Head
Dr. Deena P Forkan
Ph.D. in English Language and Literature
University of Toledo, Ohio, USA
English performs a variety of roles in Bangladesh. Academically, it is the
means of access to higher and professional studies both within and overseas.
English Institute is working under English Department. It’s area of functions
are: Conducting Pre-English classes: a remedial English Language class for students
who could not qualify in the admission test of NSU because of their lack of
proficiency in basic English. It also offers CEP (Certificate in English Proficiency)
course for general learners of English language. This course is open for all.
English Institute also offers general French language course for any one interested
in learning a foreign language.
Pre-English: It is an intensive course in Basic English. Students who get 35-40
in English in the admission test have to take the Pre-English course. The objective
of the pre-English course is to upgrade a student to University Standard English.
The course duration is almost 3 months. Class days are 49 and total class hours
are 240 hours (2 classes of 2 hours each and 1 hour in the Self-Access Center).
Classes are held 5 hours a day, 4 days in a week. Class time is from 9a.m to
4p.m, with short breaks after each class. Self-Access Center of English Institute
is a richly stocked resource center where students can develop their own language
skills by practicing what they learn in the classrooms. In the Self-Access Center
there are study materials, worksheets and answer keys from Elementary Level
to Upper-Intermediate Level which focus on various areas of skills such as:
Reading, Recognizing Inference, Skimming, Scanning, Vocabulary Building, Grammar,
Developing Dictionary Skills, Descriptive Writing etc. There are magazines such
as Newsweek, Times, Far-Eastern Economic Review, Economist, Readers Digest etc
and each student gets a chance to go through these magazines and work with study
materials for 1 hour daily. In addition to that, this center has a Listening
section. There are amplifiers and headphones, which enable the students to improve
their listening skills. The right kinds of materials and guidance provided at
the Self-Access Center are necessary to produce strong and confident learners
with maximum benefit in a considerably short time. C+ (Plus) grade is required
to pass the pre-English exam. After successful completion of the course a student
can enroll as a regular student of the University.
CEP (Certificate in English Proficiency): This is a certificate course for
people interested in improving their proficiency in professional English communication.
The course duration is 10 weeks. Classes are held 2 days a week and each class
duration is 2 hours. Usually the class time is from 6:00p.m to 8:00p.m. It focuses
on different skills: Grammar, Speaking, Vocabulary Building, Writing etc. Certificates
are awarded on satisfactory completion of the course.
French: English Institute is also offering French courses. Classes are given
twice a week in the evening. Certificates are awarded on satisfactory completion
of the course. The classroom is equipped with audio-visual facilities and computer
support.
Confucius Institute: In collaboration with Yunnun University of The People’s
Republic of China, North South University is going to establish Confucius Institute
in January 2006. From this Institute a Beginners’ Chinese course will
be offered in Spring 2006 semester. Under a collaboration contract with Yunnun
University, Chinese teachers as well as all teaching materials will be provided
by the Chinese University.
