Modern English Course 4

Author: Lou Guangqing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: This book is a suitable textbook for second and third-year adult higher education students. The compilers, based on the characteristics of adult English education and their teaching experience, strive to learn from the strengths of other similar textbooks to form their own unique features. The book is arranged in the order of textbook texts, writing, and reading, and includes exercises closely linked to the content, allowing teachers to complete teaching tasks within the designated class hours, guiding students to fully grasp the texts, deepen their understanding, and apply what they have learned. This book is the fourth volume of the Modern English Course series, edited by Professor Lou Guangqing, designed for non-English majors in adult higher education. It is written by Lou Guangqing, Feng Guohua from the Adult Education College of Beijing Foreign Studies University, and Wang Chenming from Beijing Xicheng Economics and Science University.
Content of the Textbook:
1. Pre-reading: Briefly explains the genre knowledge and background information related to the texts. It also recommends relevant reference materials, such as dictionaries, to facilitate students' self-study. Specific pre-reading requirements are provided in terms of listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
2. Text: Primarily organized around genres, including narrative, descriptive, expository, argumentative, and applied writing.
3. Writing: Corresponds to the texts or reading materials, briefly introduces writing knowledge for the respective genres, and provides specific writing requirements.
4. Translation: Systematically proposes basic ideas and specific content for cultivating translation skills in adult English teaching, accompanied by corresponding exercises for practical application.
5. Reading: Matches the length of the Text and includes reading comprehension exercises. Review points are provided after each lesson. A glossary is appended at the end. Reference answers for exercises, reference translations for texts, dictation materials, and three sets of test questions are included in the accompanying Teaching Guide and Exercises.
Unique Features of the Book:
Focusing on the characteristics of adult English education and combining past teaching experience, we strive to learn from the strengths of other similar textbooks to form our own unique features.
1. A textbook system with genres as the main thread and translation as a secondary thread
- Genres as the main thread refers to the arrangement of textbook texts, writing, and reading in the order of genres. The advantages of this approach are twofold:
First, it helps cultivate students' comprehensive reading skills. In this textbook, students can read articles of different genres, which not only broadens their reading scope but also improves their English appreciation level to a certain extent.
Second, it enhances students' writing skills. Writing is a long-standing challenge in English teaching, especially in adult education, where teachers often avoid it. We believe that writing is difficult but not unteachable or unlearnable. The textbook briefly explains writing methods for different genres and provides writing requirements for teachers to choose from.
- Translation as a secondary thread means cultivating translation skills as another key focus. We break away from the traditional framework of translation exercises based solely on textbook content. The translation explanations and exercises form their own system, covering principles and specific techniques, with corresponding exercises. They are easy to understand and practical, avoiding pretentiousness and emphasizing real practice rather than theoretical discussions. Additionally, sentence translation exercises are designed around key vocabulary from the texts.
- Using translation as a secondary thread enriches the textbook and clarifies teaching objectives.
2. Carefully selected text materials and well-designed exercises
To implement the above basic ideas in the textbook, under the leadership of the chief editor, we conducted extensive and meticulous work in selecting materials. We always adhere to the following criteria for selection:
1) Choose original texts with appropriate difficulty and length. The sources of selected texts, whether used as lessons or reading materials, must be clearly indicated. This helps maintain the authenticity of the original texts and facilitates further self-study by users.
2) Pay attention to the diversity of text themes. The content of this book covers letters, correspondence, natural sciences, economics, literature, etc., with 40% being humanities-related and 60% non-humanities-related.
3) Strictly follow the relevant regulations of the "Basic Requirements" and the overall requirements set by the chief editor. Selected materials must meet all these conditions; otherwise, they are not considered.
Compiling a textbook is key, and we place great importance on it, investing significant time and effort. To find a suitable text or reading material, we often sift through hundreds of original sources. Exercises are provided after the texts, writing, translation, and reading sections, designed to be diverse, concise, and closely linked to the content, allowing teachers to complete teaching tasks within designated class hours and guide students to fully grasp the texts, deepen their understanding, and apply what they have learned.
3. Emphasis on practicality and utility
Throughout the compilation process, we prioritize the practicality of the textbook, ensuring it is accepted by users and achieves the desired teaching objectives. After completing each lesson, we conduct trial lectures to identify and resolve issues promptly. We focus on the systematic nature of the textbook, with genres serving as the main thread to connect all lessons. Translation is both self-contained and coordinated with translation exercises after each lesson. Each lesson begins with pre-reading requirements and ends with review points, covering the entire process of English learning. The three volumes focus on cultivating higher comprehensive reading and translation skills, moderately improving writing and speaking skills, aligning with the realities of adult English teaching and demonstrating strong practicality. The textbook is closely tied to real social life and lays a solid foundation for students to further enhance their English proficiency.