LANDMARK UNIVERSITY, OMU-ARAN

COURSE COMPACT

COLLEGE: UNIVERSITY WIDE COURSES

DEPARTMENT: UNIVERSITY WIDE COURSES
PROGRAMME: GENERAL STUDIES
COURSE COMPACT FOR: 2019/2020 ACADEMIC SESSION

Course
Course code: GST 111
Course title: COMMUNICATION IN ENGLISH 1
Credit unit: 2
Course status: Compulsory

Lecturers’ Data

1. Lecturer’s Name: Mrs. Akanmode O.A.

Qualifications: B.A. (Hons), M.A, PGDE
Unit: University Wide Courses
Department: University Wide Courses
College: University Wide Courses
E-mail: [email protected]
Office Location: C009, Wing C, New College Building
Consultation Hours: Wednesday 12-2p.m.

2. Lecturer’s Name: Mrs. Alaiyemola A.O.

Qualifications: B.A., M.A., Ph.D. (in view)
Unit: University Wide Courses
Department: University Wide Courses
College: University Wide Courses
E-mail: [email protected]
Office Location: C006, Wing C, New College Building
Consultation Hours: Tuesday 12-4p.m.

INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE

Course Description:
Communication in English 1 is part of the General Studies program in English which aims at
inculcating in students the basic language and study skills required for a successful university
education and grooming them to be able to express themselves successfully in life after school.
This first part focuses on the study of receptive skills i.e. the ability to decipher information
given orally and retrieve information from written texts with emphasis on reading and
summarization. Other crucial study skills such as time management, effective listening, note-
taking, vocabulary development etc. will also be examined.

Course Justification:
In consonance with the vision of the University in raising a generation of leaders whose impact
will positively and immensely be felt globally, this course presents a rare opportunity for all
students who desire to make impact in English speaking nations. This is because, in
communication situations, there is a need for the receiver of the message to successfully decode
the sent message. It is only when this has taken place that the receiver can give the appropriate
response which the original sender so desires and which is the evidence that successful
communication has actually taken place. This course therefore examines the listening and
reading skills.

Course Objectives:

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

 Organize their study time effectively

 Listen to lectures and effectively manage lecture notes
 Develop effective reading habits and increase their reading speed
 Apply effective methods of summarizing reading materials
 Develop a wide range of vocabulary for a successful academic career

Course Content:
In a practical way, this course examines the nitty-gritty of successful study in any discipline.
Also, attention is given to the receptive skills of communication and how a user of English can
become wealthy in words for receptive and productive purposes in language use.

Course Expectations:
S/N GRADING SCORE (%)

Continuous Assessments 7%
 C.AI 15%
1. 8%
 C.AII (Mid-Semester Test)
 C.AIII

2. Final Examination 70%

3. Total 100
Course Delivery Strategies:
Lecture and demonstration methods, E- Learning activities, guided instructions, interactive
sessions, take home assignments and group works/projects and PowerPoint presentation.

Course Duration: 15 Weeks

LECTURE CONTENT
Module A: Elements of Study Skills
Week 1: Preparing for academic success
Objective: At the end of the lecture, students should be able to:
(i) Prepare for a sound intellectual development having been equipped with the
requisite knowledge for a successful academic career.
(ii) Create a time-time table from waking to sleeping hours in order to manage
their time effectively
(iii) Develop strategies for a successful academic career
Description:
First Hour: Meaning of successful study. Preparing for academic success
Second Hour: Effective study skills and methods.

Study Questions:
1. Describe five study strategies you will use to make your studying in Landmark
University effective.
2. Prepare a weekly time table showing all your activities for the various days of the
week.
3. Enumerate five poor reading habits which you know.
4. Enumerate five challenges to effective study which you have observed among students
of Landmark University.

Week 2: Tools and Facilities for Effective Study/Challenges to effective study

Objectives: At the end of the lecture students should be able to:
(i) Explain the place of tools and facilities in effective study.
(ii) Identify the necessary tools and facilities for effective study.
(iii) Know how to organise their time and the resources available for learning
Description:
First Hour: The various tools and facilities available for effective study.
Second Hour: Challenges to Effective Study. Organisation of time.
Study Questions:
1. The Centre for Learning Resources (CLR) is a sine-qua–non in any University worth its
salt. Do you agree?
2. What are the basic study tools/materials needed by a student who wants to succeed in his
studies?
3. Give reasons why the student who wants to be successful in his study must use the
library.

Week 3: English in Nigeria Today

Objectives: At the end of the lecture students should be able to:
 (i) Describe the concept of language
(ii) Describe the use of English in Nigeria today.
Description
First Hour: Language and Communication. Varieties of English.
Second Hour: Use of English in Nigeria Today
Study Questions:
1. Using your own words, briefly define the term ‘language’
2. What would you be your response to a person who describes your mother tongue as
barbaric?
3. Write a short note on the use of English language in Nigeria.
4. English language is a unifying language in Nigeria. Discuss.
5. English has been domesticated in many nations. Explain.

