Course Code: BGN02

Theological English

Semester I, 4 Non Credit Hours, College Paper

(It is compulsory for the College to submit the Marks through Online Portal)

Course Objectives

• To enable the student to communicate effectively particularly in situations relating to pastoral ministry.
• To understand instructions, lectures and sermons and take down notes effectively.
• Use different reading techniques; (skimming, scanning, comprehension of paragraph, sentence and clause).
• Grammar – focus on specific areas which need to be strengthened: Simple Past and Past Continuous tense, prepositions, articles, ESL problems with verbs, sentence patterns and sentence types.
• Have an active command of vocabulary and sentence structure.

Course Requirements

Examination should be so devised as to test the skills included in the objectives of the Course rather than the knowledge of the content of the texts as below:

• Out of a total of 100 marks for the examination, 40 marks to be allocated for class work, compositions and tests.
• 60 marks to be allocated for a written examination, to test points as noted in the course objectives.
• The College has to send the marks in 60% and 40% pattern.
• Kindly note that marks of this subject will not be included in the calculation of Final Grade of Result, Mark Sheet and Transcript.

Suggested Course Outline and Suggested Texts

1. Contextualizing Theology: Shoki Coe in Mission Trends no. 3 (pages 86-93, Doing Reading in English, Iris Devadason)
2. Chapter 1 from the Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John (pages 94-98, Doing Reading in English, Iris Devadason)
3. The Cultural and Religious Background of Palestinian Judaism (pages 124-133, Doing Reading in English, Iris Devadason)
4. The Book of Jonah (pages 134-141, Doing Reading in English, Iris Devadason)
5. Language and Community Inclusive Language, H.P. Mabry (pages 142-159, Doing Reading in English, Iris Devadason)
6. Unit 6: Reading for Specific Information (scanning) (pages 34-39, English for Theology, Gabrielle Kelly)
7. Reading for General Idea (skimming) (pages 40-43, English for Theology, Gabrielle Kelly)
8. Unit 8: Paragraph Structure and Comprehension Reading in English (pages 44-48, English for Theology, Gabrielle Kelly)
9. Unit 9: Sentence and Clause Structure and Comprehension (pages 49-55, English for Theology, Gabrielle Kelly)
10. Unit 12: Asia and the Pacific; Grammar focus: Present Simple and Present Continuous tense
11. Unit 13: Theology and Spirituality; Grammar focus: Passive voice, present and continuous tense
12. Sentence Patterns, The Bedford Handbook, Diana Hacker (pages 784-795)
13. Unit 14: Part I Theology and Language; Grammar focus: Articles (pages 93-97)
14. Unit 15: Religion and Culture; Grammar focus: Simple Past Tense and Past Continuous (pages 103-112)
15. Unit 17: Christology; Grammar focus: Relative Clauses (pages 122-132)

Grammar

Some aspects of grammar are dealt with in the units. The student should be able to recognise and repair fragment sentences and run-on sentences.

Vocabulary

Iris Devadason has a glossary at the end of her texts and Gabrielle Kelly has a list of vocabulary. The teacher can choose and teach vocabulary and common structures relating to pastoral ministry – greeting parishioners, visiting the sick, bereavement, etc.

Writing Tasks

Writing tasks are given at the end of each unit to reinforce learning and application of language skills.

Teaching Methods

To acquire language proficiency is to practice using it. Materials have been carefully chosen to engage the student in applying reading skills on simple theological texts to facilitate the student’s engagement with the target language (of theology) in all four macro skills. Each text provides tasks in speaking, listening, and writing as well as grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension. The teacher acts as a guide and tries to involve all the students in an interactive learning situation. Written work is given and corrected. The teacher is also available to give special attention to students who require additional guidance.

Bibliography

• Kelly, Gabrielle. English for Theology
• Hacker, Diana. The Bedford Handbook
• Devadason, Iris. Doing Reading in English
• Thomson & Martinet. A Practical English Grammar
• Corder, S. Pit. An Intermediate English Practice Book
• Jones, Daniel. English Pronouncing Dictionary
• Woodword, Leslene. English Grammar and Theology
• Pierson, Cheri L., and Lonna J. Dickerson. Exploring Theological English
• Swan, Michael. Practical English Usage