Facts about the course
- ECTS Credits:
- 15
- Responsible department:
- Faculty of Business, Languages, and Social Sciences
- Course Leader:
- Gro-Anita Myklevold
- Teaching language:
- English
- Duration:
- ½ year
SFEG511111 English: Culture Studies II 5-10 (Spring 2012)
The course is connected to the following study programs
Compulsory for students enrolled on the study programme English 1 for grades 5-10.
Lecture Semester
Spring Semester.
The student's learning outcomes after completing the course
KNOWLEDGE:
After completing the course module the students are to:
- have gained knowledge about the society, history and cultural expressions of two English-speaking countries
- have gained knowledge about historical, political and socioeconomic conditions in two English-speaking countries
-have gained knowledge about different genres and their conventions, as well as about the conventions of academic writing, responsible use of sources and laws pertaining to copyright/the right to privacy
-have gained knowledge about how the use of texts can stimulate the language learning process
-have gained knowledge about intercultural learning
SKILLS:
After completing the course module the students are to:
- be able to facilitate the pupils' learning and research on society, history and cultural expressions in an English-speaking country compared to the pupils' own background
- be able to use the target language confidently and appropriately both orally and in writing in different situations and genres with precision, fluency and coherence and be able to function as good language models for their pupils
- be able to use their knowledge of the subject didactically and reflectively in connection with the current National curriculum for education and be able to critically evaluate their own teaching
- be able to plan, lead and evaluate the learning process taking into account the different needs and the different background of the pupils.
- GENERAL COMPETENCE:
After completing the course module the students are to:
- be able to teach relevant subject matter and communicate in English in a manner that is suited to the target group
- be able to reflect on their own learning and practice in relation to ethical values and the responsibility of the school for children and young people's personal growth in a historical perspective
- be able to work independently and with others in order to solve identified problems connected to the pupils' learning and development within the subject of English
Content
The following themes will be covered:
-North American and international literature (noves, short stories, plays and poems)
-Introduction to American literature, history, media and politics
-Analysis of both the dominant culture (common values, thinking, symbols) and of the minority cultures
-Analysis of the cultural aspects of literature, film, media and political speeches
-Introduction to Canadian literature, history, media and politics
-Current National curriculum for primary and secondary education
-Literature and culture teaching methodology and theory in connection with the current National curriculum for primary and secondary education
Forms of teaching and learning
Instruction will be given in lectures, seminars and groups. An Internet-based learning platform will be used to exchange information, hand in assignments and give feedback.
Practical training/internship
Work placement is an integrated part of the course and is carried out in close cooperation with the student, the teaching mentor and the course teachers. The students are to have a 10-15 day placement in school (depending on how much practice they have had / will be having during the course of their study program).
Coursework requirements - conditions for taking the exam
Two essays to be handed in before an agreed deadline.
Approved coursework requirements can be used again at a new exam within one year from the first exam.
Coursework has to be submitted and approved before a student may take the final exam.
Examination
Individual written examination, 5 hours
Permitted aids: English-English dictionary.
Both language and content count.
Assessment is on the A-F grading scale, where A is the best mark, E is the lowest pass mark and F means failed.
Course evaluation
To improve the course, we need the evaluations from the students. The course is evaluated by the students in the middle of the semester and in the end of the semester.
The evaluations from the students are treated by the staff, the head of studies and the committee for programme quality and internationalization.
Literature
GENERAL
Duncan, R. & Goddard. J. Contemporary America (Latest edition).
Griffith, K. (2002). Writing Essays about Literature
Myklevold, G.A m.fl. Kompendium: Culture Studies - Spring (Tilgjengelig på Fronter).
NOVELS
Dumas, Firoozeh. Funny in Farsi.
Safran-Foer, Jonathan. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.
Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye.
Walker, Alice. The Color Purple.
In additon students choose two of the following books:
Baum, L.F. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Burnett, F.H. The Secret Garden
Hinton, S. The Outsiders
Horowitz, Anthony. Stormbreaker. The Graphic Novel.
Keene, C. Password to Larkspur Lane (or another Nancy Drew book)
Meyer, S. Twilight
Montgomery, L.M. Anne of Green Gables
All materials handed out in connection with classes and/or published on the Internet learning platform Fronter are considered to be part of the syllabus. All students must in addition have access to an English-English dictionary, for example Collins Cobuild Dictionary, Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary or another dictionary aimed at users who are not native speakers of English (Learner's dictionaries).