EL502:
Reading and Culture I (0 credits)
Chiyeko
Kristin Takayoshi, Adjunct Instructor in ESL
Spring 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: 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.