i. Course Title: SC 100- COMMUNICATION SKILLS I
ii. Course aim: This course is intended to promote the development of all English language skills (i.e. reading, writing, speaking and listening) using communicative methodologies. The use of communicative practices will enable students to engage in meaningful communication. Students will interact with the spoken language in variety of settings from the casual speech of everyday conversation to the academic content of classroom lectures that focus on targeted grammar structures and be able to relate the target grammar to real life situations.
iii. Course Expected Course Outcomes
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
· Interpret the meaning of the tenses and aspects of English verbs and use them to communicate appropriately in context.
· Identify the structure of noun phrases and their elements and construct noun phrases accurately in context.
· Interpret the meaning of the various word orders possible in English (active, passive, question types) and use them to communicate accurately in context.
· Create accurate sentences of various types (simple, compound, complex using noun and adverb clauses) and use them to communicate appropriately in context.
· Connect sentences appropriately by using logical markers to communicate appropriately in context.
· Interpret the meaning of modals to express ability, obligation, necessity, making conclusions, degrees of certainty and use them to communicate appropriately in context.
iv. Course Status:
Elective
v. Credit Rating:
0 Credits
vi. Total hours spent
75 hours
Lectures
30 hrs
Seminars
20 hrs
Assignments
10 hrs
Independent Study
15 hrs
Practical
00 hrs
Pre-requisite:
None
vii. Course Contents
Nouns: Functions of noun phrases (Subject Object, Comp) in context; articles (definite, indefinite), quantifiers with mass and count nouns (quantifiers for amounts and quantity); pronouns (relative, personal, reflexive); awareness of noun word form suffixes Verbs: Verbs and verbs phrases in context; create sentences using verbs and verb phrases; subject-verb agreement in writing and speaking; distinguish between finite and non-finite verbs (structure, function) in context; identify and use tenses (present and past) and aspects (continuous, perfect); identify and use tenses to talk about future time (will, going to, present continuous); interpret the meaning and use of modals in context to express ability, obligation, necessity, making conclusions, degrees of certainty in writing and speaking sentence structure: Word order in active sentences; word order for why-questions and yes/no questions; subject/object complements; adverbials; various types of phrases and clauses in active structure; word order in passive sentences; connectors to create simple, compound and complex sentences; noun clauses; use and meaning of logical markers which have been used in a text, use of logical markers in writing coherent paragraphs
viii. Teaching and learning activities
Class discussions, Problem-based learning, Debates and Role-play
ix. Assessment Methods
Course Work: 40% (at least 2 assignments and 2 theoretical tests). End of University examinations: 60%.
x. Reading List
-Mafu S.T.A, Mohamed H.I and Neke S.M. (2003) Improve your Communication- SUA Morogoro.
-Martin James R. and David R. (2003), Working with Discourse: Meaning beyond the clause. London: Continuum.
-Mohamed H.I. (2002) Learn to Communicate Effectively, Mzumbe –Morogoro: Mzumbe Book Project.
-Mohamed H.I. (2008). Grammar and Mechanics of Writing in academics: A University Handbook. Mzumbe –Morogoro: Mzumbe Book Project.
-Shumbusho G.N. (1999), Academic Writing: A reference Guide, Mzumbe –Morogoro: Mzumbe Book Project.