The Department of English & Modern Languages offers undergraduate as well as graduate programs in English and provides students with the opportunity to develop their understanding of the language and its teaching, to know and appreciate both seminal and creative works in language and literature, and also to develop literary and academic aptitudes of their own. Majors offered by the English department at the undergraduate level are widely recognized. They prepare students to engage in many fields, including graduate degrees in teaching, journalism, information technology, management, law and administration, as well as more language-focused fields like creative writing and translation. The department initially started with general education non-credit English courses like ENG097 and ENG102, and credits courses such as ENG103 and ENG105 for all the departments. The service courses have been revised and redesigned periodically in order to make them more effective and relevant to the needs of students. New courses were also introduced keeping in view the demands and changes taking place in English studies and employment opportunities throughout the world.
The current curriculum followed in the Department of English & Modern Languages in commensurate with some of the most prestigious universities in the United States. With two international faculty members from the USA both holding doctoral degrees, and with all other faculty members with graduate degrees, including 7 with doctorate degrees, from highly-rated foreign institutions, the department provides an international high-quality platform for its students.
Students in the department are guided to shape their studies in order to reflect their specific interest as they prepare themselves to assume their roles as ethical and intellectual members of society. The department has expanded over the years and continues to pursue its goals and objectives vigorously. The students with specializations in the areas of literature, linguistics, or TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) choose courses based on their requirements and areas of interest. The main focus of both the undergraduate and graduate curricula is to prepare students most effectively to face the challenges of employment and leadership in their fields. With over 40 core faculty members and 19 adjunct faculty members, the favorable teacher-to-student ratio enables the department to be one of the most successful in NSU.
In addition to the academic programs and courses, the department also organizes a variety of activities and workshops, such as the Colloquium and Discourse series of lectures. Both local and international scholars are regularly invited in this platform to deliver their lectures. The department also arranges national and international conferences, for example, the National Conference on Shakespeare held in 2012, to generate research interest in language, literature and related issues among the scholars from and beyond NSU. All these activities besides the programs and courses keep the students and faculty members engaged with the contemporary world and thus active. The first international conference of the department titled the River: Flows of Innovation and Exchange in the Global(i)zed English World was held in March 2016.
As NSU embarks upon the move for university-wide accreditation by American institutions, the role of the Department of English and Modern Languages has become an integral part of its academic drive. As a part of this, student learning outcomes and assessments, conducted by the faculty members, are consistently applied to gauge progress and uphold the highest institutional standard. This ongoing process is a demonstration of the department’s commitment to attaining the highest standards in academic excellence.
A.Q.M.A. Rahman Bhuiyan, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
Department of English and Modern Languages
North South University
Vision of the Program
The Department of English & Modern Languages (DEML) seeks to prepare competent professionals who will have the ability to integrate and cooperate with all areas of society. Students will be able to master a variety of literary, analytical, pedagogical, and theoretical skills which areessential in English studies. They will also learn how to balance the needs of general education –humanities, social sciences, computer and math skills, and natural sciences- with those of their majors (linguistics, literature, and TESOL).
Mission Of the Program
The mission of the Department of English & Modern Languages (DEML) is to help the students develop the understanding of language, the importance of critical reading and effective writing, and the range and breadth of knowledge in TESOL, linguistics, and literature. Our faculty members are dedicated in producing skilled graduates in diverse fields.
Program Educational Objectives (PEOs)
To Create:
PE1- Expertise: Excel as professionals in English Language and Literature by building upon the reasoning skills and knowledge, team – work abilities, and communication skills acquired through the program.
PE2- Enhancement: Participate in lifelong-learning activities that enhance their professional and personal development through continuing studies including graduate studies, professional trainings and licensure.
PE3- Engagement: Demonstrate globally aware social justice, ethical and leadership role and responsibilities through personal and professional contributions to society.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
On successful completion of the program the students will:
Generic Skills
The program enables the students to develop :
Graduate Profile
The graduate profile describes the attributes students should have when they graduate. Our students will graduate from a program in which the opportunities for local and global engagement are a dominant feature of the student experience. The program enables the students to:
These attributes will be reflected in the formal curriculum and tested through academic assessment. Opportunities to develop these qualities will be available to all students through formal and informal learning opportunities.
