JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD

Overview

The English Language Communication Skills (ELCS) Lab focuses on the production and practice of sounds of language and familiarizes the students with the use of English in everyday situations both in formal and informal contexts.

Course Objectives:

• To facilitate computer-assisted multi-media instruction enabling individualized and independent language learning
• To sensitize the students to the nuances of English speech sounds, word accent, intonation and rhythm
• To bring about a consistent accent and intelligibility in students’ pronunciation of English by providing an opportunity for practice in speaking
• To improve the fluency of students in spoken English and neutralize their mother tongue influence
• To train students to use language appropriately for public speaking, group discussions and interviews

Course Outcomes

Students will be able to attain:

• Better understanding of nuances of English language through audio- visual experience and group activities
• Neutralization of accent for intelligibility
• Speaking skills with clarity and confidence which in turn enhances their employability skills. Syllabus: English Language Communication Skills Lab (ELCS) shall have two parts:
• Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) Lab
• Interactive Communication Skills (ICS) Lab Listening Skills: Objectives:
• To enable students develop their listening skills so that they may appreciate the role in the LSRW skills approach to language and improve their pronunciation
• To equip students with necessary training in listening, so that they can comprehend the speech of people of different backgrounds and regions. Students should be given practice in listening to the sounds of the language, to be able to recognize them and find the distinction between different sounds, to be able to mark stress and recognize and use the right intonation in sentences.
• Listening for general content
• Listening to fill up information
• Intensive listening
• Listening for specific information Speaking Skills: Objectives
• To involve students in speaking activities in various contexts
• To enable students express themselves fluently and appropriately in social and professional contexts :
• Oral practice
• Describing objects/situations/people
• Role play – Individual/Group activities
• Just A Minute (JAM) Sessions. The following course content is prescribed for the English Language Communication Skills Lab. Exercise – I CALL Lab: Understand: Listening Skill- Its importance – Purpose- Process- Types- Barriers- Effective Listening. Practice: Introduction to Phonetics – Speech Sounds – Vowels and Consonants – Minimal Pairs- Consonant Clusters- Past Tense Marker and Plural Marker. Testing Exercises ICS Lab: Understand: Spoken vs. Written language- Formal and Informal English. Practice: Ice-Breaking Activity and JAM Session- Situational Dialogues – Greetings – Taking Leave – Introducing Oneself and Others. Exercise – II CALL Lab: Understand: Structure of Syllables – Word Stress– Weak Forms and Strong Forms – Sentence Stress – Intonation. Practice: Basic Rules of Word Accent - Stress Shift - Weak Forms and Strong Forms- Sentence Stress – Intonation. Testing Exercises ICS Lab: Understand: Features of Good Conversation – Strategies for Effective Communication. Practice: Situational Dialogues – Role-Play- Expressions in Various Situations –Making Requests and Seeking Permissions - Telephone Etiquette. Exercise - III CALL Lab: Understand: Errors in Pronunciation-the Influence of Mother Tongue (MTI). Practice: Common Indian Variants in Pronunciation – Differences between British and American Pronunciation. Testing Exercises ICS Lab: Understand: Descriptions- Narrations- Giving Directions and Guidelines. Practice: Giving Instructions – Seeking Clarifications – Asking for and Giving Directions – Thanking and Responding – Agreeing and Disagreeing – Seeking and Giving Advice – Making Suggestions. Exercise – IV CALL Lab: Understand: Listening for General Details. Practice: Listening Comprehension Tests. Testing Exercises ICS Lab: Understand: Public Speaking – Exposure to Structured Talks - Non-verbal Communication- Presentation Skills. Practice: Making a Short Speech – Extempore- Making a Presentation. Exercise – V CALL Lab: Understand: Listening for Specific Details. Practice: Listening Comprehension Tests. Testing Exercises ICS Lab: Understand: Group Discussion- Interview Skills. Practice: Group Discussion- Mock Interviews. Minimum Requirement of infrastructural facilities for ELCS Lab:
• 1. Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) Lab: The Computer Assisted Language Learning Lab has to accommodate 40 students with 40 systems, with one Master Console, LAN facility and English language learning software for self- study by students. System Requirement (Hardware component): Computer network with LAN facility (minimum 40 systems with multimedia) with the following specifications: Computers with Suitable Configuration High Fidelity Headphones
• 2. Interactive Communication Skills (ICS) Lab: The Interactive Communication Skills Lab: A Spacious room with movable chairs and audio-visual aids with a Public Address System, a T. V. or LCD, a digital stereo –audio & video system and camcorder etc. Prescribed Lab Manuals:
• 1. A book entitled “ELCS Lab Manual – A Workbook for CALL and ICS Lab Activities” by Board of Editors: Hyderabad: Orient BlackSwan Pvt. Ltd. 2016. Print.
• 2. Hart, Steve; Nair, Aravind R.; Bhambhani, Veena. “EMBARK- English for undergraduates” Delhi: Cambridge University Press. 2016. Print. Suggested Software:
• 1. Cambridge Advanced Learners’ English Dictionary with CD.
• 2. Grammar Made Easy by Darling Kindersley.
• 3. Punctuation Made Easy by Darling Kindersley.
• 4. Oxford Advanced Learner’s Compass, 8th Edition.
• 5. English in Mind (Series 1-4), Herbert Puchta and Jeff Stranks with Meredith Levy, Cambridge.
• 6. English Pronunciation in Use (Elementary, Intermediate, Advanced) Cambridge University Press.
• 7. TOEFL & GRE (KAPLAN, AARCO & BARRONS, USA, Cracking GRE by CLIFFS).

References:

• 1. Jayashree Mohanraj. Let Us Hear Them Speak. New Delhi: Sage Texts. 2015. Print.
• 2. Hancock, M. English Pronunciation in Use. Intermediate Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2009. Print.