Intermediate Reading - 2nd year
This is an intensive reading course for students who are non-native speakers of English but who have previously studied English. Students will practice reading skills including skimming, scanning, previewing, guessing vocabulary from context, answering basic content questions about a text, and making inferences. This course includes TOEFL practice.
Objectives:
By the end of the course, the student will be able to:
1. Preview and predict the content of a reading selection by:
a. considering the title, headings and subheadings;
b. identifying the arrangement of topic, and subtopic through outlining;
c. discussing previous knowledge on the subject;
d. asking questions that might be answered in the reading.
2. Skim a text for general meaning by:
a. identifying introduction and conclusion;
b. understanding paragraph structure;
c. recognizing topic sentences;
d. recognizing when the main idea has been rephrased;
e. being able to distinguish between the main idea and supporting details;
f. listing and writing the main ideas;
g. making a story outline or a time line.
3. Scan a text, read for specific information, and answer specific information
questions in a limited amount of time.
4. Read a text and answer basic comprehension questions about main idea,
vocabulary, and important details in the form of multiple choice, true/false, and short answer questions.
5. Guess vocabulary from context by:
a. 1) recognizing clues (punctuation, example, comparison or contrast, definition, description, series, cause and effect, setting, and synonyms);
b. 2) recognizing prefixes, suffixes, and roots and discerning their meanings (mis-, pre-, im-, anthropo, poly, etc.).
6. Expand active vocabulary by:
a. writing definitions;
b. using the words in a sentence;
c. looking up words in a monolingual dictionary;
d. recognizing that a word can have more than one meaning;
e. recognizing that certain suffixes give clues as to the part of speech.
7. Make inferences and be able to answer inference questions through multiple
choice, true/false, and short answer formats.
8. Distinguish fact from opinion by:
a. distinguishing vocabulary associated with fact from vocabulary
b. associated with opinion (objective: scientific, fact, evidence, prove,
certain; subjective: think, believe, agree, disagree, possible, theorize, etc.)
d. recognizing stated or implied facts
e. recognizing stated or implied opinions
9. Increase reading speed
10. Engage in extensive reading and demonstrate understanding.
Topics:
Course topics will include the following:
1. Pre-reading and reading strategies
2. Critical reading
3. Analysis and evaluation
4. Vocabulary expansion
5. Dictionary usage
Method of Instruction:
1. Lecture
2. Discussion
3. Group and pair work
4. Reading
Types of Assignments:
1. Readings (intensive and extensive)
2. Textbook exercises
3. Vocabulary study
Sample Text:
1. Brown, Kristine, and Susan Hood, Academic Encounters: Life in Society, Cambridge University Press
