Course Objectives

The aim of the course is to provide students with insight into the most essential features of English grammar, the English sound-system and the historical development of the English language. A further aim is to provide students with the skills needed to speak and write grammatically and idiomatically correct English in a variety of situations. The students will also become acquainted with the most common errors made by Norwegian speakers of English, with respect to both linguistics and pronunciation, and how they can best be corrected. A course of study including both 2005 Introduction to the English Language and 2006 Sounds and Structures of the English Language will provide both specialised competence on the subject of ‘English Language’ in primary and secondary schools, and provide the necessary entrance requirements for advanced courses in university colleges and universities.

Course Description

The course will provide a general understanding of the sound-system of the English language and a basic introduction to grammatical structures and how the language is organised. In addition, the instruction includes a short summary of how the language has developed as well as an introduction to variants of English worldwide. An important element of 2005 Introduction to the English Language is how students may use the themes from the course in teaching situations.

Learning Methods

Lectures and seminars. 5 hours of instruction weekly. Autumn semester.
In the lectures, the individual themes will be clarified and examined. In the seminar lessons, the students will be given an opportunity to work with specific themes. The ongoing assessment of the students will be based on written assignments and/or verbal presentations. The final examination will focus in particular on syllabus material covered in the lectures and seminars. An attendance rate of at least 80% is required for the seminars.

Assessment Methods

Assessment during the course will include tests and/or the submission of written work, which will constitute 40% of the final grade. The final examination (written or oral) will count for 60%. Students must achieve passing marks in both the ongoing assessment and the final examination in order to earn a final passing grade.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean