English through Language Arts (LCE3304)

Class contact hours: 3 hrs (tutorials) Credits: 3

Introduction

This course is part of the suite of free elective courses offered by the CEAL which give students the opportunity to practice using their English language skills and improve their ability to communicate ideas in all the four skills. The course is designed to help students participate more effectively in the various different courses that are a part of students’ liberal arts education at Lingnan. The focus of this course is on enjoyment and engagement in practising English and communication skills within a stimulating environment.

Aims & Objectives

To enable students to:

• develop a greater awareness and better understanding of the relationship between language and culture
• gain pleasure and enjoyment from learning and using English
• improve their general English language proficiency in the four skills, namely: reading, writing, speaking and listening
• gain a better understanding of how thoughts, ideas, beliefs and values can be communicated in the English language
• improve students’ ability to express their own ideas in English related to the arts clearly, effectively and accurately
• develop their ability to understand and use the English language creatively as part of the liberal arts education through the completion of activities and tasks which require students to think, interpret and discuss specific arts-related themes

Course Information

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

• write a biography of a person they know well, with mention to the main accomplishments and significant events in their life. The biography should be written with good accuracy and use of appropriate biographical language e.g. verb tense, time phrases, cohesive devices
• produce one short storyboard videos (maximum 5 minutes) on the topic “Who R U” The video should have a suitable and accurately delivered English commentary with appropriate visual support (Photo’s, text, narration, etc.)
• produce one poetic verse with good attention to appropriate prosodic features and pronunciation, stress, rhythm and intonation
• write a song review containing both the lyrical details as well as a personal, critical response to the song using accurate and appropriate language commonly associated with reviews e.g. descriptive language, adjectives, verb tense, etc.

Teaching Method

Small group/tutorial.

Students will work on a variety of language arts materials either individually or in groups, thereby increasing their enjoyment and motivation in English language learning. The main teaching focus will be on providing students will the opportunity to respond either verbally or in writing to a wide range of language arts materials. The maximum class size will be set at 16.

Indicative Content

There are 5 main units in this course which center on exploring and developing students’ language use while studying topics related to the arts. Course content is aimed at developing and consolidating the communicative language skills that students have learnt and may need to use in their academic life.

Specifically, the units are:

• Unit One: Biographies and Reviews which focuses on reading, listening to and discussing biographies and reviews;
• Unit Two: Television and Drama focusing on the contemporary use of spoken English;
• Unit Three: Listening to and Reading Poetry which focuses on rhythm, stress and intonation in spoken English;
• Unit Four: Music & Musicians which helps students develop their listening, reading and writing skills, and;
• Unit Five; Humor which focuses on the development of students’ oral/aural skills.

Measurement of Learning Outcomes

Assessment

Assessment on this course is comprised of four assessments as follows:

• write a biography of an influential person related to the performing or visual arts or someone significant from their personal history. (25%)
• produce one short movie (maximum 3 minutes) illustrated with appropriate graphics and narrated by the student on a) personal introduction, and b) an area of personal interest to be agreed with the teacher (25%)
• write and recite a poem on a chosen topic/style (to be agreed with the teacher) (25%);
• write a song review containing both the lyrical details as well as a personal, critical response to the song using accurate and appropriate language commonly associated with reviews e.g. descriptive language, adjectives, verb tense, etc. (25%)

Note:

Students shall be aware of the University regulations about dishonest practice in course work and the possible consequences as stipulated in the Regulations Governing University Examinations.

Syllabus