Topic outline
- General
- Topic 1
Topic 1
University: University of Abou-Bekr Belkaid Tlemcen
Faculty: Letters and Languages
Department: English
Module: Study Skills (STSK)
Level: FILA 1st Year Students (L1)
Semester: Semester One
Unit Type: UE Méthodologique
Coefficient: 02
Credit:04
Class Meeting Time: Thursday 8:30 to 10.
Class Location: Room 32
Course Period: 1 hour 30 minutes
Instructor Name: Dr. Assia BENETTAYEB
Email Address: benettayebassia@gmail.com
Office Hours: Thursday 11:30.
DR. Assia BENETTAYEB
benettayebassia@gmail.comCourse Description:
‘Study Skills for FILA Students’ is a course that exposes students to the different study skills needed to succeed at university, especially in a specialty that links finance to English. The course is divided into three main sequences (University Study Skills, Study Routines and Styles, Extensive Reading, and Preparing and Sitting for Examination). Different tasks and assignments that students may come across in study skills learning are presented in the course with special emphasis on grammar construction, vocabulary improvement strategies, reading and writing skills, and also paraphrasing and summarising strategies.
Course Objectives:
- Knowing and understanding different skills
- Identifying skills and differentiating them.
- Practising skills in isolation and then in integration
- Identifying study routines, habits, and learning styles
- Building good studying habits
- Fixing study setting (Time/place of study)
- Learning more vocabulary (Words stem, guessing /fixing meanings)
- Practice extensive reading and preparing a book report sheet.
- Learning about correct grammar construction of a sentence
- Learning some reading, writing, and vocabulary skills
- Learning paragraphing and punctuation skills in correct writing
- Improving reading and writing skills
- Learning how to outline.
- Learning how to use different types of dictionaries
- Using and directing tips/advice about preparing and sitting for exams.
Prerequisites:
- Skills learning
- Skills identification
- Practice skills.
Course Programme (Outline):
STUDY SKILLS FOR FILA STUDENTS.
I- University Study Skills
I.1. Types of Skills
I.2. Why Study Skills Module
I.3. Major Study Skills
II- Study Styles and Preferences
II.1. Study Routines and Habits
II.2. Students' Study Styles (The VARK Model)
II.2. Students' Study Preferences
III- Extensive Reading.
III.1. What and Why?
III.2. Extensive Reading Vs Intensive Reading
III.3. Reading-Report Sheets
IV- Preparing and Sitting for Examination.
IV.1. University Exam Types
IV.2. Tips for Exam Revisions and Preparation
Classroom Policies:
- Exposition of the input
- Clarification of the contents
- Practice and illustrations
- Intensive assignments
- Extensive assignments
Evaluation Method: The evaluation of students goes as follows
- Classroom evaluation (TD 50%)
- Formal written exam. (Exam 50%)
Bibliography and Suggested Resources:
- Allan, B. (2010). Study skills handbook. Hull University Business School.
- Benettayeb, A. (2024). Study Skills Guide. Konouz Edition.
- Benettayeb, A.(2021). Study Skills in Practice (A Course for University Students). Konouz Edition. (2nd Edition).
- Carroll ,R.T. (1990). Student Success Guide- Study Skills. Sacramento.
- Yorkey, R.C. (1970). Study Skills for Students of English as a Second Language. MacGrow -Hill Book Company.
I- University Study Skills
I.1. Types of Skills
* Skills can be of different types:
-Life skills
-Language Skills
-21st century skills
- Hard/Soft skills
-Study skills.
Other types include:
Though different, these skills may overlap to complete each other. Our main concern in this course is to understand and identify study skills.
- Topic 2
Topic 2
* Watch the two videos about MAIN UNIVERSITY STUDY SKILLS then order all the described study skills according to your priority in studying.
Video1:
Video2:
Available at: https://faclettre.univ-tlemcen.dz/assets/uploads/DOCUMENTS/cours%20en%20ligne/livres/Study%20skills%20in%20practice_Benttayeb.pdf).