For BA in English program
Note: Admission test is waived for candidates with minimum score of 1200 in SAT (Math + Critical Reading) and TOEFL score of 213 in CBT or 79 in IBT or 5.5 in IELTS.
For MA in English program
Letter grades indicating the quality of course work completed is interpreted as follows
|
Numerical Scores |
Letter Grade |
Grade Points Per Credit |
|
93 and above |
A Excellent |
4.0 |
|
90 – 92 |
A- |
3.7 |
|
87 – 89 |
B+ |
3.3 |
|
83 – 86 |
B Good |
3.0 |
|
80 – 82 |
B- |
2.7 |
|
77 – 79 |
C+ |
2.3 |
|
73 – 76 |
C Average |
2.0 |
|
70 – 72 |
C- |
1.7 |
|
67 – 69 |
D+ |
1.3 |
|
60 – 66 |
D Poor |
1.0 |
|
Below 60 |
F* Failure |
0.0 |
|
|
I** Incomplete |
0.0 |
|
|
W** Withdrawal |
0.0 |
|
|
R** Retaken |
0.0 |
* Credits for courses with this grade do not apply towards graduation.
** Credits for courses with this grade do not apply towards graduation and they are not accepted in the calculation of the grade point average.
The exact cut off points for assigning letter grades is at the, discretion of individual instructor. The same applies to the assignment of + or - after a letter grade. It is meant to give more flexibility so that shades of performance can be distinguished and rewarded. The + and - has a value of 0.3 grade point. In the Grade sheet please write + or – in letters as well. Ex. B+(plus) or C(plain) etc.
Seminar on “Translating Shakespeare”
The DEML organized a Seminar on “Translating Shakespeare” on Saturday, March 6, 2004, at 10:00 AM in the Self-Access Center.
Dr Selim Sarwar, Associate Professor, and Mr Abdus Selim, Assistant Professor of DEML, North South University, presented papers.
LECTURES
Professor Abdul Mannan Syed, Scholar in Residence at NSU gave his first Nazrul Lecture on “Nazrul Islam: 1922
Date: September 21st, 2006, Thursday, Time : 4:00 pm
Venue: Star Tower 1102, North South University
The Department of English and Modern Languages organized a book launch Ceremony of Hamayun Ahmed’s “To the Woods Dark and Deep” translated by Fariha Sultana, a former student of English Department and published jointly by Anyaprokash in collaboration with NSU on Sunday, July 1, 2007, at 4:00 PM in STR300.
First
The DEML organized the first colloquium series by Mr. Murtaja Baseer on his recent paintings held on July 19, 2007 (Thursday) at 11:00 AM in Self Access Centre.
Second
Our second event in the department colloquium series was held on Thursday, November 29, 2007, at 3:30 p.m. in Self Access Center (2nd Floor, DEML). M. Harunur Rashid, Professor of DEML, North South University and Chairman, Bangla Academy, spoke on the art of translation as well as his own works of translation, while an open discussion followed his talk. Our country’s leading translators, creative writers, scholars, and academics, among others, attended the colloquium.
Third
Our third event—poetry reading—in the department colloquium series was held on Thursday, January 31, 2008, at 3:00 p.m. in Self Access Center (2nd Floor, English Department). The event featured Sabahat Jahan, Melissa Hussain, Azfar Hussain, and others. Distinguished Poet Muhammad Nurul Huda came as the guest of honor.
Fourth
Our fourth event in the department colloquium series was held on Thursday, February 28, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. in Self Access Center (2nd Floor, DEML). Feroza Begum, the country’s legendary Nazrul-geeti singer and musician, spoke on her experiences of Nazrul’s music as well as her own encounters with him, while an open discussion was followed after her talk.
Fifth
Our fifth event in the department colloquium series was held on Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. in Self Access Center (2nd Floor, DEML). Prof. Aminul Islam, Professor of Philosophy, Dhaka University, spoke on Philosophy in Bangladesh, while an open discussion was followed after his talk.
