EfCoS

ENGLISH i
FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS

Action-based learning activities for effective

engagement in Academic Communication

Adriadi Novawan
Siti Aisyiyah
ENGLISH
FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS

Action-based learning activities for effective engagement

in Academic Communication

Adriadi Novawan
Siti Aisyiyah
 Dedication

DEDICATION

This work is dedicated to our family.

ii
Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DEDICATION ..................................................................................................................... II
TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................ III
INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................. V
1 ENGLISH SKILLS AND THE GLOBAL WORKPLACE .............................................................. 1
LET’S START! REQUIREMENTS TO GET A JOB ................................................................................. 1
IDEAS FOR MIND COMMUNICATION SKILL AT WORKS ................................................................... 3
WORDS FOR THOUGHT AT WORKPLACE ........................................................................................... 6
FORM AWARENESS STRATEGIC PARTS OF SENTENCES ................................................................. 8
WRITE IT WELL! SENTENCE WRITING.......................................................................................... 10
SPEAK UP! DIFFICULTY IN LEARNING ENGLISH .......................................................................... 11
2 WAYS TO BE PROFICIENT IN ENGLISH ........................................................................... 13
LET’S START! SELF ASSESSMENT ................................................................................................. 13
IDEAS FOR MIND EFFECTIVE LEARNING METHODS .................................................................... 15
WORDS FOR THOUGHT THE WORDS OF STRUGGLING .................................................................. 19
FORM AWARENESS STRATEGIC FORMS OF STATEMENT .............................................................. 22
WRITE IT WELL! WRITING SENTENCE ......................................................................................... 25
SPEAK UP! LEARNING MOTIVATION .............................................................................................. 26
3 FACTORS INFLUENCING ENGLISH PROFICIENCY ............................................................. 28
LET’S START! WHEN LEARNING AT SCHOOLS ............................................................................ 28
IDEAS FOR MIND PROFICIENT IN ENGLISH .................................................................................. 29
WORDS FOR THOUGHT THE WORDS OF STRUGGLING .................................................................. 33
FORM AWARENESS ADVERBS & ADJECTIVES ............................................................................. 35
WRITE IT WELL! PROCESS OF PARAGRAPH WRITING ................................................................. 36
SPEAK UP! THE ROLE OF ENVIRONMENT .................................................................................... 38
4 WAYS OF VOCABULARY LEARNING ............................................................................... 40
LET’S START! HOW DID YOU LEARN VOCAB? ............................................................................. 40
IDEAS FOR MIND LEARNING VOCABULARY................................................................................... 41
WORDS FOR THOUGHT WORDS OF LEARNING .............................................................................. 45
FORM AWARENESS MAKING QUESTIONS ...................................................................................... 47
WRITE IT WELL! TOPIC SENTENCE .............................................................................................. 52
SPEAK UP! LEARNING FROM THE TOP ......................................................................................... 54
5 FUNDAMENTAL FOR LANGUAGE ACQUISITION ............................................................. 55
LET’S START! MONITORING YOUR LEVEL ................................................................................... 55
IDEAS FOR MIND LEARNING THE LANGUAGE ............................................................................... 56
WORDS FOR THOUGHT LANGUAGE LEARNING .............................................................................. 60
FORM AWARENESS THE BIG PICTURE OF TENSES....................................................................... 63
WRITE IT WELL! A 7-SENTENCE PARAGRAPH PRINCIPLE .......................................................... 65
SPEAK UP! LEARNING FROM TEACHER ........................................................................................ 67

