English for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

About this course: Welcome to English for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, a course created by the University of Pennsylvania, and funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of English Language Programs. To enroll in this course for free, click on “Enroll now” and then select "Full Course. No certificate." This course is designed for non-native English speakers who are interested in improving their English skills in the sciences. In this course, you will explore some of the most innovative areas of scientific study, while expanding your vocabulary and the language skills needed to share scientific information within your community. In unit 1, you will learn how to preview texts and practice some of the language used to make comparisons when talking about global warming and climate change. In unit 2, you will examine the chemistry of climate change and the language of cause and effect. In Unit 3, you will learn about some of the impacts of Climate Change and the language used to describe these effects. In Unit 4, you will learn reading strategies that can help you explore the science behind some new energy systems. In the final unit, you will investigate practical advances in Nanotechnology that help slow down climate change, while developing your own research skills in English. Anyone may take this course for free and get a generic Statement of Accomplishment issued by the University of Pennsylvania. If you want to get a Coursera Verified Certificate for free, please fill out the Financial Aid form. Unless otherwise noted, all course materials are available for re-use, repurposing and free distribution under a Creative Commons 4.0 Attribution license. Supplemental reading materials were provided by Newsela, which publishes daily news articles at a level that's just right for each English language learner.

Created by:  University of Pennsylvania

• Taught by:  Jack Sullivan, Director of Programs

  English Language Programs

• Taught by:  Alyssa Swanson, Intensive Program Manager

  English Language Programs

Level Beginner Language English How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.8 stars Average User Rating 4.8See what learners said Coursework

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University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania (commonly referred to as Penn) is a private university, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. A member of the Ivy League, Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, and considers itself to be the first university in the United States with both undergraduate and graduate studies.

Syllabus


WEEK 1


Unit 1: Is the Earth Getting Warmer?



11 videos, 9 readings, 5 practice quizzes expand

1. Reading: Overview of the Unit
2. Video: Course Overview: Introduction to STEM
3. Video: Course Overview: Topics, Assessments, Games & Activities
4. Video: Course Overview: Topics, Assessments, Games & Activities Part 2
5. Video: Is the Earth Getting Warmer?
6. Reading: Game 1: Unit 1 Vocabulary Flashcards
7. Video: Language Focus: Previewing Texts
8. Practice Quiz: Game 2: Previewing Texts
9. Reading: BASIC: Scientists' Annual Physical of the Planet: Earth's Fever Rises
10. Reading: ADVANCED: Scientists' Annual Physical of the Planet: Earth's Fever Rises
11. Video: Unlockable Achievement 1
12. Video: Warming Experiment (Part 1)
13. Reading: Warming Experiment Chart
14. Video: Warming Experiment (Part 2)
15. Discussion Prompt: Unit 1 Assessment 1: Warming Experiment Factors
16. Video: Global Warming vs. Climate Change
17. Reading: BASIC: Climate Change: How Do we Know?
18. Reading: ADVANCED: Climate Change: How Do we Know?
19. Video: Unlockable Achievement 2
20. Video: Language Focus: Comparative Adjectives
21. Practice Quiz: Game 3: Comparative Adjectives
22. Reading: WMO: Global Warming Happening Faster than Predicted
23. Practice Quiz: Check Your Understanding: "WMO: Global Warming Happening Faster than Predicted"
24. Practice Quiz: Game: Review Comparative Adjectives
25. Reading: 5 Takeaways from the Latest Climate Data
26. Practice Quiz: Check Your Understanding: "5 Takeaways from the Latest Climate Data"

Graded: Check Your Understanding: “Scientists’ Annual Physical of the Planet: Earth’s Fever Rises”
Graded: Check Your Understanding: "Climate Change: How Do we Know?"
Graded: Unit 1 Assessment 2: Climate Change

