FALL SEMESTER 2007

DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTICS & AFRICAN STUDIES PROGRAM

THE AFRICAN LANGUAGES PROGRAM 

W 301/701 -- ADVANCED TWI

 

COURSE INFORMATION:

Class Schedules: TR – 11:00A – 12:15A

Instructor: Hannah Essien  

E-mail: hessien@indiana.edu

Office: Ashton – Memorial Hall 217                         

Office Hours: Fridays: 1: 00P – 3:00P

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION (Objectives):

W301/701 and 4th year are the final levels of Twi as a foreign language at IU. Instruction at this level is done in the target language. The course has been structured such as to make students use the language. Basically, it measures students’ ‘performance’ through various class activities.

Secondly, in order to help students expand their vocabulary inventory story books would be read, movies and songs from the language community would be read and listened to, respectively. There will also be host of varied exercises to check students grasp of the grammar of the language, and their ability to express themselves in given communicative situations. Other issues to be embraced in the teaching of this course are the Akan culture and norms of language usage. The course also seeks to incorporate the five language standards: Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons and Communities. At the end of the semester the student is thus expected to attain advanced low.

 

 

EVALUATION:

·         Attendance & In class participation              30%

·         Oral & written quizzes                                 40%

·         Final Exam                                                 30%

 

COURSE MATERIALS:

·         Ma Yεnsua Twi- Peprah, Agyeman

·         Akan Traditional (Ananse) Stories

·         Other related materials

·         Web Culture Project (listening exercises)

·         Sites : http://www.indiana.edu/~twi/

·        http://www.indiana.edu/~twi1/

·        http://www.myjoyonline.com/radio/default.asp         (Adom 106.3 FM)

·        http://www.peacefmonline.com/

COURSE OUTLINE

 

Week 1Social interaction

 

Tues. Aug. 28:              In class: Introductions/course objectives & syllabus

                                    Oral discussion on activities performed during the summer break                                                (Making new friends, traveling etc).

                                    http://www.indiana.edu/~twi1/ 1 1.4

                                    Writing of a short essay in class on those activities.

                                    Homework: Read & prepare a comprehension text

 

Thurs. Aug 30              In class: Oral discussion of text

                                    Comprehension exercises & Translation of text

                                    http://www.indiana.edu/~twi1/ 1 1.6

                                    Homework: Written assignment

 

Week 2 – Different types of Jobs

 

Tues. Sept. 4                 In class: Oral discussion of different types of Jobs

                                    Reading of text on Jobs & identifying new words

                                    http://www.indiana.edu/~twi/working.html

                                    Homework: Comprehension exercise & translation                                                   

Thurs. Sept 6                In class: Studying & applying news words from previous text

                                    http://www.indiana.edu/~twi1/ 6 6.1

                                    Homework: written summary of text

                                                           

 

Week 3 - Different types of Jobs cont’d

                         

Tues. Sep. 11               In class: Oral presentation on a selected job

                                    Followed by discussions

                                    Homework: Web cultural project   

                                    http://www.indiana.edu/~twi/working.html

 

Thurs. Sep. 13              In class: Discussion on the web assignment & class exercises

                                    Homework: Written assignment/listening exercise

                                    http://www.indiana.edu/~twi1/ 6 6.3

 

 

Week 4 - Job Application & Interview

 

Tues. Sep. 18               In class: Discussion on the ways of applying for jobs & preparing 

                                    for interviews. Reading of text & comprehension exercises

                                    Homework: Written assignment

 

 

Thurs. Sep. 20              In class: Identifying news words & their usage

                                    http://www.indiana.edu/~twi1/ 4 4.3

 

                                    Homework:Listening exercises – ghanaweb.com

                                    http://www.myjoyonline.com/radio/default.asp

                                    (Adom 106.3 FM)

 

 

Week 5 – Job Application & Interview cont’d

           

Tues. Sep. 25               In class: Review of test & more usage of new words in different 

                                                   Contexts

                                    Homework: http://www.indiana.edu/~twi1/ 4 4.11

 

 

Thurs. Sep, 27              In class: Mock presentation of job interview

                                    Homework:Listening exercises – ghanaweb.com

                                    http://www.myjoyonline.com/radio/default.asp

                                    (Adom 106.3 FM)

 

Week 6 – (Traditional stories) Kwaku Ananse stories

 

Tues. Oct. 2                 In class: Reading & study of vocabulary

                                    Homework: Written assignment           

 

Thurs. Oct, 4                In class: Review of text & Comprehension exercises

                                    Homework: Written assignment

 

Week 7 – (Traditional stories) Kwaku Ananse stories cont’d

 

Tues. Oct. 9                 In class: More Ananse stories

                                    Homework: Written assignment

 

Thurs. Oct. 11              In class: Conversation hour & practice of vocabulary through        

                                    games, etc

                                    Listening exercises – ghanaweb.com

http://www.peacefmonline.com/

                                    Homework: Written assignment

 

Week 8 - Class review

             

 

Tues. Oct. 16               In class: Review of previous lessons  

                                                           

Thurs. Oct. 18              In class: Mid term exams

                       

 

Week 9 – Marriage

 

Tues. Oct. 23               In class: Talk about Akan traditional marriage and compare with 

                                    Western marriage. Reading of text

                                    Homework: listening exercise

                                    http://www.indiana.edu/~twi1/ 6 6.6

 

 

Thurs. Oct. 25              In class: Reading of text & class exercises

Homework: Listening exercises - http://www.peacefmonline.com/

 

                                   

 

Week 10 – Marriage cont’d

 

 Tues. Oct. 30              In class: Discussion on attending marriages in the Akan society

                                    Reading & comprehension

                                    Homework: Written assignment

 

 Thurs. Nov. 1              In class: Conversation hour

                                    http://www.indiana.edu/~twi/wedding.html

                                    Homework: Written assignment

 

 

Week 11 – Web Page project on marriage   http://www.indiana.edu/~twi/wedding.html

 

 

Tues. Nov. 6                In class: Reading & Comprehension

                                    Homework: Written assignment

 

Thurs. Nov. 8               In class: Review & class exercises

                                    Homework: Listening exercises

                                    http://www.indiana.edu/~twi1/ 3 3.2

 

Week 12 – The University

                       

                                      

Tues. Nov. 13              In class:  Talking about the university in general, the different 

                                    Departments, courses, etc. Read text & work on vocabulary

                                    Homework: Written assignment

                                               

Thurs. Nov. 15 In class: Review & class exercises

                                    Homework: listening exercise

                                    http://www.indiana.edu/~twi1/ 1 1.3

 

                       

Week 13 - Life on campus cont’d

 

Tues. Nov. 20              In class: Talk about life of students on campus & compare with

                                    that of Ghana.

                                    Homework: written assignment/listening exercise

                                    http://www.indiana.edu/~twi1/ 1 1.1

 

Wed. Nov. 21 to Nov. 25 (Thanksgiving break no class)

 

Week 14 - Life on campus cont’d

 

Tues. Nov. 27              In class: Reading & class exercises

                                    Listening exercises - ghanaweb.com

                                    http://www.myjoyonline.com/radio/default.asp

                                    (Adom 106.3 FM)

                                    Homework: Written assignment

 

Thurs. Nov. 29 In class: Oral presentation on one’s life on campus

 

Week 15 – Review week & Oral Presentation

 

Tues. Dec. 4                 In class: Review of lessons

 

Thurs. Dec. 6               In class: Review of lessons

 

Week 16 December 10 to 14 - Final exam week