EL502:
Reading and Culture I (0 credits)
Chiyeko
Kristin Takayoshi, Adjunct Instructor in ESL
Winter 2006 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: Students actively engage in academic reading, exercises,
small group work, presentations, lectures, and discussions.
REQUIRED
READING:
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 2-page book reviews
PREREQUISITES:
None.
RELATIONSHIP
TO CURRICULUM: Meets partial requirements to advance within the ESL Program.
FINAL
EXAM: ESL Exit Exam.