1. University and Study Skills PP.11-15
I.2. Why Study Skills Module?
Because it is an academic setting in which you will be given true occasion to learn, know, practice, and perform different study skills then transform this apprenticeship to other modules. The module seeks to deal with many of your inquiries by answering questions you usually/seldom ask yourselves such as:
What makes a good student? Why I can’t be successful all the time while others are? Why do I hesitate about studying?
Why do I put more time into studying than my classmates? A clear answer to these and other related questions is that
success is a matter of knowing ‘how to study’.
III.3. Major Study Skills?
* University study skills are the skills that enable university students to succeed in their studies if they are understood well, performed correctly, and developed progressively. These include:
- Motivation
-Concentration
-Readiness
- Planning
-Time management
-Participation
- Academic Reading
-Academic Writing
-Independent learning/autonomy
-Cooperative learning
-Preparing and sitting for tests and examinations
-Information Skills
-Presentation Skills
- Reflection
- Critical thinking
-Flexibility
-Soft skills
-E skills
- Topic 3
Topic 3
II- Study Routines and Styles
II.1. Study Routines and Habits
*watch the video and decide about the main similarities and differences between study routines and study habits. Refer to some of your routines and habits in learning EFL at the university.
* Have you ever wondered about what style of learner you are? if no, now you will know (watch the video and discover your learning style)
* After you have discovered your learning style, it is time to know about the different other existing styles so that you can know more about your classmates.
* It is well acknowledged in the field of education that there are four learning styles and these are:
1- Visual Learners: they depend on their sights to learn (they learn through graphics, pictures, colours..)
2- Auditory Learners: they are good listeners (they learn by listening to audio, music, discussions to learn)
3- Reading-Writing Learners: they learn by reading and writing (Taking notes and making notes)
4- Kinesthetic Learners: use body language and gestures to learn.
* Putting all those styles together makes the VARK MODEL.
* Some teachers may attribute other possible styles to students (7 styles of learners) and these include in addition to the VARK Model:
-Logical (Mathematical learners ), solitary (introverted learners), and social (extroverted learners).
* For more practice consider tasks available at: https://faclettre.univ-tlemcen.dz/assets/uploads/DOCUMENTS/cours%20en%20ligne/livres/Study%20skills%20in%20practice_Benttayeb.pdf). PP 23-24.
II.3. Students' Study Preferences
https://faclettre.univ-tlemcen.dz/assets/uploads/DOCUMENTS/cours%20en%20ligne/livres/Study%20skills%20in%20practice_Benttayeb.pdf).
1. STUDY HABITS PP.17-28
Study Habits Vs Study Routines
Day Students Vs Night Students
Study Setting Preferences (Time and Place of Study)
2. STUDY STYLES P.24
* A study routine is something related to your studies and that you do repeatedly and frequently at the same time like any other day routine.
* A study habit is what you do about your studies with joy and more engagement but occasionally.
*Comparing the two it is worth noting that good study habits are more effective than study routines which are not always effective because you are not fully engaged or motivated to do them.
* Success in university studies can thus be achieved by adopting correct study routines and good study habits depending on every student's style and preferences.
II.2. Students' Learning Styles (The VARK Model)
* What is a learning style?
* A style in learning refers to the way (ways) a student learns (particular information, data, tips...) following his profile, level, psychology, expectations, and preferences.
- Topic 4
Topic 4
III- Extensive Reading.
*Watch the video about EXTENSIVE READING DEFINITION then give your definition.
* Watch this second video about THE BENEFITS OF EXTENSIVE READING then outline these benefits.
III.1. What and Why?
* Extensive reading is the independent reading of a large amount of materials (books, short stories, novels....) you do on your own for pleasure. You pick up a material you like and you take your time to read it.
* Extensive reading is an extravagant life-long skill.
* Extensive reading is a must for university students who are eager to improve their English learning.
Why Extensive Reading?
* From the two illustrated definitions structure a simple definition for extensive reading.
Extensive Reading Vs Intensive Reading
*Simply put:
* Intensive reading is the guided, supervised reading university students do in the classroom under the teacher's coaching and is generally followed by assignments.
