Talking about your curriculum

For high-intermediate and above levels. This exercise assumes all students in the course are enrolled in the same academic program, or are at least all are in the same department.

1. In pairs or small groups, define the courses you are required to complete in order to graduate from your program. Prepare your final list in English.
2. As a class, list the requirements on the board. (Requirements include classes, research projects, internships, etc.)
3. In pairs or small groups, discuss your favorite and least favorite requirements.
4. In your group, discuss the following question: Of your least favorite requirements, which ones, if any, do you think could be discontinued? Which ones, though unpleasant, are in fact very important to your education?
5. In your group, discuss the following question: If you could choose that a class be added to the program, what class would it be? What would it teach you?
6. As a class, groups discuss their conclusions.


 

Follow-up

Debate
This activity assumes that there were differences of opinion for questions 4 and 5, but this is not necessary. Students should be reminded that they should be able to argue a viewpoint even if they do not agree with it.

1. Identify one requirement that elicited strong feelings among the students while discussing questions 4 and 5. Briefly review the different opinions expressed.
2. Create two teams. One team will argue for one viewpoint, while the other will argue in favor of an opposing viewpoint. For example, if some students expressed that English 101 should be dropped from the program because it was too easy, while others argued that it should be kept but reorganized, this can be a basis for a debate.
3. The teams take an appropriate amount of time to develop their arguments. One or two, even three, debaters for each time are selected.
4. The debaters come to the front of the room. The teacher is the moderator.