Sixth
Literature, Culture and Political Economy, Prof. Anu Mohammad on July 1, 2008, at seminar room.
Seventh
Moved by Music: A Talk on Traveling with Songs by Moushimi Bhowmik on March 22, 2009 at 4:00 pm.
Eighth
Performing Shakespeare by Mr. Aly Zakir
Ninth
Emily Dickinson: The Language of Consciousness and the Consciousness of Language
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Masud Mahmood, Professor of English, Chittagong University
September 30th, 2010 (Thursday)
Tenth
“The Place of culture in English Language teaching” the keynote speaker was Ms. Ayesha Kamal, English language lecturer, Kuwait University. Held on June 26, 2011, at NAC 620.
Topic: "What NOT to do to improve your reading skills"
Speaker: Dr. Mark Bartholomew
PhD in Economic History, University of Oxford.
M.Ed. in Education Management, University of Sheffield.
Teaching English as a Foreign Language (PgDip), University of Cambridge.
Date: 11 April 2019
Topic: "Research Grant writing, and Quality Assurance"
Speakers:
Dr. Shyam Sharma, Stony Brook University, New York.
Dr. Cynthia Davidson, Stony Brook University, New York.
Ms. Mary Ann Duffy, Stony Brook University, New York.
Date: 27 & 28 May 2019
Topic: "Poetry Reading & Haibun Workshop"
Speaker: Ms. Rochelle Potkar
Fiction Writer & Poet from Mumbai, India
Date: 24 June 2019
Topic: "An Overview on Educational Technologies in Bangladesh"
Speaker: Dr. Shirin Shafiei Ebrahimi
Postdoctoral Fellow in Education,
University lecturer in English,
School of Education,
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Date: 25 August 2019
Topic: "Partition Literature & Epar Ganga Opar Ganga-A Creative Statement on Displacement and Violence"
Speaker: Professor Subhoranjan Dasgupta
PhD, Heidelberg University, Germany
Date: 18 November 2019
Language League 2019
Number of Participants: 1948
Chief Guest: Mr. Muhammad Abdul Mannan, MP, Honorable Minister, Ministry of Planning and Dr. Murad Hasan, MP, Honorable State Minister, Ministry of Information
Date: 18 and 19 October 2019
Topic: "IQAC External Review"
Date: April 3, 2020
Title: “Closing and Certificate giving ceremony of “UPL-NSU Translation Workshop”
Speakers:
Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury
Chief Coordinator of Bangabandhu Centenary Celebration National Implementation Committee
Professor Shamsuzzaman Khan
President, Bangla Academy
Professor Syed Manzoorul Islam
Novelist & Literary Critic
Professor Atiqul Islam
Vice-Chancellor, NSU
Mr. Habibullah Siraji
Director-General, Bangla Academy
Mohiuddin Ahmed
Publisher of Emeritus, UPL
Date: July 25, 2020
Webinar: “Feedback and Engagement During Online Classes”
Speaker: Ms. Jo Leech
MA TESOL, CELTA, BA (Hons)
Date: August 22, 2020
Webinar: “An Evening with Poet Richard Grove”
Speaker: Richard Marvin Grove
Arts Administration Diploma program, Humber College
Date: October 7, 2020
Topic: “APA7”
Speaker: Rajiv Ashrafi, Lecturer, NSU
Date: November 5, 2020
Webinar: “The role of the Sylheti-Bengali diglossia, orality and multilingualism in promoting public health amongst UK Bangladeshis”
Speaker: Dr. Chris Tang
PhD, University of London
Lecturer, University of London
Date: November 7, 2020
Topic: “Writing a Course Outline”
Date: November 8, 2020
Webinar: “Conversation Analysis: On the interdisciplinary of Linguistics, Communication and Medicine”
Speaker: Dr. Lim Ni Eng
PhD, University of California, Los Angeles
Assistant Professor, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Date: November 21, 2020
Topic: “Book Review Writing”
Speakers:
Kazi Akib Bin Asad, Editor-In-Charge, SHOUT
Sarah Anjum Bari, Editor, Daily Star Books
Date: November 25, 2020
Webinar: "What’s Next?"