WEEK 2


Unit 2: The Greenhouse Effect



11 videos, 9 readings, 6 practice quizzes expand

1. Reading: Overview of the Unit
2. Video: What is the Greenhouse Effect?
3. Video: Greenhouse Gases
4. Reading: Game 1: Unit 2 Vocabulary Flashcards
5. Reading: BASIC: A Blanket Around the Earth
6. Reading: ADVANCED: A Blanket Around the Earth
7. Video: Unlockable Achievement 3
8. Practice Quiz: Game 2: Match the Greenhouse Gas to its Source
9. Video: Nature's Role in the Greenhouse Effect
10. Video: Language Focus: Present Progressive
11. Practice Quiz: Game 3: Present Progressive
12. Video: The Burning of Fossil Fuels
13. Video: Language Focus: Cause and Effect (so, because of, therefore, as a result)
14. Practice Quiz: Game 4: Cause and Effect
15. Reading: BASIC: Need Strategies to Clear the Air? Ask a Megacity.
16. Reading: ADVANCED: Need Strategies to Clear the Air? Ask a Megacity.
17. Video: Unlockable Achievement 4
18. Video: Deforestation and Farming
19. Video: The Disposal of Waste
20. Reading: Unit 2 Assessment 2: Speaking and Recording Instructions
21. Video: Unlockable Achievement
22. Reading: A City Drought Caused by Destruction of a Rainforest?
23. Practice Quiz: Check Your Understanding: "A City Drought Caused by Destruction of a Rainforest?"
24. Practice Quiz: Game: Review Present Progressive
25. Reading: Melting of Ice Wedges Adds to Arctic Warming
26. Practice Quiz: Check Your Understanding: "Melting of Ice Wedges Adds to Arctic Warming"

Graded: Check Your Understanding: "A Blanket Around the Earth"
Graded: Unit 2 Assessment 1: Label the Parts of the Greenhouse Effect Diagram
Graded: Check Your Understanding: "Need Strategies to Clear the Air? Ask a Megacity."
Graded: Unit 2 Assessment 2: Speaking Assessment: Man-made Source of Greenhouse Effect

WEEK 3


The Impacts of Climate Change on our World



11 videos, 8 readings, 5 practice quizzes expand

1. Reading: Overview of the Unit
2. Video: Hot, Hot, Hot: Drought and Other Effects of Warmer Temperatures
3. Video: Hurricanes & Storms
4. Video: Language Focus: Scanning for Details
5. Practice Quiz: Game 1: Scanning for Details
6. Reading: BASIC: The Consequences of Climate Change
7. Reading: ADVANCED: The Consequences of Climate Change
8. Video: Unlockable Achievement 5
9. Video: Rising Sea Levels
10. Reading: Game 2: Unit 3 Vocabulary Flashcards
11. Video: The Impact on Our Health
12. Video: Language Focus: Intensifiers (Normal and Strong Adjectives)
13. Practice Quiz: Game 3: Intensifiers
14. Video: Expert Interview: Shandra Banutu-Gomez - The Situation in Africa
15. Video: The Threat to Plants and Animals
16. Reading: BASIC: New Study Suggests Global Marine Food Chain Collapse
17. Reading: ADVANCED: New Study Suggests Global Marine Food Chain Collapse
18. Video: Unlockable Achievement 6
19. Video: The Stress on Our Marine Ecosystem
20. Discussion Prompt: Unit 3 Assessment 2: Consequences of Climate Change
21. Reading: Study: Rising Carbon Dioxide Levels Threaten Human Nutrition
22. Practice Quiz: Check Your Understanding: "Study: Rising Carbon Dioxide Levels Threaten Human Nutrition"
23. Practice Quiz: Game: Review: Intensifiers
24. Reading: African Nations Vulnerable to Effects of Climate Change
25. Practice Quiz: Check Your Understanding: "African Nations Vulnerable to effects of Climate Change"

Graded: Check Your Understanding: "The Consequences of Climate Change"
Graded: Unit 3 Assessment 1: The Effects of Climate Change on the Environment
Graded: Check Your Understanding: "New Study Suggests Global Marine Food Chain Collapse"

