English for Science, Technology, Engineering,

and Mathematics (STEM) Syllabus

Spring 2023 - April 3 – June 26

I NST RUCTO R INFO RMATIO N

Instructor Email
Nick openmoocs@fhi360.org

C O U RSE OV E RVIE W
Description
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.

Learning Objectives and Learner Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to,
1. Use comparative adjectives to explain the difference between global warming and climate change.
2. Use the present progressive and the language of cause and effect to explain global warming and the
greenhouse effect.
3. Use intensifiers to describe the impacts and effects of climate change on our environment.
4. Use modal verbs of suggestion when discussing renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and
hydroelectric power.
5. Use modal verbs of future probability to discuss new technologies, innovation, and collaboration in the
scientific community.

Expectations and Grading

Course Schedule: This course runs from April 3 to June 26, 2023. To complete the course, participants should work on
and offline for 3-5 hours per module. This is a self-paced course and assignments can be completed at any time before
the close date on June 26, 2023.
How to pass this course: There are five modules in the English for STEM MOOC:
1. Is the Earth Getting Warmer?
2. The Greenhouse Effect
3. The Impacts of Climate Change on Our World
4. Discovering Cleaner Energy Sources to Power the World
5. What Might the Future Hold?

© 2023 by FHI 360. English for STEM Syllabus for the Online Professional English Network (OPEN),
sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. government and 1
administered by FHI 360. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License,
except where noted. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Each module will have one or more quizzes. Participants who satisfactorily complete all of the required quizzes with a
score of 70% or above before the course close date will receive a digital badge and certificate of participation.
Along with graded quizzes, each module also has other opportunities to check your understanding and practice your
language skills. These tasks are not graded nor required.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is using someone else’s words instead of your own. In this course, you are expected to use your own words
and ideas, and to acknowledge any sources you use to gather ideas. Plagiarism is not allowed in OPEN courses.
C O U RSE S C HE D UL E
Module Topic Learning Objectives Resources Activities and Assignments Time Required
1 Is the Earth Analyze the data of an Lesson 1: Is the Earth Getting Warmer Discussion: Warming Experiment Factors (Optional) 60 minutes
Getting Warmer? experiment to draw Lesson 3: Warming Experiment (Part 1)
conclusions. Warming Experiment Chart
Lesson 4: Warming Experiment (Part 2)
Preview texts. Lesson 2: Language Focus: Previewing Texts Quiz 1: Previewing Texts 60 minutes
Use comparative Lesson 5: Global Warming vs. Climate Quiz 2: Comparative Adjectives 60 minutes
adjectives in writing. Change
Lesson 6: Language Focus: Comparative
Adjectives
Define and accurately Module 1 Key Vocabulary 30 minutes
use content-related Module 1 Vocabulary Flashcards (optional)
vocabulary in course
activities and games
Read, watch, and listen Article: Climate Change: How Do We Intermediate / Advanced Reading Practice: Climate 30 minutes
to a variety of texts and Know? Change How Do We Know? (optional)
multimedia sources.
2 The Greenhouse Become familiar with the Lesson 1: What is the Greenhouse Effect? 30 minutes
Effect greenhouse effect. Lesson 2: Greenhouse Gases

Be able to identify Lesson 3: Nature’s Role in the Greenhouse Discussion: Human Sources of the Greenhouse 60 minutes
several causes of climate Effect Effect (Optional)
change. Lesson 5: The Burning of Fossil Fuels
Lesson 7: Deforestation and Farming
Lesson 8: The Disposal of Waste
Use the present Lesson 4: Language Focus: Present Quiz 1: Present Simple vs. Present Progressive 30 minutes
progressive. Progressive
Understand the language Lesson 6: Language Focus: Cause and Effect Quiz 2: Cause and Effect 30 minutes
of cause and effect.
Define and accurately Module 2 Key Vocabulary 30 minutes
use content-related Module 2 Vocabulary Flashcards (optional)
vocabulary in course
activities and games.
Read, watch, and listen Article: A Blanket Around the Earth Intermediate / Advanced Reading Practice: A 60 minutes
to a variety of texts and Article: Need Strategies to Clear the Air? Blanket Around the Earth (optional)
multimedia sources. Ask a Megacity