Higher Studies and Career Opportunity for English Majors
Speaker: Sadi Mohammad Shahnewaz, Sub Editor, Arts & Entertainment, The Daily Star
Shababa Iqbal, Trainee Sub Editor, Arts & Entertainment and Star Youth, The Daily Star
Nusaiba Mirza, Senior Executive, Project & Digital Engagement, Banglalink Digital
Date: November 27, 2020
Webinar: "Identity Co-construction in Flirting"
Speaker: Dr. Kadek Ratih Dwi Oktarini
PhD in Humanities, Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
Date: December 5, 2020
Webinar: "Outcome-based curriculum design and implementation: Problems, Strategies and Implications for English Language Teaching at two private universities in Dhaka, Bangladesh"
Speakers:
MA in Applied Linguistics, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
MA in Applied Linguistics and ELT, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
PhD in TESL, International Islamic University, Malaysia
Date: 27 February 2021
Webinar: "How do children go about acquiring and using multiple languages in daily interactions?"
Speaker: Dr. Yvonne Tse Crepaldi
PhD in Linguistics, Linguistics and Multilingual Studies, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore
Date: 20 March 2021
Webinar: "To Commemorate International Women`s Day 2021"
Speaker: Dr. Tonima Tasnim Ananna, A Bangladeshi astrophysicist
Date: 10 April 2021
Webinar: "Book Editing and publishing"
Conducted by Nuzaimul Hoq Xishan, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Worthy Books
Date: 12 April 2021
Discourse Series Webinar: Title: "Post-truth challenges and challenging post-truth: Language educators in Bangladesh"
Speaker: Dr. Obaidul Hamid, Senior Lecturer,
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Queensland, Australia.
Date: 26 June, Saturday, 2021
Title: "Ideological becoming’: Integrating critical pedagogy in English Language teacher
Education"
Speaker: Dr. Prem Phyak, PhD in Second Language Studies, University of Hawaii,
Assistant Professor, Department of English at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Date: 24 July, Saturday 2021
Title: "Religiosity, risk and language: a corpus analysis of Bangladeshi YouTube discourse about COVID-19"
Speaker: Dr. Chris Tang, PhD in Applied Linguistics and Public Health Communication, University of London.
Ms Tania Rahman, Senior Lecturer, North South University
Date: Date: 24 July, Saturday 2021
Webinar Title: “Confronting Discourses of Competition in TESOL through BI/Pluri/Multilingual Pedagogies: Ways to Support Local Language Resources of Students in English Classrooms”
Speaker: Mr. Kashif Raza, Lecturer, Qatar University, Qatar
PhD in Educational Research
University of Calgary, Canada
Date: 23 October 2021
Webinar Title: “Furthering the boundaries linguistic landscapes research through translanguaging”
Speaker: Dr. Josh Prada, Assistant Professor, University of Purdue”
PhD in Hispanic Linguistic
Texas Tech University, USA
Date: 13 November 2021
Webinar Title: “Speech Acts: Learning cross-cultural differences form Literary Works”
Speaker: Prof. Dr. Maya Khemlani David, Honorary Professor, Asia Europe Institute
PhD, University of Malaya
Date: 27 November 2021
Webinar: “The Assemblage of the Dead: Speech, Subjectivity, and Being Human”
Speaker: Assistant Professor, Dr. Nazia Manzoor
Ph.D., University at Albany, State University of New York
Date: 12 March 2022
Discourse: Pre-Conference Presentation (Digital Skills and Life-Long Learning)
Speaker: Dr. Deena Forkan
Ph.D, University of Toledo, USA
Date: 20 March 2022
Seminar: “USA Exchange Program”
Date: 22 March 2022
Language League 2021 (National & International)
Number of Participants: Around 30,000
Chief Guest: Mr. Muhammad Abdul Mannan, MP,
Honorable Minister, Ministry of Planning
Date: 25 March & 1 April 2022
Workshop: Women’s Day 2022, “Still I Rise: Expression and Experiences”
Date: 29 March 2022
2nd International Language League
Number of Participants: 30,000
Competition starts and ends: 19 December 2021 to 1 April 2022
Chief Guest: Mr. Muhammad Abdul Mannan, MP, Honorable Minister, Ministry of Planning
Prize-giving ceremony date: 2 April 2022
Webinar: “Policy Development in TESOL, and Multilingualism: Possibilities for Future Collaboration”
Speaker:1. Mr. Kashif Raza
Ph.D. in Educational Progress, University of Calgary, Canada
Speaker:2. Dr. Christine Coombe
Ph.D. in Foreign/Second Language Education, Ohio State University, USA
Speaker:3. Dr. Dudley Reynolds
Ph.D., Linguistics, Indiana University, USA
Date: 04 April 2022
Seminar: “Socially Just Educational Measurement: Are Educational Language Tests Measuring Up?”
