|
| |||
| ||||
2M English focuses on developing analytical reading and writing, improving your listening and speaking skills plus mastering grammar and vocabulary at an intermediate level.
Reading
Reading is challenging and will serve to develop your understanding of British or American literature and culture, as well as to strengthen your comprehension, analysis, and interpretation.
We will start with The Giver1 by Lois Lowry. Imagine a society where nobody can see in colour - everything is monochromatic. Imagine a society where spouses are selected, children are assigned parents, names are predetermined, and jobs are selected for its citizens. In The Giver, these decisions are the responsibility of a committee of elders. You will not find hills or snow, either: hills make transportation difficult, and snow makes the growing season shorter. Everything is perfect. There is no hunger, poverty, or war. Lois Lowry portrays her idea of a utopian society.
Our second novel, called Of Mice and Men2 by John Steinbeck is set in the California of the thirties, when people had to cope with the Great Depression .Through Lennie and George’s friendship your heart will beat at the same pace as those two “drifters” (wandering poor men). Getting familiar with the historical background of a novel is always an asset and enables you to gain a better insight on the author’s work and life. Thisresearch work will be followed by an oral presentation to your classmates.
Writing
Through a number of different writing assignments-from narratives, journal writings (on Of Mice and Men), or compare/contrast literary essays -you will practise your writing skills. You will be asked to express yourself about literature in many ways. You should expect to write once every two weeks or every month, whether in a quick feedback exercise or for a major class essay.
Vocabulary[3]
In order to increase your proficiency in English for daily written and oral language, vocabularies will be studied by theme-related chapters and will be practised through role plays, listening activities or little games . Be ready to learn about two new pages every week and have a final quiz (oral or written, sometimes a listening task) after every chapter or everytwo chapters if they are short.
Remember that you must get about 75 % of the points in a vocabulary test to reach the average.
Grammar
We shall go on introducing grammar topics in context - with material created by the team of English teachers at the Bugnon, task based activities , reading comprehension and role plays in class or short writing exercises. Yet most of the job is the one you do on your own (or in pairs) when you practise exercises in class or as homework. We shall try to use our time very efficiently during our grammar period so as not to overload you with tasks at home. Remember you can practise and review on the excellent padlet grammar website 4 or download summaries of every grammar topic on the website
If possible, we will practise vocabulary and grammar in a vivid and active way in our language laboratory.
Speaking
Knowing your vocabulary is a good thing, but being able tocome up with the exact word you need is better.
While reading a book, all activities which involve sharing information with your classmates or presenting a feedback on a chapter you have read, alone or in group, will give you opportunities to practise your oral expression. You will be given the opportunity to express your oral skills first with a presentation on bands and singers, as well as enacting news anchormen or women presenting the latest news.
Make a special effort to ask your questions in English!
Listening and understanding
During classes, I speak English only so your listening skills will be challenged almost every day.
Watching and listening to the latest news on the BBC (radio or TV) will be part of the curriculum, as other listening tasks I might ask you to do, in connection with vocabulary/grammar or with films.
Website/online access
Most of the material which I hand out to students can be found online on Moodle or on this website5 allowing students to access a document even if they have been absent or if it happens to be lost. In case of absence or illness, it is each student's responsibility to inquire about the material received or the assignments due.
Tests and marks
Vocabulary and grammar tests will be grouped in a pack and their average will give you a mark equivalent to any other mark you will get in the four skills (listening, reading comprehension, ... ). If you miss a vocabulary or a grammar test, you will have to do the test immediately when you come back to class.
In addition to minor tests, expect about two major tests in each skill (, reading comprehension, writing , speaking and listening).
Final Advice
Please be sure to come to class prepared (i.e. with exercises done, chapters read, questions in study guide answered), with your grammar vocabulary/reading books on specific days. Major assignments such as oral presentations or essays are given way ahead of time, so I will not tolerate students who cannot produce the required task on due date.
Should we have to rely on distance learning again, your curriculum could be slightly adapted, yet expectations would remain the same as all the material you need is and will be available on line for you.
I hope we will go on working in a stimulating and serious, yet pleasant atmosphere (hopefully face-to-face all year long) which will lead you to do your best in my English classes.
Martine Guignard
1. Lois Lowry : The Giver, HarperCollins, 2014
2. John Steinbeck: Of Mice and Men, Penguin Classics; New Edition
[3]Claude Gosset: Petit vocabulaire actuel, edition OPHRYS, 2016
4 https://padlet.com/jfmartin/grammar
No comments:
Post a Comment