Topic outline
- General
- Course details
Course details
Semester: 01
Teaching Unit: Methodology
Module: Reading Comprehension
Teachers: Prof.Lamri Chamseddine,Mrs.Hamza cherif Nassima,Dr.Kherbache Fatma
Credits: 4
Coefficient: 2
Course Objectives
- Develop students' reading / comprehension skills.
- Read and interpret different speeches.
Prerequisite
- Students should be at least at a lower-intermediate level in English
Subject Contents
Semester: 01
Reading skills and strategies
Ø Scanning
Ø Previewing and predicting
Ø Making inferences
Ø Understanding paragraphs (the topic and main ideas)
Ø Skimming
Ø Distinguishing between literal and implied meaning
Ø Analyse vocabulary ( word parts and collocations)
Ø Coherence and cohesion
Semester: 02
Reading to identify paragraph organization
Ø The paragraph (types of paragraphs, components, …)
Ø Descriptive
Ø Narrative
Ø Descriptive narration
Ø Expositive (examples developed by: division, definition, cause, effect ,
Ø Comparison and contrast
Ø Coherence and Cohesion
N.B Content can be developed by the pedagogical committee according to students’ needs
Assessment
100% continuous Assessment
- Unit 1
Unit 1
Education Woes
More than one in ten high schools in the US has been labelled a "dropout factory." The distinction is far from flattering, as the nickname applies to schools in which 40% or more of the children don't graduate.
The greatest concentration of these dubious schools lies in large urban centres and areas with high poverty. The surrounding neighbourhoods may experience high crime rates, drugs, and violence, and students may need additional help from social services. But officials also point out that some neighbourhoods and towns just don't possess a strong tradition underscoring the importance of high school graduation. In the past, there were enough blue-collar jobs to go around.
Many of the students who attend dropout factories enter with poor literacy and math skills, which only exacerbate the search for a solution. The kids enter ninth grade with fifth grade reading skills, for example. Faced with these seemingly insurmountable obstacles, it's no small wonder that so many schools fail to give these children opportunities in the land of opportunity.
Conversely, in Japan, private high schools cater to children without the academic and social skills for traditional school. Expensive, yet easy to enrol, these institutions are degree mills. Principals and administrative staff pressure teachers to administer grades based largely on attendance. If students fail the final test or don't do homework, but attend 100% of the lessons, they can walk out with a B average. What's worse, kids can sleep, text messages, or chat with friends rather than participate in the lesson. Teachers readily admit they're in a quandary, and simply wait to be transferred elsewhere.
Additional woes on the state of education come out of England. Despite a massive program to raise reading rates, reports indicate there has been almost zero impact. Rates remain unchanged since the 1950s.
(headsupenglish.com)
- Unit 2
Unit 2
The Biggest Cheaters
In the past year, 56% of MBA (Master of Business Administration) graduate students admitted to cheating in one form or another, such as plagiarizing, copying the work of another student, or bringing cheat sheets or other prohibited items into a test. This figure indicates that masters of business administration students cheat more than any other type of graduate student in any other field. What is more alarming is the fact that many assume that it is okay. With the spate of corporate scandals in the last few years, cheating is seen as an acceptable form of business practice.
The authors of the report readily recognize that something must be done, as to leave the matter alone simply reinforces the notion that cheating is an accepted and common practice. The fear of litigation ties the hands of many professors, though; in this respect, the academic world has begun to mirror the corporate world, where all you need is the threat and the muscle to sue in order to get what you want.
More needs to be done to enforce ethical codes long before cheating occurs. Graduate students need to be taught, and to understand, that ethics matter in business. To this end, faculty should "engage students in an ongoing dialogue about academic integrity that begins with recruiting, continues in orientation sessions and initiation ceremonies, and continues throughout the program."
Others have suggested putting into practice a community-based reward-punishment system; all the members of the community, in this case MBA students in a class, are punished in some way by a cheater. Experts say that this models the real business world, where a community of shareholders has a common vested interest, and are affected equally by the decisions of a company or company representative.
www.headsupenglish.com
What are the penalties at your university for cheating? How can we control this phenomenon?
- Unit 3
Unit 3
How important is Spelling?
