EL502: ESL:
Reading and Culture I (4 units, 0 credits)
Chiyeko Kristin
Takayoshi, Adjunct Instructor in ESL
Winter 2007 Pasadena
DESCRIPTION:
This 10-week course strengthens academic reading skills for the
Intermediate level student. 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 learn the building blocks of
academic reading. Students will also discover insights into the American
education culture 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
• Applying
pre-reading strategies to academic texts
• Skimming texts to
find main ideas
• Scanning texts to
locate specific information
• Increasing
academic reading rate and improving comprehension
• Identifying
meaning in new vocabulary through context clues/ word forms
• Recognizing main
ideas
• Identifying
supporting ideas
• Recognizing
implied main ideas and central point
• Understanding
organization and relationship of ideas
• Develop effective
study skills and critical thinking skills for reading assignments
• 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
• Describe patterns
of interpersonal and intercultural communication and culture that contrast with
American patterns
COURSE FORMAT: This class meets two times
each week for two-hour sessions.
Students actively engage in academic reading, exercises, small group
work, presentations, lectures, and discussions.
REQUIRED READING:
Dodd, Debbie. Dictionary of
Theological Terms in Simplified English. Evangelism and Missions
Information Service (EMIS), 2003.
Langan, John. Ten Steps to Improving College Reading Skills. (4th ed.)
Townsend Press, 2003.
Kraybill, Donald B. The Upside-Down Kingdom. Herald Press, 1990.
Stott, John R. W. Christian Mission in the Modern World. Intervarsity
Press, 1975.
RECOMMENDED READING:
Folse, Keith S. Intermediate Reading Practices: Building Reading
& Vocabulary Skills. (Revised edition) University of Michigan Press,
1993.
Levine, Deena R. and Mara B. Adelman. Beyond Language: Cross-Cultural
Communication. ( 2nd ed.) Prentice Hall Regents, 1993.
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. Reading Log of 1000 pages with annotated bibliography
3. Two 500-word book reviews
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO
CURRICULUM: Meets partial requirements to advance within the ESL Program.
FINAL EXAM: ESL Exit Exam.