College English: Exploring Multiculturalism

Author: Wang Zhengyuan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-09-01
Features: The purpose of this book is "to cultivate students' English abilities," and it follows the teaching philosophy of "task-based learning." College English for Competence is based on the writing concept of "task-based learning," viewing students as individuals who use language to complete tasks rather than just learners. In this series of textbooks, students engage in learning by assuming specific roles. Each unit revolves around a specific topic (as defined in the Task) and trains students' language communicative abilities in five aspects: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and translation.
1. The Task of each unit serves as the overall guide for the course, embodying the essence of the lesson. For example, in College English for Competence I, there is a unit titled: Unit 11: Tipping Around the World (An Overview of Tipping Customs). We assume that students play the role of a tour guide in the text. In this unit, the tasks include exploring the origins of tipping customs, informing tourists on how to tip for different services, and understanding the differences in tipping customs around the world.
2. Listening content for the Tipping unit: Listen to a news report about tipping customs.
3. Speaking content for the Tipping unit:
- Situational Dialogue 1: Engage in a dialogue based on the news report.
- Situational Dialogue 2: Answer tourists' questions about tipping customs in Southeast Asian countries.
- Role-play Activities: Discuss Western tipping customs with a British tour guide.
4. Reading content for the Tipping unit: Read an article about tipping etiquette in different countries.
5. Writing content for the Tipping unit: Write a section for a travel guidebook on how to tip in Southeast Asian restaurants.
6. Translation content for the Tipping unit: Translate an article about the differences in tipping customs around the world.
Guided by the spirit of the Ministry of Education's 2004 Teaching Requirements for College English (Trial Edition), this series of optional college English textbooks for competence-based learning was co-authored by key universities across the country to ensure a continuous four-year college English learning experience for students. College English for Competence is based on the concept of "task-based learning," emphasizing pragmatic behavior principles. Each unit focuses on a specific topic and trains students' language communicative abilities in five aspects: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and translation. Each book is accompanied by an audio CD.
College English for Competence – Exploring Multiculturalism II covers lively and engaging cultural topics such as lifestyles, cartoons, art, pets, music, sports, families, and customs, with a total of 15 units. This book is suitable as a textbook for senior non-English majors in undergraduate programs and can also be used for self-study.