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 Table of Contents

6 THE ROLE OF LANGUAGES ............................................................................................ 69

LET’S START! DIVERSITY IN LANGUAGE ..................................................................................... 69
IDEAS FOR MIND LANGUAGE RESERVATION ................................................................................ 70
WORDS FOR THOUGHT MULTILINGUALISM .................................................................................... 73
FORM AWARENESS THE SIMPLE TENSES ...................................................................................... 76
WRITE IT WELL! PARAGRAPH WRITING........................................................................................ 79
SPEAK UP! DESCRIBING PHOTOGRAPH ....................................................................................... 80
7 VERSATILE READING SKILLS .......................................................................................... 82
LET’S START! READING HABIT..................................................................................................... 82
IDEAS FOR MIND THE POWER OF READING ................................................................................. 83
WORDS FOR THOUGHT THE WORDS OF READING......................................................................... 87
FORM AWARENESS THE PERFECT TENSES ................................................................................... 90
WRITE IT WELL! ESSAY WRITING .................................................................................................. 94
SPEAK UP! SPEAKING ABOUT FUTURE......................................................................................... 96
REFERENCES .................................................................................................................... 98

iv
 Introduction

INTRODUCTION

The English for College Students Book is composed to fulfil the needs of
tertiary students who expect to experience effective learning of English at the earlier
terms. It is recommended for those who portrait the first terms at the university as an
important transition between primary and higher education, and at the same time, an
essential moment to underpin the academic life with robust English learning. It
basically provides strategic reviews on what have been learned previously and
proposes the new ways of seeing English language learning for anticipating dynamic
academic and professional situations.
Albeit this book is divided into five parts in each chapter: Let’s Start!, Ideas for
Mind, Words for Thought, Form Awareness, and Write it well!, nevertheless, it may
not intend to dichotomize the English skills in that way. As a tool for English teaching
and learning, it can be one of references used to nurture effective, dynamic and
powerful pedagogical strategies such as task-based and action-based. In these,
authentic uses of English language communication are more crucial undermining the
knowledge of English language communication. The activities suggested in the book
can be organised in such a way to nurture conceptual notion of genuine
communication in English without discouraging the learners’ dispositions and identity.
Therefore, proper design and execution might contribute to the development of
meaningfulness and language ownership rather than short memorization of forms. The
selection of themes around the English Proficiency is expected to stimulate interests
and to draw the learners’ learning into more specific and individualised settings.
Within these, they will have abundant opportunity to improve and develop their
intrinsic motivation and navigating skills that will gradually nurture the perception on
foreign language communication.
Let’s Start! is basically a warming-up activity that can be designed interactively
to prepare and to inspire the learners with relevant introductory issues in order to settle
their mind and confidence to engage actively throughout the learning process. Ideas

v
Introduction

for Mind offers the learners with relevant reading texts comprising of some
outstanding experiences of learning English that could give them reflective insights
while learning the forms implicitly. Words for Thought and Form Awareness are
useful to help learners internalize the strategic words and grammatical rules without
being scrutinised with a huge number of randomly selected words and the traditional
package of grammar materials. Write it well! is the writing zone where the learners can
have focused practice of writing as the manifestation of communication ranged from
sentence, paragraph to essay writing. The last is Speak up! that consists of speaking
activities that encourage the learners to have confidence in speaking English as a
person in the contexts where they could be themselves.
What is important above all is the imperativeness of coherence between inside
and outside activities. It is always necessary to admit that classroom activity alone is
not sufficient to nurture effective foreign language communication skill. Organised
and monitored outside activities are definitely more crucial to be elaborated into the
classroom activity in order to avoid being trapped in an inferior notion of English
learning that regards it merely a subject. If this happens, the learning process will be
isolated in a box that will vanish authenticity of English communication. To avoid this,
tasks and assignments taking forms in group work, problem solving, contextual,
exploratory projects and other possible activities will be necessary to take place.
At last but not least, it is of distributed concerns that effective teaching and
learning process requires condusive environment and sufficient alloted time.
Commitment to both is a prerequisite for successful teaching and learning.

Jember, 17 August 2018

Author

vi
 1 English Skills and the Global Workplace

1 ENGLISH SKILLS AND THE GLOBAL WORKPLACE

LET’S START! Requirements to get a job

Task 1. Read a job vacancy below and discuss the following questions in class.

