This section of Oral Training (I) is an integrated course designed to enhance the students’ communicative competence, including linguistic, sociolinguistic, discourse, and strategic competence. Class activities are mainly task-based, combining different modes (listening, speaking, reading, and writing, with particular focus on speaking) and involving different fields of knowledge (those of particular relevance to first-year English majors). The students are given plenty of opportunities to use their current English proficiency to the fullest as they collect and exchange information, interact with each other, and make judgments or decisions. They are also encouraged to participate actively in the learning process by establishing their own learning goals, developing and choosing their own learning strategies, and evaluating their own progress.

Classroom activities include games, traditional exercises such as tongue-twisters, drills, and English songs, structured output activities such as information gap and jigsaw activities, and communicative output activities such as role plays and discussions. Evaluation includes class participation, weekly assignments, mid-term exam, final exam, and attendance.