Dr. Gregory Tweedie, Associate Professor, University of Calgary
Date: 26 July 2022
Workshop: “IELTS Training Session”
Dr. Gregory Tweedie, Associate Professor, University of Calgary
Date: 27 July 2022
Workshop: "Grant Writing"
Speaker: 1. Dr. Mahmuda Sharmin, PhD, University of Memphis
Dr. Md. Nesar Uddin, PhD, University of Memphis
Date: 10 August 2022
International Conference: Titled “Ruptures and Resilience: English Studies in the Now”
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Dana Lynn Driscoll,
Professor of English and Director
Jones White Writing Center, Indianan University of Pennsylvania, USA
Plenary Speaker
Dr. Mohammad A. Quayum, Honorary Professor, Flinders University, South Australia
Dr. Anwar Ahmed, Assistant Professor, University of British Columbia
Prof. A.M.M. Hamidur Rahman, Dean, Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, Daffodil International University
Dr. Manzoorul Abedin, Associate Professor, University of West London, UK
Distinguished Speaker
Dr. Niaz Zaman, Advisor, Independent University
Dr. Razia Sultana Khan, Advisor, Independent University
Dr. Syed Manzoorul Islam, Professor, ULAB
Dr. Fakrul Alam, Supernumerary Professor, University of Dhaka
Dr. Kaiser Haq, Professor, ULAB
Dr. Shireen Huq, Professor & Former Chairman, NSU
Dr. Deena P Forkan, Professor & Former Chairman, NSU
Date: 4 & 5 November 2022
Creative Writing Workshop on CHARACTER ESTABLISHMENT
Speaker: MR. ALLEN STEWART
Senior Lecturer
DEML & Fulbright English Language Fellow
Date: 22 December 2022
Seminar: Dhaka Lit Fest (DLF) 2023
NSU, Silver Sponsor
Panellist: 1. Dr. A.Q.M.A. Rahman Bhuiyan
Professor and Chair
Department of English and Modern Languages, NSU
Professor, Department of English and Modern Languages, NSU
Assistant Professor, Department of English and Modern Languages, NSU
Senior Lecturer, Department of English and Modern Languages, NSU
Date: 5-8January 2023
Creative Writing Workshop on CHARACTER EXPLORATION
Speaker: MR. ALLEN STEWART
Senior Lecturer
DEML & Fulbright English Language Fellow
Date: 2 March 2023
Seminar: "ENGLISH/INGRÉJI: NAVIGATING BILINGUALITY”
Speaker: Sudeep Chakravarti
Associate Professor, South Asian Studies Director, Center for South Asian Studies
University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh
Date: 12 March 2023
Seminar: “AI & MACHINE LEARNING AS A SURPRING MEANS TO MORE SOCIALLY JUST LANGUAGE TESTING”
Dr. Gregory Tweedie
Associate Professor, Werkland School of Education
University of Calgary, Canada
Date: 10 May 2023
Discourse: "The Gender Politics of Language"
Ms. Firdous Azim
Professor, Department of English, Brac University
Date: 26 September 2023
3rd International Language League
Number of Participants: 30,000
Competition starts and ends: 19 December 2021 to 1 April 2022
Date: September/October 2023
Discourse: Our Collective Past in Our Present Consciousness and Contemporary Writing
Speaker: Ms. Iffat Nawaz,
Date: 12 March 2024
Name of the faculty member with specialization in TESOL |
|
Dr. Mohammad Shamsuzzaman |
|
Dr. Sukanto Roy |
|
Dr. Shakila Nur |
|
Dr. Shapla Perveen |
|
Ms. Nasreen Rahman |
|
Ms. Sakiba Ferdousy |
|
Ms. Michelle Draper |
|
Ms. Nausheen Saba Siraj |
|
Ms. Shahneela Tasmin Sharmi (On leave) |
|
Ms. Ashrafun Nahar |
Name of the faculty member with specialization in Linguistics |
|
Mr. Mohammed Shahedul Haque |
|
Ms. Farzana Mohsin |
|
Ms. Nasrin Pervin |
|
Ms. Musharrat Hossain |
|