JOB OPPORTUNITY
Coordinator for the Innovation Fund, UNICEF

 Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in finance, entrepreneurship,

or other relevant field
 Demonstrated experience in collecting and managing data and information
collected from various sources
 Experience in developing communications, outreach and representation
campaigns/efforts
 Strong verbal and written communication skills required
 Understanding of different contexts and experience working in developing
countries
 Fluency in English. Another UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian
Spanish) is an asset.

1. What is required in job vacancy above?

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
2. What do you think of the role of English language proficiency for tertiary
students like you? Is it important? Why?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

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English for College Students

3. Why do you think that the employers in countries where English is not the first
language demand English language proficiency for the employee candidates?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
4. Please list down what future benefits you can get when you are good at English
communication?
a. __________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________
c. __________________________________________________
d. __________________________________________________
e. __________________________________________________
5. Despite its future benefits, why do you think that there are still many people are
not interested in learning English?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

Task 2. After discussing the importance of English language proficiency, please

have a personalised conversation in pairs around the questions below.
1. Have you ever thought about what kinds of professional job you are going to
do in your future? Can you tell?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
2. Do you know what requirements are needed to apply for that job title? Please
mention them!
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
3. Does English proficiency become one of the required skills? How will it be
applied in any specific contexts within the job?

2
 1 English Skills and the Global Workplace

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
4. To what extent do you think you will fulfill the requirement of having
sufficient level of English skills? Please tell to your partner!
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
5. Will English become your necessary for your future life? How may it be?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

IDEAS FOR MIND Communication skill at works

Task 1. Enjoy reading the text below and try to make notes on what is interesting
and relevant to you.
Notes ___
1 Communication is very important not only
for smooth running of a business enterprise but it
is also equally, if not more, important for the
success and growth of individual executives and
professionals. In the age of globalization,
communication is of paramount importance. The
lack of proper communication skills creates
barriers and distortion leading to
miscommunication and breakdown in meaning
which can have some very negative repercussions
for any company or business set-up.

3
English for College Students

Notes __
2 English has become a major international
language for worldwide communication. Proficiency
in English is a mandatory requirement for any
professional working in a global business
environment. While professions may vary, the need to
be proficient in English is a basic skill for any global
worker. For example, the professional jargon used by
a computer programmer differs greatly from that of a
physician but both professionals need to have a good
command of the English language in their own fields.
A deficiency in this area may result in barrier for the
employee's professional and personal development.
Notes
3 In the corporate world, English is used for
both internal and external communication. English is
preferred for international communication, top
management meetings and high level negotiations.
Employers require the workforce to possess
excellent communication skills apart from
knowledge and expertise in their respective technical
field. In the present day workplace, individuals need
a range of occupationally specific knowledge and
skills, personal attributes and attitudes, the ability to
transfer knowledge and skills to different situations.
Another core competency of their employees is the
analytical skill or critical thinking. It is arising as a
major concern among employers. Large scale
surveys of language and literacy skills reveal that the

4
 1 English Skills and the Global Workplace

work force needs have to be constantly upgraded in

terms of appropriate skills required.

(Adapted from “The Importance of English in a Global Workplace” written by C.V.

Zamora)

Task 2. Discuss in groups to answer the questions below.

1. What is the main idea of the text above?
____________________________________________________________
2. Why is good communication skill very important in business area?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
3. What is the topic sentence of the second paragraph?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
4. Does English Proficiency become obligatory in workplace? Why?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
5. What are the difference and the similarity of the English demand for the
computer programmer and physician?
Difference:___________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Similarity: ___________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
6. How does the writer see that English has a strategic role in corporate
world? ______________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
7. What do the employers expect for the workers who work in their company?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

5
English for College Students

8. Beside English skills, what other skill is mentioned by the writer in the last
paragraph?
____________________________________________________________
9. Why is the writer confident about his statement that workers need to
upgrade their skills more and more?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
10. What is the writer’s intention in writing this composition?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

