230504 Speaking (S) (WiSe 2007/2008)

Please note that participation in this class is restricted to students of English!

"We have learned to discuss the American Dream and to interpret Shakespeare, but if people ask me to direct them to the train station, I am completely at a loss."

To mend this frequent complaint of students starting to study English is the aim of the speaking class. It is a chance to improve on vocabulary, pronunciation and appropriate register when speaking English. Much more important, though, is its aim to loosen your tongue and get you into the habit of speaking this foreign language freely and with confidence. A number of classroom activities dealing with common, everyday situations will challenge you into practising long-buried vocabulary. One focus will be placed on speaking skills in more specialised surroundings, such as discussions and presentations, which you might use in other seminars, as well. Another major topic will be the question of politeness and its impact on your dealing with the language and culture of an English-speaking country.

Apart from general participation, your progress will be assessed via at least one presentation, a pronunciation task and a short one-to-one final conversation towards the end of term.