Topic outline

  • General

  • 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

                                                                       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

    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

  • 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

    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


  • Topic 6