Class activities

Activities for the second week

Last week, we discussed in class the different typologies and criteria proposed to classify and categorize texts. We made this summary table based on the reading of Karkainen and Pittinen (1997). We also compared this typology to others.

This Monday, we will do the first short story reading activity. This activity is supposed to take us an hour and then we will continue with St.Louis et al. and their exercises on rhetorical functions. If enough time, we will work on two texts more. Please go to the course calendar for a list of materials that you will need to download and bring to classes this week. 

Activities for the first week

Let's start this week by learning about the classification of texts and our own reading processes.

1. Open and download the adult survey of reading attitudes. Please print the survey, read it carefully and complete it. Take the answered survey to our first class.

2. Answer this reading diagnostic test. This test will not be graded, its main purpose is that you and I learn where are you in terms of reading abilities. After taking the test, copy the results (total score and the number of item you got wrong) and send it to my email (camayo.usb@gmail.com). Remember, the score you get is not important and will not affect your course grades.

3. Create your blog and get the first entry. In that post include the following:

• Name, age, city or region you are from.
• Why you chose to study language teaching.
• Self-assessment of your reading skills (are you good at reading? is it difficult for you? what kind of materials do you read more frequently? What was your score in the diagnostic test?)
• Goals (what do you expect to achieve by the end of the course).

Once you have created your blog and first entry, post the link in the comments section of this page or send the link to my email.

4. Download and read the first of our background readings, Karkainen and Pittinen (1997). Read it and be prepared to work on it in class.