* Extensive reading is the outside voluntary reading university students may do on their own for pleasure without, most of the time, any follow-up activities or tasks.
*University teachers may assign follow-up activities as an extensive reading task for the following reasons:
-To ensure that students read the material in full.
-To check out students' understanding of the plot, story...
-To evaluate students' reading improvement
-To motivate students to read extensively
-To link in-class intensive reading to outside-classroom extensive reading
-To engage students in real, supplementary reading.
*Follow-up tasks in extensive reading
These include:
- Reading report sheet (see book report templates).
- Summary writing.
- Oral discussion about the material contents
- Personal reflection on the material.
III.2. Reading-Report Sheets
* This is one common follow-up to extensive reading tasks that university students generally do. They read a self-selected material and prepare a reading report sheet using different templates (See https://faclettre.univ-tlemcen.dz/assets/uploads/DOCUMENTS/cours%20en%20ligne/livres/Study%20skills%20in%20practice_Benttayeb.pdf).) PP.53-54.
* Joined to this part you find some examples of reading report sheets prepared by L1 students about different read materials.
Available at: https://faclettre.univ-tlemcen.dz/assets/uploads/DOCUMENTS/cours%20en%20ligne/livres/Study%20skills%20in%20practic e_Benttayeb.pdf).
1. Extensive Reading PP. 53-56
This part of the book explains what extensive reading is and demonstrates the importance of extensive reading in students' university careers.
- Topic 5
Topic 5
IV- Preparing and Sitting for Examination.
* Comment on the video
IV.1. University Exam Types
* Before discussing types of exams, it is important to define what an exam is
Exams are tools used to evaluate a person's competencies in a particular field. In other words: "Examinations are widely used within the University as a means of assessing students’ knowledge and skills. It is worthwhile spending some time thinking about and improving your revision skills and examination techniques. This will help you to improve your examination performance…Examinations are an essential part of the assessment process". (Allan, 2010. p. 87)
* Exams are of different types among which we mention:
Tests
contests
online exams
on-site exams
level exams
Academic exams
Exams can also be categorised in terms of their clarity/ambiguity as follows:
1- Simple (easy/clear) or
2- Difficult (problematic/brainstorming/reflective).
Though used, sometimes, exchangeably each of the already mentioned types is different. Thus a distinction between them is necessary:
- Tests are similar to exams and most of the time formal (take place in a formal setting, i.e. classroom setting) but they are short in size, simple in structure, and easier than exams. (E.g. Diagnostic test, achievement test, mock test, TEFOL test...)
- Contests are more important than tests and dedicated to a large number of examiners. Such as Doctorate University contests in different specialties. According to the Oxford Dictionary, a contest is:
"an event in which people compete for supremacy in a sport or other activity, or in a quality.- online exams are exams done virtually via the Internet.
- on-site exams are exams done in the university (classroom) and they request the student's presence.
- Academic exams are exams taken by students who are formally registered in an educational institution such as a university, college, center...
* In the table below more exam types are presented
IV.2. Tips for Exam Revisions and Preparation
For effective exam revisions and preparation, one should consider the following tips:
- Do not stop studying before exams (keep on writing lectures, attending classes and doing assignments)
- Do not cram by studying two to four hours straight this may cause you health problems
- Complete a mock test by answering some exam subjects from previous years
-Never multi-task yourself during your revisions, try to be more organized and self-disciplined by setting up an exam schedule and following it.
- Try to avoid cooperation during your revisions, especially in writing essays and summaries
- Review your class notes and work independently to edit your notes-taking
- Take short pauses during your revisions
- Make sure you have all that you need as notes for your revisions.
Available at: https://faclettre.univ-tlemcen.dz/assets/uploads/DOCUMENTS/cours%20en%20ligne/livres/Study%20skills%20in%20pract ice_Benttayeb.pdf).
1. Preparing and Sitting for Examination PP.81-86
The chapter provides important details concerning information about examinations as well as tips and advice about examination preparation and sitting.
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