How important is spelling? One British academic suggests that it may not possess the importance most English teachers, scholars, and linguists would otherwise have you believe. The academic has suggested that barring any instances of miscommunication, variant spellings should be accepted by society. Is there any harm if "occasion" were spelled with two s's? Or would the world end if the i and e were reversed in such words as "foreign," "weird," or "neighbor?"
Not everyone agrees, however. In fact, quite a number of academics have gotten in a huff with regards to the proposal. Even if English may have numerous exceptions to established rules, those rules still exist for a reason. With consistent and coherent spelling, communication is easier. Good spelling goes hand in hand with good writing, which implies that the reader should have little need to re-read sentences to interpret the intent of the writer. Spelling is just as important as good grammar, agree most academics.
With the advent of text messaging, which favors a disregard for proper spelling and grammar for speed, it's become more important than ever to adhere to spelling rules. What would your impression be of an official letter from the bank or local government with words spelled willy-nilly? Or how would you feel about a glossy business pamphlet which introduced you to a company's products and services, but with numerous spelling mistakes? Equally important, yet also more troublesome, would be an undecipherable business letter or email. What might the consequences be then?
It all comes down to communication. In face-to-face conversations, it proves relatively easy to clarify or explain an idea. Visual clues and tone of voice also help. But written emails and letters rely on rules to promote quick comprehension. Despite one academic's wish, spelling can't be ignored.
www.headsupenglish.com
- Unit 4
Unit 4
New Language Boom
People learn languages all the time, and for all kinds of reasons. You're doing it now, and you probably have different reasons than your classmates for acquiring English. But how about creating an entirely new language from scratch?
There's been a boom in made-up languages, driven in part by exposure to the epic "Lord of the Rings," as well as other science fiction and fantasy fare. The trend has also been fuelled as more and more people venture online. Websites, discussion boards, and chat rooms abound on building languages, sharing languages, or ones seeking collaborators. The fabrication of new languages is no longer restricted to Star Trek fanatics and Esperanto speakers.
To create a language takes time and tenacity. An invented language requires a lot more than simply replacing existing words with invented ones. There's rhythm and intonation to consider -- just how does the language sound when spoken? If invented for non-humans in a movie or book, how does physiology affect the language? Similarly, how does it represent the culture? Then there are grammar rules, too, such as masculine and feminine nouns or verbs, word order, or the use of irregular verbs. Even a relatively simple language can take years to develop and refine.
Yet invented languages don't have the sticking power of naturally evolved languages, such as English, French, or Japanese. The exception, perhaps, is Esperanto, which has roughly two million speakers. The language was created in the 19th century to give humanity an easily learned, common language for international use. As for the made-up languages invented nowadays, there are an infinite number of reasons behind their creation. Some do it as a hobby, others as a way to relax, and some just like the challenge.
headsupenglish.com
- Unit 5
Unit 5
A.I. Extinction
A report commissioned by the U.S. State Department has warned of the existential threat from artificial intelligence. The report posited a worst-case-scenario "extinction-level threat" to humanity. The authors identified a "growing risk to national security posed by rapidly expanding AI capabilities from weaponisation and loss of control". The report added that there was a "clear and urgent need" for the U.S. government to intervene "quickly and decisively". It continued: "The rise of advanced AI has the potential to destabilise global security in ways reminiscent of the introduction of nuclear weapons." The report calls for a new federal agency to regulate companies developing AI tools and to limit the growth of AI. The 247-page report was commissioned by the State Department in November 2022. It was written by a company that provides technical briefings and guidance on AI. The authors spoke extensively to experts at AI companies like OpenAI, Google DeepMind and Meta. The authors recommended setting an upper limit on how much computing power an AI model could have. They also recommended making it a criminal offence to open-source or reveal the coding behind more powerful AI models. The Futurism.com website stated: "Over half of the AI researchers surveyed say there's a five per cent chance that humans will be driven to extinction, among other 'extremely bad outcomes.'"
- Unit 6
Unit 6
Internet Use Could Lower Risk of Dementia
There is a plethora of research on the potential harm of the Internet. However, new research suggests that spending time online could be good for the mental health of older people. A study conducted by researchers from New York University found that regular Internet use could reduce the risk of dementia in those over 50. Study co-author Dr Virginia Chang explained why there could be a link between being online and better mental health. She wrote: "Online engagement may help to develop and maintain cognitive reserve, which can in turn compensate for brain aging and reduce the risk of dementia." The study concluded that "regularly using the Internet may be associated with cognitive longevity".