WEEK 4


Discovering Cleaner Energy Sources to Power the World



10 videos, 10 readings, 5 practice quizzes expand

1. Reading: Overview of the Unit
2. Video: The Rise of Renewable Energy
3. Video: The Power of Sun, Wind, and Water
4. Reading: Game 1: Unit 4 Vocabulary Flashcards
5. Reading: BASIC: Indian Scientists Design Solar Tree to Save Space for Solar Power Generation
6. Reading: ADVANCED: Indian Scientists Design Solar Tree to Save Space for Solar Power Generation
7. Video: Unlockable Achievement 7
8. Video: Language Focus: Summarizing Main Ideas from a Text (Part 1)
9. Video: Language Focus: Summarizing Main Ideas from a Text (Part 2)
10. Practice Quiz: Game 2: Matching Main Ideas to Short Paragraphs
11. Reading: Model Summary: Preparation for Unit 4 Assessment 1
12. Video: New Discoveries in Renewable Energy
13. Video: Expert Interview: Dr. Yang - Capturing Waste Heat to Create Energy
14. Video: Language Focus: Using Modal Verbs to Make a Suggestion
15. Practice Quiz: Game 3: Order the Modal Verbs by Strength (Strong Suggestion – Weak Suggestion)
16. Reading: BASIC: Salting Away Renewable Energy for Future Use
17. Reading: ADVANCED: Salting Away Renewable Energy for Future Use
18. Video: Unlockable Achievement 8
19. Reading: Unit 4 Assessment 2: Speaking and Recording Instructions
20. Video: Unlockable Achievement
21. Reading: 'Blue Energy' Could be Another Way to Go Green
22. Practice Quiz: Check Your Understanding: “'Blue Energy' Could be Another Way to Go Green”
23. Practice Quiz: Grammar Review: Modals of Suggestion
24. Reading: Nuclear Developers Have Big Plans for Pint-sized Power Plants in UK
25. Practice Quiz: Check Your Understanding: "Nuclear Developers Have Big Plans for Pint-sized Power Plants in UK"

Graded: Check Your Understanding: "Indian Scientists Design Solar Tree to Save Space for Solar Power Generation"
Graded: Unit 4 Assessment 1: Summary Response
Graded: Check Your Understanding: "Salting away renewable energy for future use."
Graded: Unit 4 Assessment 2: Speaking Assessment

WEEK 5


What Might the Future Hold?



11 videos, 8 readings, 5 practice quizzes expand

1. Reading: Overview of the Unit
2. Video: What is Nanotechnology?
3. Video: Nanotechnology Around the World
4. Reading: Game 1: Unit 5 Vocabulary Flashcards
5. Reading: BASIC: Can the Earth Be Saved by Turning CO2 to Stone?
6. Reading: ADVANCED: Can the Earth Be Saved by Turning CO2 to Stone?
7. Video: Making New Technology Practical
8. Video: Unlockable Achievement 9
9. Video: Language Focus: Future Possibility and Probability Modals
10. Practice Quiz: Game 2: Future Possibility and Probability Modals
11. Reading: BASIC: Profits From Eco-friendly Vertical Farming Stack Up
12. Reading: ADVANCED: Profits From Eco-friendly Vertical Farming Stack Up
13. Video: Unlockable Achievement 10
14. Video: How do Scientists Share Discoveries?
15. Video: Choosing Good Sources and the Importance of Citing Them
16. Video: Language Focus: Citing your Sources
17. Practice Quiz: Game 3: True/False: Citing Sources
18. Video: Expert Interview: Lynn Yarris - Creating a Community of Scientists
19. Video: Course Conclusion
20. Reading: Biofilter Made from Peanut Shell Degrades Air Pollutants
21. Practice Quiz: Check Your Understanding: "Biofilter made from peanut shell degrades air pollutants"
22. Practice Quiz: Game: Matching: Nanotechnology Vocabulary Words
23. Reading: Major Advance in Artificial Photosynthesis Poses Win/Win for the Environment
24. Practice Quiz: Check Your Understanding: "Major Advance in Artificial Photosynthesis Poses Win/Win for the Environment"

Graded: Check Your Understanding: "Can the Earth Be Saved by Turning CO2 to Stone?"
Graded: Unit 5 Assessment 1: Making New Technology Practical and Profitable
Graded: Check Your Understanding: "Profits From Eco-friendly Vertical Farming Stack Up"
Graded: Unit 5 Assessment 2: Peer Review: Reducing the Impacts of Climate Change