English Language Learning through Literature

Course Description

This course will teach you English from its soul : Literature!

Each English course on the Internet makes tall promises. This one does not.

This course includes study of texts from English literature. That’s quite literally like learning English from its soul. The following 4 literary works will be discussed:

• ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’ by Ernest Hemingway - A Classical War Romance
• ‘The Other Side of Truth’ by Beverly Naidoo - Carnegie Medal Winning work on life of two refugees from Nigeria in London
• ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens - a Victorian era Novella which became symbolic of indictment of 19th century industrial capitalism
• ‘‘The Joy Luck Club’ by Lindo Jong - published in around 35 languages internationally remained a New York bestseller for a long time

How will we study?

• Through culture, history and politics: These texts are from a variety of cultures, for example, British, Chinese and African. These texts include both modern and classic works. We will study the cultural, political and historical backgrounds to the events taking place. You will research these situations or events.
• Personalisation: A common theme of the texts is one of “belonging”. How do the characters feel that they are outsiders in the context of their story? Some are immigrants or refugees, another has shut himself away from society, while another tries to put his ideals into practice. You will relate these experiences to your own lives in a sensitive and non-threatening atmosphere.
• Language study: Through studying a variety of English, you will appreciate the way language can be used to create emotion, drama etc. You will also look at examples of non-standard English and idiomatic language, giving you the opportunity to expand your own writing skills.

While this course is not specifically exam based, it will certainly help students studying for Cambridge and IELTS exams!

What will you acquire after completing this course?

• Improvement in your reading skills
• Improvement in your listening and speaking skills
• Improvement in asking and answering about personal information in relation to the texts
• You will also improve your narrative writing skills and develop self-study skills using the Internet

The course will also emphasize self-study through web quests, writing about your own experiences, researching blogs, making questionnaires, book reviews, learning diary and define your personal interests!

The level will cover upper-intermediate and advanced lexical grammar and vocabulary structures, collocation and idiomatic and non-standard language.

What’s in the course?

• 12 Recorded videos
• English language through literature: Introductory class
• English language through literature: Introductory class (repeat)
• For whom the bell tolls: Learning English through literature
• For whom the bell tolls: Learning English through literature (repeat)
• The other side of truth by Beverley Naidoo, English language through literature
• The other side of truth repeat class (repeat)
• The joy luck club by Amy Tan
• Charles Dickers: English language through literature
• Repeat class: The joy luck club (repeat)
• Watching the English: Cat Fox
• Natalia: Catch up Charles Dickens and watching the English
• A book review
• Access to 20 Word Documents
• 6 online tests

Course outline:

The course is based on the study of extracts from texts in English Extracts:

• For Whom the Bell Tolls: Ernest Hemingway
• The Other Side of Truth: Beverly Naidoo
• A Christmas Carol: Charles Dickens
• The Joy Luck Club: Lindo Jong