The theme:

The thematic aim of this course is to look at many aspects of the plant and animal kingdom and how the human world interacts with it:

  • our fascination, fears and fantasies
  • animal behaviour, through themes such as predators & prey, migration & invasion
  • threats to biodiversity and examples of environmental restoration
  • poaching and the wildlife trade, conservation and tourism
  • human utilisation of the natural world and modern agricultural practices
  • the wonders and oddities of the natural world, such as camouflage and symbiotic relationships
  • biomimicry: how scientists try to create nature-inspired solutions to complex human challenges

Language skills:

First and foremost a language course, all students are expected to participate actively. Everyone will be expected to find and present interesting aspects of the subject to the class. 

Speaking: discussions, debates and oral presentations (with slides)

Oral comprehension: listening to audio recordings and watching documentary and film extracts

Reading: press articles and online research, as well as vocabulary acquisition

Writing: written assignments:  factual or opinion pieces

In the words of the English poet, William Wordsworth “Let Nature be your teacher”