SFE11108 English: Culture Studies I with Didactics (Autumn 2008)

The course is connected to the following study programs

Compulsory in the one-year English programme included in the education programme, and in the 30 ECTS module English I (1^st semester).

Prerequisites

General requirements for admission to higher education, or equivalent knowledge of English.

Lecture Semester

Autumn 2008

Content

Introduction to issues of intercultural communication with a particular focus on understanding typical British values and norms. A chronological presentation of the development of national institutions, politics, society and culture is given.

The introduction to British literature covers the development from the 17^th century until today. The students read a selection of novels, plays, short stories and poetry, representing different epochs and seen in relation to these epochs and their social conditions.

 

An introduction to education in literature and culture is a central part of the course and students become acquainted with the national curriculum for English teaching in the compulsory school and the competence area culture, society and literature. Learning strategies, learning styles and learning environment are taught through various tasks and forms of cooperation, and students learn about planning, giving reasons for, and carrying out English teaching according to the intentions of the national curriculum. The role of the teacher as language model and facilitator is emphasised both through theory and practice.

 

Introduction to literary theory is a compulsory part of the course, aimed at giving students a basis of literary terminology, literary analysis and genre theory, as well as making them understand the importance of literary texts in the teaching of foreign languages at different levels. Special features of literary texts are discussed such as the three main genres, epic fiction, drama and poetry as well as the main principles of literary analysis. This part of the course, which is organised as lectures and practical exercises, is taught in Norwegian (or another Scandinavian language), with the addition of also introducing the relevant terminology of the target language.

Forms of teaching and learning

Lectures and seminars. Students are expected to participate actively in discussions and group tasks. Group work outside scheduled classes is encouraged.

The language of instruction is English with the exception of the introductory course in literary theory.

Practical training/internship

Work placement is integrated in the study programme and carried out in close cooperation between student, work placement supervisor and course instructor. The work practice period in the autumn semester of the English in the education programme is normally five days (ten days for students who only take English I).

Coursework requirements - conditions for taking the exam

Two assignments on a didactic topic. Feedback is given before the final and revised version is submitted for approval. The second of the assignments requires use of secondary literature and documentation of this use.

 

80% attendance is compulsory at the introductory course in literary theory.

Also the didactics part has compulsory attendance (a minimum of 80%). Exemption from the attendance rule can only be granted on application, stating the reason for failure of attendance.

 

The coursework must be approved before students may sign up for the final examination.

Examination

A 5-hour written examination. Aids permitted: English-English dictionary.

Grading scale: A-F.

Literature

• Knutsen, K & M Dypedahl, Culture Studies I. Compendium, local print.
• Alexander, M, A History of English Literature
• Peck, J & M Coyle, Literary Terms and Criticism
• Griffith, K, Writing Essays about Literature
• Oakland, J (2002), British Civilization: An Introduction. 5^th ed.
• McDowall, D, An Illustrated History of Britain. Longman, latest ed.

 

Introduction to literary theory:

• Knutsen, K & E N Vestli, Innføring i litteraturvitenskp for språkstudenter. Compendium, local print, or to be downloaded from Blackboard.

 

Classical children's books - students choose one of the following:

• Louisa May Alcott: Little Women
• Eleanor H Porter: Pollyanna
• L Frank Baum: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
• Lucy Maud Montgomery: Anne of Green Gables

 

A selection of the following novels and plays (reading list will be handed out at the beginning of the course):

• Jane Austen: Sense and Sensibility
• Roddy Doyle: The Woman Who Walked into Doors
• Virginia Woolf: Mrs. Dalloway
• J. K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
• William Shakespeare: Hamlet
• Tom Stoppard: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead

The following prose, poetry and short stories (included in the compendium Culture Studies I):
Poetry:
William Shakespeare: 2 sonnets
John Donne: "Batter my heart"
Wordsworth: "Upon Westminster"
John Keats: "Ode to a Nightingale"
William Butler Yeats: "Easter 1916"
Wilfred Owen: "Anthem for Doomed Youth"
Dylan Thomas: "Fern Hill"
W.H. Auden: "Musée des Beax Arts"
Seamus Heaney: "Punishment"
Ted Hughes: "Night Ride on Ariel", "Sam"

 

Prose and short stories:

Jonathan Swift: "A Modest Proposal"

Katherine Mansfield: "The Voyage"
Doris Lessing: "To Room 19"

 

Didactics of English language teaching:

• Munden, J & A Myhre (2002), Twinkle Twinkle - English 1-4. Høyskoleforlaget.
• Bøhn et al.: Fagdidaktikk. Compendium, local print.
• Drew, I & B Sørheim (2004), English Teaching Strategies - Methods for English Teachers of 10 to 16 year-olds. Det Norske Samlaget.
• Utdannings- og forskningsdepartementet (2006), Kunnskapsløftet. Læreplaner for gjennomgående fag i gruunnskolen og videregående opplæring.
• Relevant material from the European Council
• Roald Dahl: The Magic Finger.

 

All students must have an English-English dictionary such as Collins Cobuild Dictionary, Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, or another learner's dictionary for non-native users of English.

 

Supplementary literature in didactics of English language teaching:

• Bakke, B & N Millar (2000), IKT - også DET! NKS-Forlaget.
• Bautz, M (1984), Better English in the Classroom. NKS-Forlaget/Pensumtjenesten.
• Halliwell, S (1992), Teaching English in the Primary Classroom. Longman.
• Harmer, J (2001), The Practice of English Language Teaching. Longman. 3^rd ed.
• Korsvold, A K (2000), Engelsk i href="http://www.hiof.no/neted/admin/0c. Universitetsforlaget.
• Pinter, A (2006), Teaching Young Language Learners. Oxford
• Scott, W A & L H Ytreberg (1990), Teaching English to Children. Longman.
• Ytreberg, L H (1993), Engelsk i grunnskolen. En fagdidaktisk introduksjon. Tano.