English for arts and social sciences
TAMIL NADU STATE COUNCIL FOR HIGHER EDUCATION (TANSCHE)
1
, SYLLABUS
PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH FOR ARTS & SOCIAL SCIENCES
OBJECTIVES:
• To develop the language skills of students by offering adequate practice in
professional contexts.
• To enhance the lexical, grammatical and socio-linguistic and
communicative competence of first year physical sciences students
• To focus on developing students’ knowledge of domain specific registers
and the required language skills.
• To develop strategic competence that will help in efficient communication
• To sharpen students’ critical thinking skills and make students culturally
aware of the target situation.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
• Recognise their own ability to improve their own competence in using the
language
• Use language for speaking with confidence in an intelligible and
acceptable manner
• Understand the importance of reading for life
• Read independently unfamiliar texts with comprehension
• Understand the importance of writing in academic life
• Write simple sentences without committing error of spelling or grammar
(Outcomes based on guidelines in UGC LOCF – Generic Elective)
NB: All four skills are taught based on texts/passages.
UNIT 1: COMMUNICATION
Listening: Listening to audio text and answering questions
- Listening to Instructions
Speaking: Pair work and small group work.
Reading: Comprehension passages –Differentiate between facts and opinion
Writing: Developing a story with pictures.
Vocabulary: Register specific - Incorporated into the LSRW tasks
UNIT 2: DESCRIPTION
Listening: Listening to process description.-Drawing a flow chart.
Speaking: Role play (formal context)
Reading: Skimming/Scanning-
Reading passages on products, equipment and gadgets.
Writing: Process Description –Compare and Contrast
Paragraph-Sentence Definition and Extended definition-
2
, Free Writing.
Vocabulary: Register specific -Incorporated into the LSRW tasks.
UNIT 3: NEGOTIATION STRATEGIES
Listening: Listening to interviews of specialists / Inventors in fields
(Subject specific)
Speaking: Brainstorming. (Mind mapping).
Small group discussions (Subject- Specific)
Reading: Longer Reading text.
Writing: Essay Writing (250 words)
Vocabulary: Register specific - Incorporated into the LSRW tasks
UNIT 4: PRESENTATION SKILLS
Listening: Listening to lectures.
Speaking: Short talks.
Reading: Reading Comprehension passages
Writing: Writing Recommendations
Interpreting Visuals inputs
Vocabulary: Register specific - Incorporated into the LSRW tasks
UNIT 5: CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS
Listening: Listening comprehension- Listening for information.
Speaking: Making presentations (with PPT- practice).
Reading : Comprehension passages –Note making.
Comprehension: Motivational article on Professional Competence,
Professional Ethics and Life Skills)
Writing: Problem and Solution essay– Creative writing –Summary writing
Vocabulary: Register specific - Incorporated into the LSRW tasks
3
, Contents
Units Page No.
Unit 1 8 – 29
Unit 2
30- 52
Unit 3
53-69
Unit 4
70-81
Unit 5
82-106
4
TAMIL NADU STATE COUNCIL FOR HIGHER EDUCATION (TANSCHE)
1
, SYLLABUS
PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH FOR ARTS & SOCIAL SCIENCES
OBJECTIVES:
• To develop the language skills of students by offering adequate practice in
professional contexts.
• To enhance the lexical, grammatical and socio-linguistic and
communicative competence of first year physical sciences students
• To focus on developing students’ knowledge of domain specific registers
and the required language skills.
• To develop strategic competence that will help in efficient communication
• To sharpen students’ critical thinking skills and make students culturally
aware of the target situation.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
• Recognise their own ability to improve their own competence in using the
language
• Use language for speaking with confidence in an intelligible and
acceptable manner
• Understand the importance of reading for life
• Read independently unfamiliar texts with comprehension
• Understand the importance of writing in academic life
• Write simple sentences without committing error of spelling or grammar
(Outcomes based on guidelines in UGC LOCF – Generic Elective)
NB: All four skills are taught based on texts/passages.
UNIT 1: COMMUNICATION
Listening: Listening to audio text and answering questions
- Listening to Instructions
Speaking: Pair work and small group work.
Reading: Comprehension passages –Differentiate between facts and opinion
Writing: Developing a story with pictures.
Vocabulary: Register specific - Incorporated into the LSRW tasks
UNIT 2: DESCRIPTION
Listening: Listening to process description.-Drawing a flow chart.
Speaking: Role play (formal context)
Reading: Skimming/Scanning-
Reading passages on products, equipment and gadgets.
Writing: Process Description –Compare and Contrast
Paragraph-Sentence Definition and Extended definition-
2
, Free Writing.
Vocabulary: Register specific -Incorporated into the LSRW tasks.
UNIT 3: NEGOTIATION STRATEGIES
Listening: Listening to interviews of specialists / Inventors in fields
(Subject specific)
Speaking: Brainstorming. (Mind mapping).
Small group discussions (Subject- Specific)
Reading: Longer Reading text.
Writing: Essay Writing (250 words)
Vocabulary: Register specific - Incorporated into the LSRW tasks
UNIT 4: PRESENTATION SKILLS
Listening: Listening to lectures.
Speaking: Short talks.
Reading: Reading Comprehension passages
Writing: Writing Recommendations
Interpreting Visuals inputs
Vocabulary: Register specific - Incorporated into the LSRW tasks
UNIT 5: CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS
Listening: Listening comprehension- Listening for information.
Speaking: Making presentations (with PPT- practice).
Reading : Comprehension passages –Note making.
Comprehension: Motivational article on Professional Competence,
Professional Ethics and Life Skills)
Writing: Problem and Solution essay– Creative writing –Summary writing
Vocabulary: Register specific - Incorporated into the LSRW tasks
3
, Contents
Units Page No.
Unit 1 8 – 29
Unit 2
30- 52
Unit 3
53-69
Unit 4
70-81
Unit 5
82-106
4
