GAUHATI UNIVERSITY: FYUGP SEMESTER II
AEC (ENGLISH COMMUNICATION) SYLLABUS
TOTAL CREDITS - 4
This introductory course in English Communication is designed to equip students from all disciplines with the basics of English Communication skills both written and spoken in a variety of real-life situations. To this end, the graduates are expected to acquire, by the end of this course, a comprehensive knowledge of the theory and practical application of communication, especially in English, and to develop communication skills that are crucial to their personal, social and professional interactions. The communicative ability of the graduates will reflect their acquisition of digital and technological skills imparted through the necessary inclusion of information and communication technology while teaching.
COURSE OUTCOMES:
After completing the course the students will be able to:
CO1: Define and describe the process of communication and apply it to speak with confidence and clarity in both formal and informal situations.
CO2: Identify and explain the different purposes for listening in both academic and other contexts.
CO3: Apply appropriate conventions of intonation, stress and rhythm to speak English with intelligibility and perform different language functions.
CO4: Distinguish purpose, gist and intent of English when spoken and participate in formal and informal conversations adequately.
CO5: Produce complex structures, idiomatic language and integrate them with nonverbal aspects of communication to clearly articulate facts, ideas and opinions in English.
UNIT I: UNDERSTANDING COMMUNICATION (Credit - 1)
It is important for everyone to understand what communication involves in order to improve communication skills. In this section the aim is to introduce the students to the basics of communication:
The process of communication
Types of communication: verbal-non-verbal, oral-written, formal-informal, modern forms of communication
Qualities of effective communication: reading, listening intelligently, thinking and planning, using appropriate language, using appropriate channel, intercultural sensitivity, showing empathy, not prejudging, clarity, avoiding distractions, showing respect
Barriers to effective communication
UNIT II: LISTENING AND SPEAKING (Credit - 1)
In this unit, students will be acquainted with the attributes of effective speech like confidence, clarity, audibility, appropriate body language, intonation, etc., and will acquire practice in listening and speaking in a variety of formal and informal settings. Listening enhances our understanding and enables us to process ideas and arguments better. It sharpens our ability to empathize with others, which is a critical factor in effective communication. Students will be trained to acquire the following skills:
Familiarity with English sounds, stress and intonation
Understanding the main idea
Listening for detailed and specific information
Understanding the speaker's intent and attitude
Introducing oneself and others
Asking for clarification, giving directions/instructions
Expressing gratitude, making requests, congratulating, apologizing, etc.
Agreeing/disagreeing, sharing opinions, etc.
The above skills will be applied in the following settings:
Describing an idea, scenario, picture, etc.
Group Discussion: Articulate views in group situations and act as group leaders
Interviews: Mock interviews for formal interview skills (face-to-face, telephonic, virtual)
Oral presentations: Using ICT and verbal communication
Public speaking: Practice in speaking before an audience
Interpersonal skills in speaking: Expression of opinions, feelings, using tone, politeness, gestures, and postures
UNIT III: READING (Credit - 1)
Reading is an essential skill in making communication effective. Reading enables the acquisition of new words and expressions which enrich vocabulary and tightens sentence structure. The development of reading is foundational in building comprehension skills. Literary texts from diverse contexts will be used.
Texts:
Carl Sagan: "Growing up with Science Fiction"
Shirley Jackson: "The Lottery"
A.G. Gardiner: "On Saying Please"
Focus Areas:
Close reading: Detailed examination of structure, style, and meaning
Comprehension: Understanding and processing texts
Analysis and interpretation
Anticipating, predicting, and personalizing ideas in the text
Paraphrasing
Building vocabulary from context
Reading for main ideas and supporting details
Locating specific information in a text
UNIT IV: WRITING (Credit - 1)
Writing skills are as crucial as reading, listening, and speaking. Students will be trained in:
Using grammar and punctuation appropriately
Generating ideas
Building sentences and paragraphs
Understanding text styles
Summarizing and note taking
Forms of writing to be practiced:
Report-writing (types, structure, features)
Letter writing (types, parts, emails, essentials)
Memos and circulars
Agendas and minutes
PowerPoint Presentation
Scientific and technical writing
REFERENCE BOOKS & MATERIALS:
Alley, Michael. The Craft of Scientific Writing (Fourth Edition). Springer, 2018
Bandopadhyay, Debashish, and Malathy Krishnan. Connect: A Course in Communicative English. Cambridge University Press, 2018
Brown, K. & Hood, S. Academic Encounters: Intermediate to High Intermediate. Cambridge University Press, 2002
Doff, A. & Jones, C. Language in Use: Intermediate Classroom Book. Cambridge University Press, 2004
Jones, L. Cambridge Advanced English: Student's Book. Cambridge University Press, 1988
Locker, Kitty O., and Stephen Kyo Kaczmarek. Business Communication: Building Critical Skills, Third Edition. McGraw Hill Education, 2017 (rpt)
Soars, J. & Soars, L. New Headway: Intermediate. Oxford University Press, 2012
Tamuli, A. English Language for Undergraduate Students. Cambridge University Press, 2019
Taylor, Shirley. Communication for Business: A Practical Approach (Fourth Edition). Pearson, 2009
Thaine, C. Cambridge Academic English: B1+ Intermediate Student's Book. Cambridge University Press, 2012
Turk, Christopher, and John Kirkman. Effective Writing: Improving scientific, technical and business communication, Second Edition. Taylor and Francis, 1989
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