English for Study Abroad

Academic Reading 2

Our Aims

Our aims today:

Have our last few field of study talks
Explore reading between the lines (and behind the text)

Our mini-seminar discussions

Each student, introduce your interesting topic from your major in 3-4 minutes.

Everyone make some notes of questions to ask and things to get more information on

Have a mini-seminar discussion, using your new phrases:

Asking effective questions
Agreeing and disagreeing (politely)
Interrupting if needed
Giving your opinion strongly

Reading Skills 2

Attitudes, beliefs and values (behind the text)

Seminar Group Discussion Roles

To get started quickly and efficiently when having a group discussion in a seminar, it's best to claim/assign roles so that people know what their part of the task is:

Group roles

Group leader: takes the initiative in directing the discussion.

Scribe: keeps a written record of the discussion (talks also and can be the Clarifier for the notes/themselves).

Clarifier: checks that everyone understands as the discussion progresses (keeps an eye out for quiet people and confused looks).

Reporter: summarises the key findings of the discussion (can also be the Clarifier).

Reading is much more than surface facts. Good readers 'dig deeper' into the test to understand the values, beliefs, and attitudes of the author which can go so far as being a bias (favouring one theory/opinion over all else).

In groups of 3-4:

Choose a group role, making sure that all roles are covered in your group.
Read the text Human-centred game design and discuss the answers to the questions with your group.
Next, identify the language in the text that pointed you to those answers.
Discuss what is fact and what is opinion.
Present an overview of your group's findings (not question by question, but rather a summary and group conclusion).

Analysing a text (questions to discuss)

Cultural Values

Each culture around the world values or devalues these opposite ends of the scales on the Star of Values.

Culture Star of Values

For example, Germans might value formalised rules, hierarchy, performance of the task and monochronic (being timely and punctual), whereas Indonesians might value context-based rules, part hierarchy-part participation, care for the people doing the task and polychronic (flexible time, being on time is not valued).

The culture values directly relates to how the person behaves, communicates and solves problems. When two cultures get together and they have a number of opposite values, this often leads to miscommunication, confusion and cultural incidents.

Cultural Star of Values

Group Vs Individual - valuing group loyalty or independent success

Formalised rules Vs Context-based rules - Everything is written in regulations Vs everything is up to each case and negotiation.

Hierarchy Vs Participation - Responsibility is with the higher person Vs active participation and consensual decision making.

Performance Vs Care - competition, material success and performance Vs care for others, equal rights and quality of life.

Monochronic Vs Polychronic - Schedules, punctuality and sequential activities are valued Vs flexible time structures and synchronous activities (choice of activities) are valued.

Implicit communication Vs Explicit Communication - Much communication is without words (known via the context) Vs verbal or written messages carry all the information (nothing is left out).

Conflict/Confrontation Vs Harmony - conflicts are approached directly and openly Vs group harmony and saving others from embarrassment are the priorities (open criticism are considered tactless and disrespectful).

Task Vs Relationship - doing the task is the priority Vs good working relationships are the priority.

Cultural Incidents

In your group, read and discuss the cultural incident in front of you. Where is the confusion? What might be the opposing values?

Dominant discourse

No text has a stable meaning. Texts and readings privilege some views of the world over others. In this activity the ideas of power and competing discourses are explored.