English - One-year programme

ONE-YEAR PROGRAMME IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE (60 ESP)

ONE-YEAR PROGRAMME IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE FOR TEACHERS (60 ESP)

The programme is designed for students who want to improve their knowledge of English and practical language skills. It includes linguistic, literary and cultural studies relating to English-speaking countries. English is now the most widely used international language in diplomacy, the professions, industry and research, and individuals and organizations working in these contexts need such knowledge and skills.

The study of English Language and Literature is designed to enhance students' awareness of the Anglo-American cultural heritage, which is also part of modern Norwegian heritage. This programme is designed to add a wider perspective to our common legacy of knowledge, values and culture. Since English is an important language in substantial parts of Africa and Asia, knowledge of English will often make it possible to gain insights into cultures in these parts of the world.

Content

The one-year programme in English Language and Literature will give a general introduction to the English Language, Literature in English, and American and British civilization. The programme will give an introduction to terminology relating to linguistics and literary criticism.

Aims

The programme aims at increasing students' ability to discuss essential questions within the areas of knowledge described above and to communicate the results of their work in an organized and systematic way. Coursework is also intended to improve students' general oral and written skills.

Formal qualifications

The one-year programme in English language and literature will qualify students to enter more advanced programmes in English and in other subjects where such qualifications are relevant. The skills acquired through the one-year programme in English language and literature will be useful in all professions where there is a demand for English language proficiency.

A teaching certificate in addition to the successful completion of the one-year programme in English language and literature is a qualification for teaching in Norwegian schools at the levels specified by the relevant regulations.

Recommended educational background

The most advanced English courses in Norwegian secondary schools, or a similar educational background.

Teaching methods

Lectures, seminars, group work, oral and written practice.

Study tour

The study programme normally includes an optional two-week period of study at the Norwegian Study Centre in the University of York, England.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

• By the end of the course, students are expected to have acquired knowledge about:
• The elements of English sentence construction
• Structure, precision and features of connected speech in written texts
• The English sound system, including intonation patterns and their functions
• The main differences between British and American pronunciation, based on the model accents Received Pronunciation (RP) and General American (GA)
• Problem areas for Norwegian learners of English connected to grammar and pronunciation
• The diverse literary traditions of America and Britain.
• The relationship between the American literary tradition and its social, cultural, and historical contexts.
• Literary mediations of important historical events and sociocultural debates
• The literary, historical and cultural frameworks that pre-modern and contemporary texts emerge from, including esthetics, underpinnings, thoughts and trends in English literature from the pre-Conquest period up to the present

Skills

By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to:

• Use varied and precise language in terms of sentence types and connected Speech
• Utilize terminology correctly to analyze and describe English grammar and language use
• Read and produce phonemic transcriptions, and explain how English sounds are made
• Explain the basic functions of English intonation and pronunciation, including the differences between the two model accents RP and GA
• Explain why some aspects of English pronunciation are difficult for students with English as a foreign language, with particular emphasis on students with Norwegian as their first language
• Analyze and understand literature written in English from diverse perspectives and multiple historical periods and literary genres
• Interpret texts by conducting close readings and deploying relevant techniques and terms from literary studies
• Explain the sociocultural significance of the selected texts and authors
• Identify relevant trends and movements that distinguish different literary periods in English-speaking countries throughout history

General competence

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

• Use varied sentence types and express themselves in a clear, concise and accurate manner about English language, literature and culture
• Use their knowledge about English phonetics and phonology to improve their own pronunciation, to continue with further studies within language and linguistics, and in teaching
• Understand how English accents vary and change
• Understand, discuss and contextualize literary texts written in English
• Employ correct academic English language