3
Module Topic Learning Objectives Resources Activities and Assignments Time Required
Intermediate / Advanced Reading Practice: Need
Strategies to Clear the Air? Ask a Megacity
3 The Impacts of Learn about the effects Lesson 1: Hot, Hot, Hot – Drought and Quiz 2: The Effects of Climate Change on the 60 minutes
Climate Change on of warmer temperatures other Effects of Warmer Temperatures. Environment
Our World on the environment. Lesson 2: Hurricanes & Storms
Lesson 4: Rising Sea Levels
Read for details. Lesson 3: Language Focus – Scanning for Quiz 1: Scanning for Details 45 minutes
Details
Identify the impact of Lesson 5: The Impact on Our Health Discussion: Local Consequences of Climate Change 60 minutes
climate change on Lesson 8: The Threat to Plants and Animals (Optional)
people, animals, and Lesson 9: The Stress on Our Marine
ecosystems. Ecosystem

Use intensifiers Lesson 7: Language Focus: Intensifiers Quiz 3: Intensifiers 30 minutes

appropriately. (Normal and Strong Adjectives)
Define and accurately Module 3 Key Vocabulary 30 minutes
use content-related Module 3 Vocabulary Flashcards (optional)
vocabulary in course
activities and games.
Read, watch, and listen Article: The Effect of Climate Change Intermediate / Advanced Reading Practice: The 60 minutes
to a variety of texts and Expert Interview: Shandra Banutu-Gomez – Effect of Climate Change (Optional) (optional)
multimedia sources. The Situation in Africa Listening Practice: Shandra Banutu-Gomez
Article: New Study Suggests Global Marine Intermediate / Advanced Reading Practice: New
Food Chain Collapse Study Suggests Global Marine Life Could Collapse
4 Discovering Investigate different Lesson 1: The Rise of Renewable Energy Discussion: What’s Powering Your Life? Energy in 60 minutes
Cleaner Energy types of renewable Lesson 2: The Power of Sun, Wind, and Your Local Context. (Optional)
Sources to Power energy and how they Water
the World work. Lesson 5: New Discoveries in Renewable
Energy
Summarize main ideas of Lesson 3: Summarizing Main Ideas from a Quiz 1: Matching Main Ideas to Short Paragraphs 60 minutes
a text. Text (Part 1) Discussion: Practice Writing Your Own Summary
Lesson 4: Summarizing Main Ideas from a (Optional)
Text (Part 2)
Preparing to Write Your Own System
Use modal verbs to Lesson 7: Language Focus: Using Modal Quiz 2: Modal Verbs for Suggestion 45 minutes
make a suggestion. Verbs to Make a Suggestion
Define and accurately Module 4 Key Vocabulary 30 minutes
use content-related Module 4 Vocabulary Flashcards (Optional)

4
Module Topic Learning Objectives Resources Activities and Assignments Time Required
vocabulary in course
activities and games.
Read, watch, and listen Article: Indian Scientists Design Solar Tree Intermediate / Advanced Reading Practice: Indian 60 minutes
to a variety of texts and to Save Space Scientists Design Solar Tree to Save Space (Optional) (optional)
multimedia sources. Expert Interview: Dr. Haoran Yang – Listening Practice – Dr. Haoran Yang (Optional)
Capturing Waste Heat to Create Energy Intermediate / Advanced Reading Practice: Salting
Article: Salting Away Renewable Energy for Away Renewable Energy for Future Use (Optional)
Future Use
5 What Might the Demonstrate Lesson 1: What is Nanotechnology? Quiz 1: Making New Technology Practical and 60 minutes
Future Hold? understanding of Lesson 2: Nanotechnology Around the Profitable
potential uses of World Discussion: The Challenges of New Technologies
nanotechnology. Lesson 3: Making New Technology Practical (Optional)
Choose good sources for Lesson 5: How Do Scientists Share 15 minutes
research. Discoveries?
Understand the Lesson 6: Choosing Good Sources and the Quiz 3: Citing Sources 45 minutes
importance of citing Importance of Citing Them
sources in your own Lesson 7: Language Focus: Citing Your
research. Sources
Use future possibility Lesson 4: Language Focus: Future Quiz 2: Future Possibility and Probability Modals 30 minutes
and probability modals. Possibility and Probability Modals
Define and accurately Module 5 Key Vocabulary 30 minutes
use content-related Module 5 Vocabulary Flashcards (optional)
vocabulary in course
activities and games.
Read, watch, and listen Article: Can the Earth be Saved by Turning Intermediate / Advanced Reading Practice: Can the 75 minutes
to a variety of texts and C02 to Stone? Earth be Saved by Turning CO2 to Stone? (optional)
multimedia sources. Article: Profits from Eco-friendly Vertical Intermediate / Advanced Reading Practice: Profits
Farming Stack Up from Eco-friendly Vertical Farming Stack Up
Lesson 8: Expert Interview: Lynn Yarris –
Creating a Community of Scientists