WORDS FOR THOUGHT At workplace

A The quality of having great facility and

Task 1. When reading the text
competence
in the previous tasks, how
many words did you B Board of executives, managers or directors
understand? Check it by C A place where work is done
matching the words in the left D The act of disrupting an established order so it
with the meaning in the right? fails to continue.
E Specialized technical terminology characteristic
of a particular subject
1. Executives
F Remote or indirect consequence of some actions
2. Breakdown G Time of growth to worldwide scale
3. Repercussions H Skillfulness by virtue of possessing special
4. Requirement knowledge
I A person responsible for the administration of a
5. Deficiency
business
6. Jargon J The primary quality of being adequately or well
7. Expertise qualified physically and intellectually
K Anything indispensable
8. Workplace
L The state of needing something that is absent or
9. Corporate world unavailable
10. Core competency M In the area of belonging to a corporation

6
 1 English Skills and the Global Workplace

Task 2. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words provided in the table in
the right.
1. The hotel manager pacified a guest with a
________ apology for the error made by his
a. Mandatory
employee.
b. Excellent
2. Since the first semester, students should
c. Workplace
consider what ________ they need to learn
d. Greatly
to anticipate the work competition.
e. Expertise
3. Hiring an unskilled employee can become
f. Appropriately
________ for the goals accomplishment.
g. Sell
4. The students’ attendance is ________ for
h. Deficiency
the course success.
i. Barriers
5. Living in a small city differs ________
j. Smooth
from that in a big one.
k. Employers
6. A ________ in work safety control will
l. Constantly
endanger the workers.
m. Market
7. It is generally believed that the students of
n. Classify
college are hard to be ________ in English
o. Negotiation
Skills.
p. Proficient
8. Working in Sales and Marketing Division
q. Analytical
requires the person in charge to have a good
r. Preferred
_________ skill.
s. Publish
9. English is known as a _________ language
t. Grade
used for international communication.
10. Currently, _________ require their
employees to have good English communication skills.
11. In industrial country like Japan, the development of workers’ quality tends
to be __________ increased.

7
English for College Students

12. An __________ communication skill often precedes successful

negotiations.
13. Beside the English Skills, _________ skill is also required to work in
companies.
14. The work competition in _________ is getting higher and higher,
especially facing the globalization era.
15. In hospitality industry, an employee practices how to serve the costumers
__________.

FORM AWARENESS Strategic parts of sentences

Task 1. The forms of English language in some ways is similar to other languages
like Indonesian. Each word has particular function in order to construct meaningful
sentences. Try to analyze the following sentences; how does each word bring
meaning?
For example:
Merry studies hard. She is a clever student.
N V P V N

Note: “Merry” is a noun (N) because it names a person.

“Studies” is a verb (V) because it describes an action.
“She” is a pronoun (P) because it is used instead of a noun-Merry.
“Is” is a verb (V) because it describes a state of being something.

Now find your own sentences and do similar way of looking at the word functions.
1. ______________________________________
2. ______________________________________
3. ______________________________________

8
 1 English Skills and the Global Workplace

4. ______________________________________
5. ______________________________________

Task 2. Look at the sentences below and identify which one is noun (N), pronoun
(P), and verb (V) and leave explanation on the reason.
1. The man works at a bank.

2. The students go to beach every weekend.

3. We often write a letter to our parents.

4. The lecturer teaches the English subject.

5. The children usually swim in the pool.

6. The plane arrives in the evening.

7. Farmers walk to field everyday.

8. A businessman reads many books.

9. The security staff opens the gate in the morning.

10. Clark is a hunter. He hunts deer.

11. A father watches his children carefully.

12. The boys play football every Sunday.

9
English for College Students

13. My sister cooks well.

14. A carpenter makes wooden furniture.

15. We watch TV programs everyday.

WRITE IT WELL! Sentence writing

Task 1. Remember what you have done in the previous tasks and try to make
sentences by using verbs and nouns provided in the following table.

Verb Noun Your sentences

decide business My sister has decided to run her own business.
classify costumers

hire workers

manage people

handle works

produce product

develop organization

solve problem

evaluate performance

10
 1 English Skills and the Global Workplace

plan program

Task 2. Give your works in Task 1 above to your partner and ask for feedback. Have
a mutual feedback to each other and revise the mistakes.

