EL502: Reading and Culture I (0 credits)
Jinjoo
Kwak, Adjunct Instructor in ESL
Spring 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.