Course description
1. Paragraph Reading Strategies
This course offers opportunities for students to develop reading strategies and apply them for reading efficiency at the paragraph level with complex sentences. Emphasis is on understanding sentence grammatical structures and embedded forms, connectives using context clues, word study skills for discovering meaning of new words and reading for main idea, specific details and supporting details. Students' thinking strategies will also be developed and improved so that they can confidently and independently read any level of texts. The materials used are various texts: description, explanation, exemplification, classification, etc.
2. Reading for Text Interpretation
This course focuses on detecting implied meanings and understanding the development of ideas in sequenced texts. It is intended to promote students' comprehension of complex texts by providing them with opportunities to discuss and interpret for the meaning of texts in various content areas. Students will be exposed to critical reading and thinking strategies such as analyzing texts to identify facts and opinion, fallacies, claims, premises, arguments, inferences, etc. Practice activities include reading prepared texts and other selections from the internet or other sources to develop skills in information seeking where the answers cannot be located in any single phrase or sentence.
3. Thai Traditions and Culture in English
This course introduces Thai geography, the history of Thailand, religions in Thailand, Thai arts, Thai habits and values. The topics also include the general characteristics of traditional Thai culture and the intellectuals of each part of Thailand, and the influence of Buddhism and Christianity on Thai culture. It also explores some religious beliefs, the expression of emotions (for instance - love, anger, fear), codes of behavior (for instance intimacy, privacy, politeness), and ways of life of Thai people in each region. The study is done through reading, writing, translation, summarizing, presentation, conversation and discussion. The materials used are taken from printed matter and electronic media.
4. Language of Literature
This course requires students to study the development of literary language. It offers students the opportunity to read and learn a wide variety of literary forms such as poetry, fiction, and drama. Students will gain an understanding of the basic literary terminology and vocabulary for perceiving literature, namely plots, themes, settings, figurative languages and literary devices etc.. It also emphasizes how critical understanding of literary genres, techniques, and conventions can enhance students’ appreciation of literature and its themes. External reading of various literary texts include those explored by students are required.