Course
Content and
Objectives: 2005
- 2006
GLOBAL OBJECTIVE :
The different language activities proposed in this class are designed
to give you the opportunity to develop your language skills by working
on subjects that you choose to read, talk and write about. Whatever
your level or ability at the start of the year, the goal is to provide
the framework which will allow you to become increasingly confident
and competent in using English as a means of communication.
It is important that you think about your own personal goals for language
learning and improvement this year. You should set yourself targets
and be ready to discuss your objectives with me and each other. Your
contribution both inside and outside the class (ideas, preparation,
participation and follow-up) will be a determining factor in your progress.
The following outline gives you a non-exhaustive overview of some of
the areas we will be exploring together. Please feel free to raise any
questions you might have about the class and in particular your own
work.
CONTENT
Here are some of the activities we will be undertaking together :
1. 5 + 5
Each week two or three students are asked to talk to the group.
5 minutes to talk about yourself and some aspect(s) of your personal
experience.
5 minutes reaction from the group, questions, discussion…
Starting next week …..be ready !
2. Press Reviews
Each week two students focus on events in the news and present a review
of the international press.
The other students participate in the discussion and then write a report/personal
commentary in response to the review.
Aim : to practise and develop various oral and written language skills
including reading and research, public-speaking (presentation skills),
note-taking, expressing opinions, reporting…
(More details on the handout - please follow the guidelines carefully.)
3. Research Projects
This work is presented in two stages - oral and written - and aims
to give students the opportunity to practise research skills in a specific
field that is of interest to them.
You will be asked to define a subject you would like to research in
the area of your choice (cultural, economic, political, social, literary….)
Your goal will then be to process and summarise information clearly
and to develop your ability to analyse, criticise and express opinions
in English.
This project is also intended to allow interaction among the students.
First, because it is a group project and you will need to make decisions
together and coordinate your research and writing; and second because
the subjects are presented and discussed in class throughout the various
stages.
There will be a final presentation towards the end of the second semester
(More details on the handout.)
You can see examples of some of the projects done by students in previous
years if you visit www.periwork.com and click on "Mr Coates' pages"…
4. Language work
The activities mentioned above are of course all intended to give you
regular opportunities to use and develop your English language skills.
There will be particular emphasis on oral skills in class. However a
closer look will be taken at the grammar and vocabulary needed to deal
with the specific tasks that are required of you. There will also be
exercises in error correction, summarising, translation. It will be
helpful if you are able to define which areas of grammar and syntax
you need to work on.
Importance of reading : I encourage you to read as frequently and as
widely as possible in English according to your interests. From time
to time I will give or recommend articles to you. Some of them will
form the basis of comprehension or discussion activities in class.
5. www.periwork.com
- The Periwork site is a valuable, home-grown resource for study and
research that has been developed over the past few years. On the site
you will find an abundance of reports, web reviews, research projects,
and civilisation dossiers on a vast range of themes and links to many
other sites.
- Students have been contributing regularly to the website and
- Your contributions will be added this year (commentaries, projects,
reviews..)
More information about Periwork coming soon. In the meantime, take
a look at the site.
6. Personal Project
In the second semester, an opportunity for personal initiative in a
chosen area; for example a book review, a translation, a newspaper or
magazine article….
More details later.
D.Coates September 2005