SPEAK UP! Difficulty in learning English

Task 1. Please discuss the following questions with your partner in pairs.
1. Have you ever spoken in English with others in actual moments? In what
occasions? Can you tell?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Is English language difficult to learn? Why do you think so? Consider what
is implied in the question No. 1 above.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

Task 2. Now try to change partner, get more information about what do people say
about English in terms of the difficulty of learning English for those in two
categories:
(1) who consider English is difficult
(2) who think that English is not difficult

11
English for College Students

Fill out the table below individually.

No Who consider difficult Who consider not difficult

Task 3. After your interviews in the previous task, please share what you have in
mind in front of the class!

Remember that you do not need to make a script and to memorize everything in
mind before your presentation. Try to apply what you have learned naturally and
spontaneously.

12
 2 Ways to be Proficient in English

2 WAYS TO BE PROFICIENT IN ENGLISH

LET’S START! Self assessment

Task 1. Discuss the following questions in class.

1. In learning English, is it necessary to know our level of proficiency? Why?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
2. Please describe your proficiency level in Listening, Speaking, Reading and
Writing and how do you know your level in every skill?
Listening : excellent – good – fair – poor
_____________________________________________
Speaking : excellent – good – fair – poor
_____________________________________________
Reading : excellent – good – fair – poor
_____________________________________________
Writing : excellent – good – fair – poor
_____________________________________________
3. How long have you been learning English since you were in elementary
school? Do you think your English proficiency is suitable with the time you
had spent in learning it? Why?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

13
English for College Students

_____________________________________________________________
4. Do you agree to say that the students in Indonesia often waste much time
studying English without significant progress? Can you explain? What about
yourself?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
5. What ways do you think will be effective to master English? Explain your
reason?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

Task 2. Try to have more understanding on your learning preference by exploring

yourself in pairs. Use the questions below.
1. Are you prone to work alone or together?
_____________________________________________________________
2. Which skill can you do better, writing or speaking?
_____________________________________________________________
3. What types of media can support your learning better, visual (texts, books),
audio (tape, MP3, IPOD) or audio-visual (video)?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
4. Are you well-organised or spontaneous in learning English?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
5. Are you objective-oriented or social oriented?

14
 2 Ways to be Proficient in English

_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

So, what do you think about yourself? What kinds of English learning
approaches will be best for you? If you are not sure, try to get feedback
from your lecturer.

IDEAS FOR MIND Effective learning methods

Task 1. Enjoy reading the text below and try to make notes on what is interesting
and relevant to you.
Notes ___
1 No doubt, English is the most important
language in the world. I have realized the
importance of learning English and worked hard
on it since I was a child. However, 13 years of
learning English experience didn’t lead me to
success, but being a person who can hardly
communicate in English and definitely unable to
write an essay. Once I came to the USA, I knew
that I had made too many mistakes in learning
English. Those mistakes are translating English
into different languages, don’t learn vocabulary as
much as I can, and don’t read and write enough.
Notes __
2 First of all, every language is unique. They
usually have different grammar and use of
vocabulary, which means learning English by
translating it into different languages will lead to an
inevitable defeat. For example, I have worked hard on

15
English for College Students

learning a lot of vocabulary by translating them into

Chinese. I thought it was a good idea to build up my
vocabulary in order to read and write better.
However, those translation processes were hugely
disappointing. At that time, I failed to express my
idea accurately by those translated vocabulary. As a
consequence, good grade and improvement seemed
untouchable. When I either wrote or read, I had to use
Chinese to think about the passage. As a result, I
didn’t do it well and did it very slowly. When I came
to the USA, I desperately and completely stopped
translation. Just a year of time, my English was
obviously and generally improved. I attribute my
success to the stop of translation.
Notes
3 Secondly, I would like to show about how
best we can utilize our English skills by learning
more vocabulary. When I came here, I bought a
book about the Second World War. The book is
very thick and has too many new words for me.
While I started reading, I could only read 5 pages
per half an hour. However, I had never been
frustrated. Whereas, I worked hard on it and
learned 10 new words from it every day.
Subsequently, I can probably read 12 pages per
half an hour. On the other hand, the vocabulary
can also help me in different aspects. Whenever I
read a newspaper, a magazine or other books, they
help me to understand more about the context. In
addition, they also work when I write. They enable

