Monday, December 11, 2006
English syllabus to teach liberal, human values
* New curriculum to stress improved communication skills
By Irfan Ghauri
ISLAMABAD: The liberal values of tolerance, humanism and peaceful coexistence have been made central to the new English curriculum to be implemented countrywide from the next academic session.
The final draft for the English Language Curriculum for classes IX, X, XI and XII sets the ââ¬Årecognition and practising of values and attributes such as tolerance, humanism, patience, equality, justice, honesty and empathy, relevant for peaceful coexistence between individuals, groups and nations,ââ¬Â as the ââ¬Åfirst benchmarkââ¬Â of the new syllabus.
The draft of the curriculum has been finalised and is being sent to the provinces, which will print textbooks in accordance with its guidelines. ââ¬ÅTo develop and portray through actions a sense of importance of individualsââ¬â¢ worth, simultaneously valuing diversity and equality among people, will be our second benchmark,ââ¬Â an official closely associated with the development of the curriculum told Daily Times.
ââ¬ÅThe students will develop ethical and social attributes and values relevant in a multicultural, civilised society after going though the new curriculum,ââ¬Â the official said. ââ¬ÅUnderstanding and evaluating contemporary social, economic and scientific issues so students can participate in the global society as aware and thinking individuals will be another benchmark of our curriculum.ââ¬Â
According to the curriculum draft for classes IX and X, demonstrating heightened awareness and group discussion and interaction will be key learning outcomes. Students will also be required to learn to offer and respond to greetings, compliments, invitations, introductions and farewells; learn to demonstrate an understanding of ways to show gratitude, apology, anger and impatience; present and explain their point of view clearly; support or modify their opinion with reasons; acknowledge otherââ¬â¢s contributions; agree and disagree politely at appropriate times; share information and ideas; clarify and restate information and ideas; modify a statement made by a peer; negotiate solutions to problems, interpersonal misunderstandings and disputes; express humour through verbal and non verbal means; and use polite forms to negotiate and reach consensus.
The curriculum also aims to improve reading and thinking skills by making students analyse patterns of text organisation. Students will search for, discover and understand a variety of text types though tasks which require multiple reading strategies for comprehension, fluency and enjoyment, say the text guide lines.
ââ¬ÅThey will analyse complex processes, procedures, events, issues and various viewpoints, applying the reading comprehension and thinking strategies. They will also be assigned to gather, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information to use for a variety of purposes including a research project using various aids and study skills.ââ¬Â
The use of dictionaries, libraries, computer catalogues and textual aids will also be taught to grade IX and X students. They will also be taught to analyse short stories, poems, and essays, and make connections between literary texts and their own lives, historical ideas and issues across cultures.
In writing skills, students will be taught to analyse a variety of written discourses to use in their own compositions, techniques for effective text organisation and development, and writing techniques that influence the reader. They will learn writing expository, persuasive and analytical essays and personal narratives to produce a variety of academic and creative texts for different audiences. They will have to plan and draft their writing, revise and edit it for various organisation patterns.
Students will also be asked to demonstrate their speaking skills through formal talks and group presentations.
In the section of ââ¬Åformal and lexical aspects of languageââ¬Â, students will be asked to pronounce new words correctly, and use appropriate stress and intonation patterns in speech. They will learn to recognise grammatical functions and concepts of tense and aspect, and use them in their speech and writing.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\12\11\story_11-12-2006_pg1_1
English syllabus to teach liberal, human values
* New curriculum to stress improved communication skills
By Irfan Ghauri
ISLAMABAD: The liberal values of tolerance, humanism and peaceful coexistence have been made central to the new English curriculum to be implemented countrywide from the next academic session.
The final draft for the English Language Curriculum for classes IX, X, XI and XII sets the ââ¬Årecognition and practising of values and attributes such as tolerance, humanism, patience, equality, justice, honesty and empathy, relevant for peaceful coexistence between individuals, groups and nations,ââ¬Â as the ââ¬Åfirst benchmarkââ¬Â of the new syllabus.
The draft of the curriculum has been finalised and is being sent to the provinces, which will print textbooks in accordance with its guidelines. ââ¬ÅTo develop and portray through actions a sense of importance of individualsââ¬â¢ worth, simultaneously valuing diversity and equality among people, will be our second benchmark,ââ¬Â an official closely associated with the development of the curriculum told Daily Times.
ââ¬ÅThe students will develop ethical and social attributes and values relevant in a multicultural, civilised society after going though the new curriculum,ââ¬Â the official said. ââ¬ÅUnderstanding and evaluating contemporary social, economic and scientific issues so students can participate in the global society as aware and thinking individuals will be another benchmark of our curriculum.ââ¬Â
According to the curriculum draft for classes IX and X, demonstrating heightened awareness and group discussion and interaction will be key learning outcomes. Students will also be required to learn to offer and respond to greetings, compliments, invitations, introductions and farewells; learn to demonstrate an understanding of ways to show gratitude, apology, anger and impatience; present and explain their point of view clearly; support or modify their opinion with reasons; acknowledge otherââ¬â¢s contributions; agree and disagree politely at appropriate times; share information and ideas; clarify and restate information and ideas; modify a statement made by a peer; negotiate solutions to problems, interpersonal misunderstandings and disputes; express humour through verbal and non verbal means; and use polite forms to negotiate and reach consensus.
The curriculum also aims to improve reading and thinking skills by making students analyse patterns of text organisation. Students will search for, discover and understand a variety of text types though tasks which require multiple reading strategies for comprehension, fluency and enjoyment, say the text guide lines.
ââ¬ÅThey will analyse complex processes, procedures, events, issues and various viewpoints, applying the reading comprehension and thinking strategies. They will also be assigned to gather, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information to use for a variety of purposes including a research project using various aids and study skills.ââ¬Â
The use of dictionaries, libraries, computer catalogues and textual aids will also be taught to grade IX and X students. They will also be taught to analyse short stories, poems, and essays, and make connections between literary texts and their own lives, historical ideas and issues across cultures.
In writing skills, students will be taught to analyse a variety of written discourses to use in their own compositions, techniques for effective text organisation and development, and writing techniques that influence the reader. They will learn writing expository, persuasive and analytical essays and personal narratives to produce a variety of academic and creative texts for different audiences. They will have to plan and draft their writing, revise and edit it for various organisation patterns.
Students will also be asked to demonstrate their speaking skills through formal talks and group presentations.
In the section of ââ¬Åformal and lexical aspects of languageââ¬Â, students will be asked to pronounce new words correctly, and use appropriate stress and intonation patterns in speech. They will learn to recognise grammatical functions and concepts of tense and aspect, and use them in their speech and writing.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\12\11\story_11-12-2006_pg1_1