Researchers analyzed data from an American health and retirement study. This research involved questioning 18,154 adults over the age of 50 every two years for 16 years. All of the participants were dementia-free at the start of the research. Everyone was asked about their physical and mental wellbeing, and about how long they spent interacting with the Internet. The researchers discovered that those who used the Internet for up to two hours a day were half as likely to be diagnosed with having signs of dementia than those who were never online. The research also found that excessive Internet use (of 6 to 8 hours a day) may exacerbate the risks of developing dementia.
https://breakingnewsenglish.com
- Unit 7
Unit 7
Robot Teachers
If you think of the jobs robots could never do, you would probably put doctors and teachers at the top of the list. It's easy to imagine robot cleaners and factory workers, but some jobs need human connection and creativity. But are we underestimating what robots can do? In some cases, they already perform better than doctors at diagnosing illness. Also, some patients might feel more comfortable sharing personal information with a machine than a person. Could there be a place for robots in education after all?
British education expert Anthony Seldon thinks so. And he even has a date for the robot takeover of the classroom: 2027. He predicts robots will do the main job of transferring information and teachers will be like assistants. Intelligent robots will read students' faces, movements and maybe even brain signals. Then they will adapt the information to each student. It's not a popular opinion and it's unlikely robots will ever have empathy and the ability to really connect with humans like another human can.
One thing is certain, though. A robot teacher is better than no teacher at all. In some parts of the world, there aren't enough teachers and 9–16 per cent of children under the age of 14 don't go to school. That problem could be partly solved by robots because they can teach anywhere and won't get stressed, or tired, or move somewhere for an easier, higher-paid job.
Those negative aspects of teaching are something everyone agrees on. Teachers all over the world are leaving because it is a difficult job and they feel overworked. Perhaps the question is not 'Will robots replace teachers?' but 'How can robots help teachers?' Office workers can use software to do things like organise and answer emails, arrange meetings and update calendars. Teachers waste a lot of time doing non-teaching work, including more than 11 hours a week marking homework. If robots could cut the time teachers spend marking homework and writing reports, teachers would have more time and energy for the parts of the job humans do best.
https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org
- Unit 8
Unit 8
'A Plastic Ocean': a film review
A Plastic Ocean is a film to make you think. Think, and then act. We need to take action on our dependence on plastic. We've been producing plastic in huge quantities since the 1940s. Drink bottles, shopping bags, toiletries and even clothes are made with plastic. 1) _____. What happens to all the rest? This is the question the film A Plastic Ocean answers. It is a documentary that looks at the impact that plastic waste has on the environment. Spoiler alert: the impact is devastating.
The film begins as a journey to film the largest animal on the planet, the blue whale. But during the journey the filmmakers (journalist Craig Leeson and environmental activist Tanya Streeter) make the shocking discovery of a huge, thick layer of plastic floating in the middle of the Indian Ocean. 2) _____. In total, they visited 20 locations around the world during the four years it took them to make the film. The documentary premiered in 2016, and is now on streaming services such as Netflix.
It's very clear that a lot of research went into the film. There are beautiful shots of the seas and marine life. 3) _____. We see how marine species are being killed by all the plastic we are dumping in the ocean. The message about our use of plastic is painfully obvious.
4) _____. In the second half, the filmmakers look at what we can do to reverse the tide of plastic flowing around the world. They present short-term and long-term solutions. These include avoiding plastic containers and 'single-use' plastic products as much as possible. Reuse your plastic bags and recycle as much as you can. The filmmakers also stress the need for governments to work more on recycling programmes, and look at how technology is developing that can convert plastic into fuel.
We make a staggering amount of plastic. In terms of plastic bags alone, we use five hundred billion worldwide annually. Over 300 million tons of plastic are produced every year, and at least 8 million of those are dumped into the oceans. 5) _____. Once you've seen A Plastic Ocean, you'll realise the time is now and we all have a role to play.
https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org
- Topic 10
Topic 10