhance students’ ability to listen and understand legal issues in English.
Course Materials
As part of their research, students will find online newspaper articles, videos, and English
versions and translations of a relevant Thai Acts and Laws, which have been the subject of
recent public interest (see: “Online Resources” at the end of this course outline).
.
Teaching Methods
This course is conducted in English with an emphasis on student-centered learning. This
means that students will be given situations in which they will take responsibility for their
learning, such as researching topics and making group presentations. The instructor will
facilitate in-class discussions and support students with the preparation of class assignments.
Course Evaluation
Midterm Exam
Participation
Final Exam
TOTAL
Letter Grade
A
B+
B
C+
C
D+
D
F
30 points
20 points
50 points
100 points
Points
90 or above
80-89
70-79
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
49 or below
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Active Participation, Listening, and Expression Opinions




Students are expected to participate in all classes by making presentations and actively
listening during the presentations of other students.
Students should prepare questions to ask during and after presentations and class
discussions.
Students should express their opinions in a direct and respectful manner.
Students are encouraged to interrupt the instructor and other students to ask for
clarifications and explanations if something is unclear, they want to comment, and/or
correct inaccurate information.
Use of Mobile Devices


Students are encouraged to use mobile devices during classes to find definitions and
research subjects which are related to course work.
The use of mobile devices during class for activities that are NOT related to course work
is not allowed. Students who are observed using mobile devices for activities NOT related
to course work may be instructed to leave the class and return the next week.
Avoiding Plagiarism



Presenting or copying another person’s academic work or expertise and presenting this
work as your own work is a serious academic offense.
When preparing assignments, students should keep a record of and give credit to the
authors’ that they find ideas and materials. This should include the author’s name, name
of publication or article, date of publication, and location of publication. If an article is
found online, then the full website address should be noted in a presentation or paper.
Ask your instructor for guidance if you are not sure.
Exam Schedule
Midterm Examination
Monday 5 October 2015
Time: 12.00 – 14.00
Final Examination
Thursday 17 December 2015
Time: 09.00 – 12.00
Add/Drop period
Drop “W” period
August 26 - 31, 2015
October 19 – 26, 2015
Instructors
Sec/Gr
Day
Time
Room
Instructor
810001
Monday
09.30 – 12.30
SC 2041
A. Pierre Beaulne
820001
Monday
09.30 – 12.30
SC 2042
A. Steven B. Smith
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Teaching Schedule
EL 216
Semester 1/2015
Topic
Group
Week
Date
1
17 August 15
Introductions, course overview, formation of research
groups, selection of legal areas
Instructors
2
24 August 15
Effective Group Presentations
How to organize your materials for class
Instructor
3
31 August 15
Abortion
Penal Code, B.E. 2499, Sections 301 – 305
Group Presentation, Video and Discussion
4
7 September 15
5
14 September 15
6
21 September 15
Mid-Term Preparation and Review
Instructors
7
28 September 15
How to write short-answer paragraphs
Instructor
8
Monday
5 October 15
9
12 October 15
10
19 October 15
11
26 October 15
12
2 November 15
13
9 November 15
Online and multimedia resources for law
14
16 November 15
Surrogacy in Thailand
Protection of Children Born from Assisted
Reproductive Technologies Act B.E. …….(Draft)
Group Presentation, Video and Discussion
15
23 November 15
Final Exam Preparation and Review
Instructors
16
30 November 15
How to write short-answer paragraphs with an emphasis on
expressing opinions about ethical issues
Instructor
Thursday
17 December 15
FINAL EXAMINATION (09.00 – 12.00)
Casinos
The Gambling Act of B.E. 2478
Group Presentation, Video and Discussion
Death Penalty & White Collar Crimes
Thailand Anti-Corruption Act of 1999, sec. 123(2)
Group Presentation, Video and Discussion
1
2
3
MIDTERM EXAMINATION (12.00 – 14.00)
Euthanasia (Mercy Killing)
National Health Act of Thailand, Section 12
Group Presentation, Video and Discussion
International Marriage
Thailand Civil and Commercial Code
Group Presentation, Video and Discussion
Rule of Law in Thailand: Legal Enforcement
Global Ranking Reports
Group Presentation, Video and Discussion
Marriage Equality
Thailand Civil and Commercial Code, Section 1448
Presentation, Video and Discussion
4
1
2
3
Instructor
4
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Online Resources
Topic
Resource
Title
Source
Abortion
Translation
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/population/abortion/Thailand.abo.ht
m
Abortion
Article
Surrogacy
Services
Draft Law
Penal Code 301305 (English
Translation)
Legality of
Abortion in
Thailand
Thailand (draft)
Surrogacy Law
National Health
Act of Thailand
Gambling
Act
Section 12,
Living Wills
Act
Casinos
Article
Playing Card
Act of Thailand
Legal casinos
http://www.thailawforum.com/laws/National%20Health%20Act_2
007.pdf
http://www.thailawforum.com/laws/Playing%20cards.pdf
for Thailand?
Police chief says
http://www.thailandlaw.org/legality-of-abortion-in-thailand.html
http://www.thailawforum.com/thailand-draft-surrogacylaw/?print=pdf
http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-fromnews/596544/legal-casinos-for-thailand-national-police-chief-saysyes
"yes"
Death Penalty
Worldwide,
Thailand
Death Penalty
and Corruption,
Thailand
Article
Cornell
University
Death Penalty:
Thailand
http://www.deathpenaltyworldwide.org/country-searchpost.cfm?country=Thailand
Article
Death new
corruption
remedy
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/621164/death-newcorruption-remedy
Rule of Law
Report
http://worldjusticeproject.org/rule-of-law-index
Rule of Law:
Finance
Report
Enforcement:
Rule of Law in
Thailand
Rankings
Euthanasia:
International
Online
Wiki
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_euthanasia
Euthanasia:
Thailand
International
Marriage:
Thailand
Online
Wiki
Legality of
Euthanasia:
International
Euthanasia in
Thailand
Marriage Law
Law
Marriage Law
of Thailand
Marriage laws in
Thailand
Various
Laws
Thailand Family
Marriage Laws
Article
http://www.centerforfinancialstability.org/rli.php
http://www.thailandlaw.org/euthanasia-in-thailand.html
http://www.thailawforum.com/articles/marriage.html
Marriage in
Thailand
http://www.thailawforum.com/laws/The%20Marriage%20Code%2
0of%20Thailand.pdf
http://www.samuiforsale.com/law-texts/thailand-family-marriagelaws.html
Note: This list of resources may be supplemented as additional topics are identified by students.
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