1. Learning English through Social Issues

2. What are social issues?
matters which directly or indirectly affect many or all members of a society
often considered to be problems
arouses public interests and concerns
controversial
involves (moral) values

3. Examples of social issues
Poverty
Pollution
Drug abuse
Abortion
Violence

4. Why take this course? develop skills in researching
more positive personal values and attitudes
better organization and coherence in writing
more critical in analyzing gathered information
more confidence in presenting views in public

5. Why take this course?
better skills in interpreting ideas, information, fact, opinions and arguments
improved rhetoric skills in argumentative writing
better use of different genres to present ideas

6. Content Part 1: Identifying, examining and presenting social issues
Researching and gathering information on social issues
Part 3:
Final presentation

7. Part 1: Identifying, examing and presenting social issues
Presents the idea of social issues
Definition of the social issue
Causes and effects of a social problem
Solutions for a social problem
Gives learners the opportunity to consider various ways social issues may affect them personally, their society and the world around them

8. Part 1: Identifying, examining and presenting social issues
Learners practise reading, identifying and writing definitions, causes and effects, and solutions to social problems

9. Part 2: Researching and gathering information on social issues
1) Learners learn how to follow an argument and research a social issue (e.g. conducting observations, interviews and surveys)
2) Learners develop strategies for evaluating information from different sources, and techniques for citing and acknowledging sources

10. Part 3: Final presentation
Learners identify a social problem they are interested in, and carry out research on it.
Learners present their work (written and spoken)

11. Learning activities
READING essays, journals, pamphlets, editorials, newspaper reports
WRITING paragraphs to define different social issues, the causes and effects, and solutions
DISCUSSIONS, ORAL PRESENTATIONS, ROLE-PLAYS
PROJECT

12. Assessment
Assessment will focus on learners’ demonstration of their ability to:
understand and interpret ideas and information in texts on social issues
follow and evaluate argument
write about a social issue
analyse and evaluate information from various sources
carry out simple research using methods such as surveys and interviews
summarise a passage
present a written or spoken text that incorporates a definition of a social problem, its causes and effects, and offers solutions to it

13. Assessment
Oral and written activities in the course will be used for assessing learner performance:
Quizzes
Paragraphs written on definitions, causes, effects and solutions
Evaluation of information
Questionnaires and interviews
Written or spoken presentations