In this course, students will develop English proficiency and disciplinary literacy through topics in bioresources and agriculture, including sustainable agriculture, food and society, and the environmental impacts of agricultural development. The course prepares students for academic success in English-medium instruction (EMI) by strengthening their ability to understand research-based materials, interpret data, take effective notes, communicate scientific ideas, write clearly, think critically, and collaborate in English. These competencies will also support students’ future academic and professional communication. Learning is supported by authentic materials, structured learning frameworks, and a facilitative, experiential approach. Students will engage in authentic academic tasks, reflect on their performance and feedback, and revise and apply their learning in subsequent tasks. Regular comprehension checks and one practical key takeaway each week will help students consolidate and apply what they have learned, while a Learning Portfolio will document selected work and development throughout the semester. Note: This course will be conducted entirely in English.

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate the following Core Competencies (CC): CC1: Advanced Vocabulary Acquisition Mastery of specialized terminology and phrases pertinent to bioresources and agriculture. CC2: Reading Comprehension Ability to critically analyze and understand a variety of texts, including textbooks, popular writing, and scientific research, related to agriculture and bioresource sciences. CC3: Oral Communication Skills Proficiency in discussing and presenting on topics related to agriculture, engaging in academic discourse, and articulating arguments and insights in a clear, organized manner. CC4: Writing and Note-Taking Proficiency Skills in writing coherent, structured texts such as summaries and essays, as well as taking thorough and useful notes during lectures and from reading materials. CC5: Critical Thinking and Analysis Capacity to evaluate and synthesize information from various sources, critically assess arguments, and contribute thoughtfully to discussion on agricultural and bioresource issues. CC6: Communicative and Team Skills Ability to communicate effectively with team members in order to organize ideas and workflow. Note: Progress toward the Core Competencies will be monitored through weekly “I can” statements, classroom performance, and the Learning Portfolio.

Previewing the course materials and review the notes of the in-class discussion is beneficial for achieving the learning objectives. The estimated out-of-class learning is approximately 2 hours per week.

1. Course Platform: NTUCOOL will serve as the central repository for course materials, required readings, and assignments. 2. Recommended References: >> Matheson, R., & Phillips, T. (2009). English for agribusiness and agriculture in higher education studies. Garnet Publishing Ltd. >> Smith, R. H. C., & Phillips, T. (2009). English for environmental science in higher education studies. Garnet Publishing Ltd. 3. Additional materials: Selected open-access research articles, figures, tables, reports, and short EMI lecture materials from credible academic, governmental, and international sources will be provided as appropriate.