EL502:
Reading and Culture I (0
credits)
Jinjoo
Kwak, Adjunct Instructor in ESL
Winter 2004 Pasadena
DESCRIPTION:
This 10-week course strengthens academic reading skills through the study of culture. Every week, students practice reading strategies that enable students to read faster, build comprehension, and sharpen study skills. Students read a variety of texts and perform reading tasks that are typical of seminary study. In particular, students read to understand culture and cross-cultural communication. Students discover insights into cultures and develop communication skills that will enhance cross-cultural participation. Thus, reading stimulates dynamic interaction of language skills and cultural learning.
LEARNING
OUTCOMES:
Language Objectives
• Strengthen academic reading skills for
greater comprehension and speed
• Develop effective study skills and
critical thinking skills for reading assignments
• Increase confidence and proficiency
in other language skills, especially conversational fluency
• Gain exposure to a variety of
Christian literature and themes common in seminary
Cross-Cultural Objectives
• Provide an understanding of
mainstream American culture, including cultural uses of
• English, values, behaviors, and
cultural diversity within the United States
• Increase knowledge and communication
skills to address cultural conflict & adjustment
• Explain specific American patterns of
communication that can lead to misunderstandings
• Describe patterns of communication
and culture that contrast with American patterns
COURSE
FORMAT:
Students actively engage in different types of academic
reading, exercises, small group work, presentations, lectures, and discussions.
REQUIRED
READING:
Levine, Deena R. and Mara B. Adelman. Beyond Language: Cross-Cultural
Communication. ( 2nd ed.)
Prentice Hall Regents, 1993.
Folse, Keith S. Intermediate Reading Practices: Building Reading & Vocabulary
Skills. (Revised edition)
University of Michigan Press, 1993.
RECOMMENDED
READING:
Levine, Deena R., Jim Baxter, and Piper McNutty. The
Culture Puzzle: Cross-Cultural Communication for English as a Second
Language. Prentice Hall Regents,
1987.
Baudoin, Margaret E. et al. Reader’s Choice. (3rd ed.) Univ. of Michigan Press, 1994.
ASSIGNMENTS:
This noncredit course is “Satisfactory” or “Not
Satisfactory.” The following
requirements are designed to strengthen cultural and English language fluency,
particularly reading skills:
1. Class participation and preparation
(weekly reading, oral and written assignments)
2. Cultural Observation Report (250
words)
3. Reading Log of 1000 pages and 4
Reading Report Forms
4. Integration Paper (1250 words)
5. Big Book Group Project
PREREQUISITES:
None.
RELATIONSHIP
TO CURRICULUM: Meets partial requirements to advance within the ESL Program.
FINAL
EXAMINATION: ESL Exit Exam.