Monday, October 11, 2010

Travelling to Chitral

I started my travel to Chitral from Gilgit on 10/10/10. It was an important day in the history and a significant day in my career. I have always been fond of travelling. A vehicel from PDCN picked me up from Gilgit at 8:30. There were three friends from PDCN who came along and gave me a good company. We had a nice cup of tea with fiti(local bread made by my sweetheart) in Gupis valley. The journey beside the Gilgit river through the gorges and hills of Phader valley were amazing and relaxing.  A vehicel from PDCC was already in Phandar for giving me a lift.

I joined the friends from chitral who were nice, friendly and caring.We crossed the shador pass and reached to a stop down the pass and had a meal with a cup of tea. The weather was very pleasent on the way. We reached Chitral around 7:30. I prepared my lessons for the session next day and went to sleep.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Welcome Message from Head, CEL

Dear Course Participants,
I am delighted to welcome you to this new intensive English language course, which has been specially designed by the Centre of English Language at AKU in Karachi for you at PDC in Chitral. This two-week course represents the beginning of a newly forged academic link between PDC,C and CEL, and we hope it will mark the start of a long and mutually beneficial academic relationship between our two entities.  

Mr Piar Karim is an experienced, innovative, creative and sympathetic teacher and I’m sure you will enjoy learning with him. He has designed the course with great skill and care and it should be of great practical benefit to you. However, as you know very well, to succeed in language learning, the student needs to put his/her heart and soul into the acquisition process. You have to make up your mind to take responsibility for your own study and progress.  Without your energy, stamina and motivation to learn, even the best teacher can do nothing. Your success is therefore in your own hands.  May I wish everyone all the very best. Work hard and enjoy yourselves!

Dr Graeme Cane,
Head, Centre of English Language,
Aga Khan University,

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Welcome Note from the Course Instructor


Hello everybody!

This is Piar Karim. I am the instructor for this Intensive English language course in Chitral. I would like to welcome all the participants from different valleys of Chitral in this Intensive English language course for two weeks. The course is designed to help you significantly improve your English skills, achieve greater fluency, and fully prepare you for your studies in English. Here are certain features of this course. I have posted the details schedule of the course already.
  1. This intensive course includes 30 hours per week of classroom instruction and practice in all key language skills: speaking, listening, pronunciation, vocabulary, reading and writing
  2.   Student will practice conversation skills and other speaking skills using interesting material and develop strategic listening skills, and improve their use of grammar.
  3. A complete Independent study package will allow you to practice English language skills outside the class with different groups
  4. The course uses a very popular book language in use written by Adrian Doff.
  5.  All students will get a copy of course book and self-study work book  with four  cassettes
  6. The course checks your progress by giving you two progress tests.

I hope you will enjoy participating in this course and you will find it extremely helpful to improve your language skills. Hope to see you soon in the class.

Good Luck and Thanks

Course Schedule

Intensive English Language Program

Prepared by: Piar Karim

Aim: The course aims at the presentation and practice of language at the intermediate level to upgrade the English language proficiency of trainees. Focus is on expanding communicative competence in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Trainees are exposed to complex grammatical structures and vocabulary relevant to a variety of social and workplace topics



Course Material

Intermediate Class Room Book; Language in Use by Adrian Doff and Christopher Jones
Self-Study Workbook; Language in use by Adrian Doff and Christopher Jones
Intermediate Video CD; Language in Use by Adrian Doff and Christopher Jones

Course Content for two weeks

Reading:         Main idea vs. supporting details
Scanning and skimming; Reading for specific information, Reading for details; Read and summarize, Read and respond

Listening & Speaking:
Understanding factual information about everyday or job related topics identifying general massage and specific details.
                        Simple exchange of information/ asking and answering of questions on familiar everyday topics

Writing:          Punctuation: joining sentences
                        Punctuation: Direct speech
Joining ideas, clause and phrases
Organizing ideas
Letter writing

Grammar:       Present simple, Frequency expressions and present continuous tense
                        Past simple and continuous past, time expressions
                        (Don’t) have to; not allowed to; obligation structures
                        Habitual actions in the past; describing changes
                        Would; second conditionals; I wish+could/would

Pronunciation:           Speech Sound, Common mispronounced words practice, syllable, stress and practice with talking dictionary       

Vocabulary:    Regular events and Current Activities Behavior in home and household jobs
Waste of money; Holiday activities; Services and Jobs

Course Schedule
(Week 1) Daily Schedule Full time (30 hours per week and self-study)
                       
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday

Saturday
9.30 – 10.30
Pre-Test
Reflections
Pronunciation practice
Reflections
Unit 4
Reflections
Unit 6
Progress test 1

Reflections
&
Unit 9
10.30 – 11.30
Course Introduction
Pronunciation Presentation
Unit 2

Unit 4
Unit 6
Unit 7

Unit 9
11.30 – 12.30
Unit 1
Unit 3
Unit 4
Unit 6
Unit 7

Unit 9
2.00 – 3.00
Unit 1
Unit 3
Unit 5
Review
Unit 8

Revision
3.00 – 5.00
Unit 2
Video Lesson
Unit 5
Video Lesson
Unit 8

Video Lesson
INDEPENDENT STUDY
Self-Study Unit 1 and 2
Group Reflection
Self-Study Unit 3
Group Reflection
Self-Study Unit 5 and 6
Group Reflection
Self-Study
Unit 6
Test Preparation
Self-Study Unit 7 & 8
Group Reflection
Self-Study
Unit 10  
Group Reflection


















(Week 2) Daily Schedule Full time (30 hours per week and self-study)
                       
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday

Saturday
9.30 – 10.30
Reflections
Unit 10
Reflections
Unit 12
Progress Test 2

Reflections
Unit 14
Reflections
Unit 16

Course Review
Discussion
10.30 – 11.00
Unit 10
Unit 12
Unit 14
Unit 15


Video Lesson


11.00 – 12.30
Unit 11
Unit 12
Unit 13
Unit 15
Unit 15


Post-test
Course Evaluation
2.00 – 3.00
Unit 11
Revision
Unit 13
Unit 15
Unit 16
3.00 – 5.00
Unit 11
Video
Video
Unit15
Unit 16

Concluding Ceremony
INEPENDENT STUDY
Self-Study Workbook
Unit 10 & 11
Group Reflection
Self-Study Workbook
Unit 12
Test Preparation
Self-Study Workbook
Unit 13
Progress Test
Self-Study Workbook Unit 14 & 15
Group Reflection
Self-Study Workbook Unit 15 & 16
Course Reflection