Freshman English

This course comes in two parts - one day a week for vocabulary, the other for reading. Each part is distinct in its subject matter, way of working, textbooks, classroom procedures, tests, exams and homework.

1. READING

Textbook: Mozaic 2 Reading, Silver Edition, Wegmann & Knezevic; McGraw Hill.

Aims:
*to practice and improve your reading skills in English.
*to learn to read different texts in different ways.
*to learn to read for overall meaning.
*to improve your ability to explain and discuss what has been read.
*to learn to enjoy reading books in English.
*to help make reading a lifelong habit.

Course content:
The emphasis is on developing the reading skills necessary for dealing with a variety of types of text. We use a reading textbook for intensive reading, as well as frequent short articles, reading puzzles and jig-saw reading activities. For extensive reading, I ask students to choose their own book to read ?the main requirement being that it should be something they enjoy reading. They should read two books each semester. Students keep a reading journal where they record and reflect on this reading. There are also some homework assignments involving reading articles, answering questionnaires or carrying out searches on the internet.

Evaluation:
This is based on two examinations per semester; reading journal; classroom performance; homework assignments

2. VOCABULARY

Textbook: English Vocabulary in Use; Michael McCarthy & Felicity Oell; Cambridge University Press

Aims:
*for you to learn more vocabulary.
*to get to know the vocabulary you know better.
*to practise using vocabulary in context.
*to learn how to learn vocabulary efficiently.?to help you to deal successfully with vocabulary in the future.

Course content:
The emphasis is on learning the vocabulary related to different topics and fields (because words are more easily remembered when they are related to each other), and on acquiring the vocabulary learning skills that are essential if students are to reach an advanced level of English. Students thus learn not only vocabulary, but how they can best learn vocabulary. We use a self study vocabulary textbook, and students are encouraged to keep their own vocabulary notebooks.

Evaluation:
This is based on two examinations per semester; regular, short (10 item) tests; classroom performance; students may also be required to keep a vocabulary notebook in the second semester.