TIUA English Language Studies

Course Descriptions

English I: Listening

Students develop listening comprehension skills useful in university contexts. Intensive listening practice exposes students to everyday and academic language used in a variety of topics and situations. Class guests, sample university lectures, use of audio and video tapes, and observations and interviews outside the classroom support the development of listening comprehension and academic note-taking skills.

English II: Speaking

Students develop speaking skills appropriate in university contexts. Examples of such skills are: holding extended conversations, asking and answering questions in class, giving oral summaries, giving presentations and speeches, participating in discussions and debates, and having conferences with professors. The course includes activities and assignments outside of the classroom that enable students to further practice what they have learned in class.

English III & IV: Academic & Creative Writing (III), Reading & Discussion (IV)

Using an integrated workshop approach, with readings centered around themes from American culture and society, students increase reading comprehension and speed in English and build skills in drawing conclusions, making inferences, using context clues, separating fact from opinion and analyzing articles. They also develop general academic vocabulary as well as vocabulary related to specific subject areas (economics, sociology/anthropology, political science, etc.). In addition to their main text, students read material from subject area textbooks and read and discuss current events articles in newspapers and magazines.

Writing assignments are based on readings and discussions, focusing on summarization, explanation, analysis, and argumentation. In addition, students maintain a personal "dialogue" journal to record and share informal reactions to what they read and experience. In this journal, the professor responds to what the student writes in order to establish a written conversation about topics of interest to the student.

Students further develop reading, writing, vocabulary, and grammar skills, as well as computer skills, through regular use of the computer lab facilities.

English V: Grammar

This course is designed for college students at the beginning to intermediate levels of English to develop basic accuracy and fundamental competence in grammar in preparation for academic study. Depending on the section, the course introduces the form, meaning, and usage of grammatical elements such as parts of speech and verb tenses needed to form and understand simple and compound sentences in statement, interrogative, and negative form. It presents basic grammar structures in situational and cultural contexts and provides extensive and varied opportunities to practice targeted structures communicatively in pair and group activities. For other sections, the course reviews and builds on basic grammar structures and introduces the form, meaning, and usage of complex sentences and the passive voice. It presents fundamental grammar structures in situational and cultural contexts and provides extensive and varied opportunities to practice targeted structures communicatively in pair and group activities. The course helps students develop basic grammatical skills in all four skill areas: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

English VI: Language and Culture

English VI is a summer semester course. If you take one TIUA elective and one Applied English Course, you are required to also take one English VI course. This course is designed to increase the student's oral fluency through the study and discussion of high-interest topics (business issues, social trends, cultural issues, and current events). Students use all skills in this course but the emphasis is on further development of listening and speaking skills. Students have opportunities to participate in debates, to lead and participate in discussions, to deliver speeches, and to give presentations of their individual or group work. Various topics or themes are offered each year.

Advanced English

This advanced English course centers around one or several themes of interest to the students. Advanced reading and discussion, essay writing, speeches and debates allow students to further develop their English language skills. Some themes may be: Race and Justice in America, Public Speaking, Oral Fluency and Pronunciation, American Culture in Literature, Native Cultures of North America. Specific themes vary each year.

Applied English

The main focus of Applied English (English V) is the development of English language skills. The course is closely coordinated with a specific TIUA elective course. For example: Intercultural Management, American Society, Human Resource Management, American Politics. Students will use all skills in this course: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Discussions, presentations, listening activities, and reading/writing assignments will focus on the topics of the TIUA elective course?but the purpose of the activities is to help the student develop greater oral and written fluency in English. It will also help students to better understand the subject matter being taught in the TIUA elective course.