This course aims to stimulate the proficiency of using English for various purposes among non-English majors. It will also help students look into cultural nuances in different English-speaking countries. Each subject on the syllabus will be initiated with an article, about which students will explicate useful expressions and discuss themes and issues involved. To check the minimal degree of understanding, the instructor will ask students to paraphrase and summarize paragraphs/articles in their own words. Grammar and controlled dialogues will not be imposed on students until they develop their own general ideas of certain topics.