Ms. Nasreen Sultana Rahman |
|
Ms. Sameya Priom (On leave) |
|
Mr. Mehedi Hasan |
|
Ms. Tania Rahman |
Name of the faculty members with specialization in Literature |
|
Dr. Khaliquzzaman M Elias |
|
Dr. Shireen Huq |
|
Dr. Deena P. Forkan |
|
Dr. AQMA Rahman Bhuiyan |
|
Dr. Nazia Manzoor |
|
Mr. Shakhaowat Hossain |
|
Mr. Shafquat Chaudhuri |
|
Ms. Samira Aziz |
|
Mr. Shafyat Nazam Rasul |
|
Mr. Saleheen S Ahmed |
|
Mr. Naveed Islam (On leave) |
|
Ms. Sumaiya Tasneem Haque |
|
Mr. Atanu Bhuiyan |
|
Mr. Sheikh Zobaer (On leave) |
The Department of English & Modern Languages offers graduate and undergraduate programs in English which give students an opportunity to know and appreciate the science of language as well as the literary works of English and to develop literary and linguistic aptitudes of their own.
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) and the Master of Arts (MA) programs in English are divided into three lines of specialization: TESOL, Linguistics, and Literature. The degrees are recommended for students interested in a strong background in the humanities with a concentration on language and literature. The degrees also enable the graduate to pursue careers in the academic as well as the non-academic world.
The freshmen and the sophomores get an opportunity to do interdisciplinary courses to enable themselves to get a wide range of general education. By the third year, they have an option to major in one or two of the above mentioned three streams i.e. Linguistics, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Language (TESOL), and Literature. Thus, they not only get a variety of options to choose from, but also equip themselves with essential skills in specialized areas. Currently, almost 85% of the undergraduate students are majoring in linguistics in DEML, while nearly 95% of the graduate students opted for TESOL.
The department includes faculty members who have a broad range of professional competence in literature and language, and who are trained to teach courses in language study, linguistics, translation, world cultures, world literature and teaching English as a foreign language.
The department also offers a number of foreign language courses for the students of the university as well as for people from outside NSU. Since Spring 2013, the department has offered language development and proficiency programs in the form of intensive courses in seven widely used international languages (English, French, Spanish, German, Japanese, Arabic, and Bangla).
In addition to the foreign language courses, the department also organizes a variety of activities such as the Spectrum Seminars (seminar series), Discourse I and II (lecture series), and language workshops to raise language awareness and generate research interest in language and related issues among the students as well as the faculty members of NSU.
Chairman
Ph.D., Jawaharlal Nehru University, India
SAC
Table 1.1: Activity Schedule of Self-Assessment Committee
|
Date |
Activities |
|
23.2.17 |
Team-building meeting |
|
24.3.17 |
Monthly check-in workshop |
|
20.4.17 |
Faculty focus group discussion |
|
30.4.17 |
Submission of curriculum review reports |
|
14.10.17 |
Alumni meet |
|
11.11.17 |
Career prospects for DEML students |
|
7.12.17 |
Workshop on poetry |
Self-Assessment Committee Members
Department of English and Modern Languages
North South University
Members:
National & International Collaboration
