Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
1.1 Description
This course makes use of aspects found in the CLEAR educational research project at
Toyo University. The philosophy of CLEAR emphasizes student-centered
communication in English, encourages collaboration in learning, task-based projects,
life-long learning, autonomy and empowerment.
This course is the first part of a two-quarter Academic Reading skills course. It includes
assigned and student-selected reading materials. Following the textbook, each lesson
we will study academic reading materials written for native English speakers that have
not been altered from their original sources. This is to prepare you for the types of
materials you will encounter when studying abroad. Activities based on these articles
emphasize vocabulary development, reading skills and strategies, and discussion. The
skills and strategies covered in this quarter are: understanding vocabulary in context,
finding main ideas, using the dictionary, finding supporting details, the vocabulary of
numbers, and understanding graphs and charts. Vocabulary development will focus on:
word families, words in context, and synonyms.
After each reading there is a Connections Research task (see Assessment Task 1) through
which students will develop their higher order thinking skills and critical thinking
faculties by further researching the topic of the reading and reporting on their findings.
In real life, language skills are rarely used in isolation, and for this reason this course
will contain listening, speaking, vocabulary development, and writing activities in
addition to the reading focus.
1.2 Content
to learn and practice various reading strategies and skills
1
to learn new vocabulary
to think critically about what has been read
to engage students in guided academic discussions of readings
to review and check the specific skills learned in the textbook
to extend knowledge and stimulate interest in the topic by doing outside research
to report research findings to small groups, and to discuss those findings
to read extensively outside of class so as to become a confident and fluent reader
On successful completion of this You will be assessed on the Completing these tasks
course you should be able to: learning outcome in tasks: successfully will contribute to you
becoming
Note: A minimum of 15,000 words read must be logged on MReader (see Assessment
Task 5) for eligibility to be considered for a passing grade in this course. Any students
not meeting this minimum requirements will receive a / grade, indicating failure of
the course due to insufficient participation.
2
3.2 Attendance Policy
Any student who is absent 2 classes during the quarter for any reason other than illness
confirmed by a medical practitioner will receive a / grade, indicating failure of the
course due to insufficient participation. Three late arrivals to class will be considered
one absence. Arriving 15 minutes after class begins or later will be treated as an absence.
Participation may be included in some task assessment criteria, however attendance
will NOT be a factor in determining the final grade.
Product: Short written accounts of their research findings. Length and format varies by task. Short
presentations of their research findings. Format varies by task. Sources of information must be
provided (must use English language sources).
3
Format: Students will be asked to conduct some further research, in English, connected with the reading,
and to summarize their findings in some form.
Format: In small groups students will take turns to talk about their research findings while the audience
listens and asks questions. The presenters will have several discussion questions prepared and
use them to lead a small group discussion of the topic.
Product: Complete a one page book report handout. Answer all questions fully.
4
Format: Students should be reading extensively outside of class as part of Task 5 (GINOS Extensive
Reading). To demonstrate completion of and understanding/contemplation of a book, students
will complete a book report handout which also requires them to consider the contents of the
reading and to make connections between it and themselves, the world or to another text. There
will be three handouts to complete, one each for personal, world and text connections. Each
handout will be shared in small presentation and discussion groups in lessons 6, 11 and 16.
Students are required to read a minimum of 15,000 words per quarter for a passing grade, and
are expected to read a lot more (at least a book a week is recommended). They must complete a
handout for a book completed during the previous two weeks.
Product: Each week, students will select 10 words from the textbook that they need to work on.
They will copy them into a notebook or onto notecards (recommended) and write an
English definition, first language translation, an original example sentence using the
word (not copied from a dictionary), and any synonyms they can find. These should be
used for self-study until memorized.
Format: Each week students select 10 words they do not know well and produce a product
(notebook or notecards) to help them to learn those words, following the procedure
outlined above.
5
Assessment Task 5: GINOS Extensive Reading
Goal: To increase reading fluency and confidence in reading (simplified) novels in English.
Product: You will need to read at least 15,000 words per quarter for a passing grade and
150,000 words per quarter for the full 30% of your grade possible from this task.
Format: Extensive reading (ER) means to read a lot of easy English books. The books are easy
because they contain vocabulary and grammar forms that you already know and can
understand comfortably. The GINOS studio contains hundreds of books written for
non-native English speakers like yourself, that have been written specifically for
English language learners. These books are called Graded Readers because they are
graded based on difficulty. You must choose a book that is comfortable for you to read
so that reading a novel in English is pleasurable. If you cannot understand the book
without a dictionary then it is not appropriate for this task and you need to choose a
book from a lower level.
ER has been shown to greatly improve English language ability if done correctly. To be
most effective students need to read as often as possible, preferably everyday (even
10 minutes a day is better than nothing, but try for 30 minutes or more). You can read
anywhere: on the train, between lessons, in the library, before going to sleep, in a
coffee shop, its up to you!
Every 5,000 words read is worth 1% of your final grade. 15,000 words therefore equals
3% and is the absolute minimum required to be eligible for a passing grade in this
course. Therefore, if you read 150,000 words you will have earned the full 30% of your
final grade available from this Assessment Task.
To check that you have read each book and to keep a record of the number of words
you have read each quarter you will take a short test online. The tests are available at
mreader.org and take less than 10 minutes to complete. If you fail a test you will not
get credit for having read the book, so be careful to read each book fully, and that you
are not reading books that are too difficult.
6
(MC - Making Connections 2 textbook; ER - extensive
Course Activities
reading)
7
11 Expression of opinion, group discussion, ER book reports and ER
presenting information to a group based discussions. Vocabulary notebook
on research Connection
presentations and
discussions.
You will need a B5 notebook or notecards for the Vocabulary Notebook task.
Smartphones may be utilized in the classroom from time to time, but are not required.