Module: English for Criminology - Unit 1: The Verb BE

Introduction to English for Criminology at UDELAS

The English for Criminology module at the Universidad Especializada de las Americas (UDELAS) is specifically designed for students pursuing a Bachelor of Criminology. This course recognizes English as a vital professional tool within the specific sectors of law, forensic science, and criminal justice. Unit 1, titled 'The Verb BE,' focuses on foundational linguistic skills such as introducing oneself, interacting with new peers, discussing academic paths, and contextualizing the importance of the English language within a professional criminological framework. Key figures associated with this material include Gimena Ruiz at UDELAS.

Unit 1 Learning Objectives

By the conclusion of this unit, students are expected to achieve five specific competencies. First, students will be able to introduce themselves and others utilizing the various forms of the verb BE. Second, they will master the ability to ask and answer both Yes/No questions and information questions. Third, the curriculum enables students to discuss professions, share personal information, and describe their specific fields of academic study. Fourth, students will learn the correct usage of possessive nouns and possessive adjectives. Finally, the unit aims to help students recognize and proactively avoid common grammatical errors associated with the verb BE.

Getting Acquainted: Dialogue and Comprehension

A primary component of the unit involves a dialogue titled 'Nice to Meet You!' which features students named Ana, Luis, and Maria. In the exchange, Ana introduces herself as a criminology student from Colon. Luis introduces himself and clarifies that he is not from Panama City, but rather from Veraguas. Ana introduces her friend Maria, who is a second-year student in the criminology major. Maria mentions that they are taught by Dr. Ramos, whom she describes as a very good professor.

Related to this dialogue, the unit includes five comprehension questions to test student retention: 1. Where is Ana from? 2. Is Luis from Panama City? 3. Who is Dr. Ramos? 4. What is Maria's major? 5. Are Ana and Maria friends? These exercises serve to reinforce the application of the verb BE in a conversational context.

The Importance of English in Criminology and Justice

English is identified as the primary international language of science, law, and justice. For criminology students, it is characterized not merely as a school subject but as a professional tool necessary for survival in the field. A significant volume of essential literature, including books, research articles, and legal documents, is published exclusively in English. Furthermore, international governmental and non-governmental organizations, most notably Interpol and the United Nations, utilize English as their official working language.

In the context of Panama, the legal and security sectors are becoming increasingly integrated into the global community. Professionals including police officers, forensic scientists, lawyers, and investigators must frequently read international reports, communicate with colleagues from foreign jurisdictions, and access global databases that primarily operate in English. The text encourages beginners not to be discouraged by initial difficulties, noting that every expert started as a beginner and that proficiency in English is a valuable asset for career advancement.

Vocabulary: Occupations and Personal Information

The unit provides a comprehensive list of jobs and occupations relevant to the field of criminology, complete with definitions and examples. A police officer is defined as a person who works for the police (Example: He is a police officer in David). A lawyer is a person who practises law (Example: She is a lawyer at a law firm). A judge is defined as a person who decides cases in court (Example: He is a judge in Panama City). A forensic scientist is a scientist who works with crime evidence (Example: She is a forensic scientist). A criminologist is a specialist who studies crime (Example: I am a criminology student). A detective is a person who investigates crimes (Example: They are detectives on the case). A professor is defined as a person who teaches at a university (Example: Dr. Ramos is our professor). A prosecutor is a lawyer who presents cases in court (Example: He is a prosecutor).

Additionally, students must learn personal information vocabulary for self-introductions. This includes 'name' (first/last), 'nationality' (where you are from), 'age' (how old you are), 'hometown' (city or town), 'year of study' (ordinals such as 1st, 2nd, 3rd), 'major/career' (field of study), and 'student ID' (university identification number).

Definitions of Fields of Study

The curriculum highlights six distinct fields of study that students must be able to define and differentiate. Criminology is defined as the study of crime and criminal behaviour. Forensic Science is the use of science to investigate crimes. Criminal Law constitutes the system of laws regarding crimes and punishments. Sociology is the study of society and social behaviour. Psychology is defined as the study of the human mind and behaviour. Finally, Public Security refers to the protection of citizens by the state.

Grammar: Present Tense Forms of the Verb BE

The verb BE has three primary forms in the present tense: AM, IS, and ARE, which are dependent on the subject of the sentence. The subject 'I' uses 'am' (Contraction: I'm). The subjects 'He,' 'She,' and 'It' use 'is' (Contractions: He's, She's, It's). The subjects 'You,' 'We,' and 'They' use 'are' (Contractions: You're, We're, They're). Examples provided include 'I am a criminology student' and 'They are professors.'

For negative forms, the word 'not' is added after the verb BE. Examples include 'I am not (I'm not) a student,' 'She is not (isn't) a lawyer,' and 'They are not (aren't) officers.' To form Yes/No questions, the verb BE is moved to the beginning of the sentence before the subject, such as 'Are you a student?' which can be answered with 'Yes, I am' or 'No, I am not.'

Information Questions and Possessives

Information questions, or Wh-questions, follow the pattern: Wh-word + BE + Subject. The unit lists specific Wh-words: 'What' (What is your name?), 'Where' (Where are you from?), 'Who' (Who is your professor?), 'How old' (How old are you?), 'What year' (What year are you in?), and 'What' (What is your major?).

Possessive adjectives include my, your, his, her, its, our, and their. These are used in sentences like 'My name is Luis' or 'Our class is interesting.' Possessive nouns are created by adding 's to a noun to show ownership, such as 'Maria's major is criminology' or 'The professor's name is Dr. Ramos.'

Common Errors and Practice Activities

The unit identifies common mistakes to avoid: using 'be' instead of 'is' (e.g., 'She be a student' is incorrect), using 'is' with the wrong subject (e.g., 'I is' or 'They is'), omitting the verb BE in negatives (e.g., 'He not a lawyer'), omitting articles in questions (e.g., 'Are you student?'), and incorrect word order in Wh-questions (e.g., 'Is she from where?').

Practice activities include:

1. Fill in the blank exercises with forms of BE (e.g., 'I am a first-year criminology student,' 'Panama is a country in Central America').
2. Writing questions based on answers (e.g., providing the question for 'My name is Carlos Mendez').
3. Rewriting sentences using possessives (e.g., transforming 'The office belongs to the detective' into 'The detective's office is on the third floor').
4. Error correction tasks (e.g., correcting 'Our professor name is Dr. Ramos' to 'Our professor's name is Dr. Ramos').

Questions & Discussion

Throughout the module, students engage in dialogue and discussion. The 'Discussion: English Difficulties' section prompts students to work with a partner to answer: 1. What is the most difficult thing about English for you? 2. Is pronunciation or grammar harder? 3. How do you practise your English outside the classroom? 4. What is one English word related to criminology that you know?

Additionally, the 'Student Interview' activity requires students to ask their peers the following questions verbatim: 'What is your name?', 'Where are you from?', 'How old are you?', 'What year are you in?', 'Who is your favourite professor?', 'What is your major?', and 'Are you from Panama City?'.