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Cultural Competence 1 (10 ECTS)

(LA103ENG-1 1)

Cultural Competence 1 focuses on making the student able to see the value of literature and on preparing the student for using her/his knowledge of literature and civilization in the English classroom. The literature and civilization components of the unit are closely integrated in order to have the mutual benefit of the two aspects. Together with Didactic Competence 1 and Language Competence 1 this unit is designed to develop the student's holistic approach to teaching English as a foreign language and to becoming a good tutor for her/his future pupils in their language development process. In all these three units much emphasis is given to developing the student's oral and written proficiency so that s/he can become a confident language user and thus be a good model in the English classroom.
 
The unit comprises the following main components:

• An introduction to literary analysis
• The history of British literature from the 1600's to the present
• British literature, including children's literature
• British history and geography

Cultural Competence 1 is offered in the autumn term (August-December) and can be taken separately or together with Didactic Competence 1 and/or Language Competence 1. It is organized partly as lectures, partly as seminars. A set of tasks is compulsory, e.g. producing texts in different genres for a portfolio. An e-education platform is used and active participation in the virtual classroom is required.

The compulsory tasks must be acknowledged before the student can sit for the exam. The exam is a written exam covering both British literature and civilization.
 
Reading list:

• Alexander, M. (2000): A History of English Literature, Macmillan
• Griffith jr., K. (2002): Writing Essays about Literature: A Guide and Style Sheet, Harcourt Brace
• McDowall, D. (latest ed): An Illustrated History of Britain, Longman
• Oakland, J. (5th ed 2002): British Civilization: An Introduction, London
• Peck, J. & Coyle, M. (3rd ed 2002): Literary Terms and Criticism, Palgrave
• The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Vol.1 + 2 (6th ed, New York, 1993 or 7th ed 2000)

Plays and novels:

• R. Doyle, The Woman Who Walked into Doors
• J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
• W. Shakespeare, Hamlet

Prose and short stories:

• J. Swift, "A Modest Proposal"
• J. Joyce, "The Dead"
• D. H. Lawrence, "Odor of Chrysanthemums"
• K. Mansfield, "The Voyage"

+ a selection of poems