Module B: Effective Listening Skills and Note taking

Week 4: Effective Listening
Objectives: At the end of the lecture, students should be able to:
(i) Distinguish between hearing and listening.
(ii) Listen to lectures effectively having known the conditions for effective listening.
Description:
First Hour: Types of language skills. Listening and hearing. Types of listening.
Second Hour: Conditions for effective listening. Characteristics of poor listening.
Study Questions:
1. Give five characteristics of poor listening.
2. Give five conditions for effective listening.
3. What is the difference between hearing and listening?
4. Describe four types of listening.
Week 5: The Nature of Lectures
Objectives: At the end of the lecture, the students should be able to:
(i) Understand the nature of lectures
(ii) Be able to benefit maximally from lectures.
Description:
First Hour: Concept of a lecture. What to expect from a lecture. The right
attitude to a lecture.
Second Hour: The structure of a lecture. Identifying key points in a lecture. Identifying
patterns of lecture organisation.
Study Questions:
1. What should be the expectations of a student from a lecture?
2. Describe the structure of a lecture.
3. Describe the right attitude a good student should have to a lecture.
4. How can a good student prepare for his lecture?
Week 6: Aspects of Effective Note-taking
Objective: At the end of the lecture, the students should be able to:
(i) Be well equipped with the strategies for taking notes successfully.
(i) Know the related activities for note-taking
(iii)Distinguish between note-taking and note-making
Description:
 First Hour: Realities that necessitate effective note taking. Requirements for effective note
taking. Uses of note taking.
Second Hour. Achieving success in note taking. Forms of the note. Summary as a form of
note taking.
Study Questions:
1. What is the importance of taking notes in lectures?
2. What does note-taking involve?
3. What is the place of summarising in note-taking?

WEEK 7: MID SEMESTER TEST

Module C: Effective Reading Skills
Week 8: Overcoming Poor Reading Habits
Objectives: At the end of the lecture, the students should be able to:
(i) Know and identify various poor reading habits
(ii) Identify their unique poor reading habits
(iii) Overcome identified poor reading habits
Description:
First Hour: Various common poor reading habits. How to overcome reading habits. The
general reading process.
Second Hour: Types of reading. Techniques for effective reading.
Study Questions:
1. Describe four common poor reading habits
2. Write brief notes on types of reading.
Week 9: Increasing the Speed of Reading
Objectives: At the end of the lectures for the week, the students should be able to:
(i) Understand the reading process
(ii) Identify the different types of reading
(iii) Increase their reading speed
Description:
First Hour: A description of the reading process. The various types of reading. Second
Hour: The speed of reading. Eye movements. Poor reading habits. Good reading habits.
Study Questions:
1. What is the difference between skimming and scanning?
2. How would you enhance your reading speed?
3. What is SQ3R?
Week 10: Types, Understanding & Summarizing Reading Materials
Objective: At the end of the week, students should be able to:
(i) Understand the technicalities of summarizing and note-taking.
Description:
First Hour: Types of reading materials. An exposition of what summary writing
entails.
Second Hour: Guide on how to write a good summary of lectures. Relevance of reading
materials
Study Questions:
1. What type of materials should not appear in your summary?
2. What are the required qualities of a good summary?
Module D: Aspects of Vocabulary Development
Week 11: Sources of English vocabulary
Objective: At the end of the lecture students should be able to:
(i) Explain how English language evolved.
(ii) Know the sources of vocabulary development.
Description:
First Hour: The Historical and Social development of English language.
Second Hour: Other sources of the English vocabulary
Study Questions:
1. Explain the historical sources of the English Language.
2. How would you react to a person who describes English as being superior to other
languages?
3. Languages are not static, they are subject to change: Discuss.
4. Describe how growth in Science and Technology has been responsible for changes in
the repertoire of lexical items in English Language.
Week 12: Ways of Increasing your Vocabulary
Objectives: At the end of the lecture students should be able to:
(i) Be better equipped with the strategies of vocabulary building.
(ii) Understand more the proper use of a dictionary.
Description:
First Hour: Rudiments of increasing the repertoire of vocabulary. The need for students’
large acquisition of words for effective receptive and expressive use of language.
Second Hour: Guide to the correct and effective usage of a dictionary. Inferring meaning
of words by removal of affixations
Study Questions:
1. Describe types of vocabulary development which you know.
2. Write a short note on ‘Using the dictionary’.
3. Differentiate between suffixes and affixes.

Week 13: Revision

Week 14: Revision

Week 15: Examination

Reading List:

1. Lecturer’s lecture notes

2. Adegbija, Efurosibina, ed. (1998). Effective Communication in Higher Education: The

Use of English. Ilorin: The General Studies Unit, University of Ilorin.

3. Adegbija, Efurosibina, ed. (2004). Language, Communication and Study Skills. Ilorin:
Dominion Publishing.
 4. Adetugbo, Abiodun. (1997). Communicative English and Study Skills. Lagos: University
of Lagos Press.

5. Akere, Funso. (1990). English Across Disciplines. Lagos: Pumarks Nig. Ltd. The World
Book of Study Power. Chicago: World Book Inc.

6. Alabi, V. A., Babatunde, S. T., Adekola, F. A. eds. (2013). The Use of English in Higher
Education. Ilorin: General Studies Division, University of Ilorin.

7. Ogbulogo, Charles. (2004) Problem Areas in English Grammar & Usage. Lagos: Sam
Iroanusi Publications.

8. Ogbulogo, Charles, Olasehinde, Martha eds. (2017). Effective Communication in English

(for higher education). Lagos: Dominion Publishing House

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