16
 2 Ways to be Proficient in English

me to write in various ways for the same meaning

and provide me with more word choices to write
accurately. So my essay is generally improved. In
my opinion, my reading and writing improvement
are partly from the extension of my vocabulary.
Notes
4 Now, I am going to talk about reading and
writing. They are undoubtedly the key element to
learn English comfortably and effectively. In the
past, I put majority of time on doing grammar
exercises, but improvement is near invisible. Once I
put my heart into reading and writing, I can feel
my English is leaping over many steps. On the other
side of the coin, let’s talk about soccer. If I just tell
you how to control and shot the ball, but don’t give
you any chance to practice. Do you think you can
still play it well? Improving English from only doing
grammar exercises is usually inferior to reading and
writing practice. Only practices can help us to react
to the reality. Therefore reading and writing are
crucial to our English.
Note_______
5 In conclusion, stopping translation processes,
learning more vocabulary, reading more, and writing
more are the most effective way or even the only way
to improve our English. The advice is invaluable and
learnt painfully. If I have learnt them before, my
English must be much better than now. Anyway, I
hope you guys can pay heed to me and have a good
future.

17
English for College Students

(Adapted from an article entitled “The Importance of English”, available at:

http://corner.youth.cn/jiqiao/200807/t20080702 745912.htm)

Task 2. Refer to your notes in Task 1 while having discussion in groups to answer
the questions below.
1. What is the main idea of the text above?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
2. Do you have any idea about who is the writer or his nationality? What is he
doing in the USA?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
3. How long did the writer study English and remained unable? What mistakes
had he made?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
4. How did he learn English vocabularies?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
5. What benefits does the writer get by improving his vocabularies?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
6. How does the writer illustrate the relationship between grammar exercise
and reading-writing exercise?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

18
 2 Ways to be Proficient in English

7. What is the main idea of the second paragraph?

_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
8. Where is the topic sentence placed in the paragraph 3? What is it?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
9. How does he regret about mistakes he made that influenced his English
proficiency?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
10. What do you think about the lesson he gives? Does it work for you? Why?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

WORDS FOR THOUGHT The words of struggling

Task 1. In English language communication, there are many possible words with
the same meaning that you can use to deliver a message. Therefore, one of the
important ways of learning English vocabulary is by learning the synonyms. Try to
learn them by using the table below.

No. Word Synonyms

1 Accurately correctly, precisely, exactly, truthfully
2 Disappointing
3 Mistake
4 Unable

19
English for College Students

5 Untouchable
6 Desperately
7 to attribute
8 to utilize
9 Probably
10 Undoubtedly
11 Invisible
12 Extension
13 Majority
14 Comfortably
15 Invaluable
16 Effectively
17 Advice
18 Painfully
19 Crucial
20 Inferior

Task 1. Use at least 5 of the words in the table in sentences of your own context as
in the example below!

For example:
No. 1. Accurately-correctly (chose one or more closer synonyms to your sentence)
My younger sister is able to write an English sentence accurately/correctly.

Now write your sentences here:

No. ____: _________________ ________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
No. ____: _________________ ________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

20
 2 Ways to be Proficient in English

No. ____: _________________ ________________________________

_______________________________________________________________
No. ____: _________________ ________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
No. ____: _________________ ________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

Task 3. In learning English vocabulary, guessing

meaning is invaluable to do. Please guess what shall be
in the blanks by using the appropriate words in the
a. Definitely
table.
b. Classify
1. It is difficult to apply any job without enough
c. Majority
_________.
d. Improve
2. To build a good relationship, students need to
e. Advices
learn how to ________ each other.
f. Hugely
3. He usually makes a wise decision but today he
g. Write
is ________ wrong.
h. Exercises
4. College students in Indonesia have learned
i. Inferior
English for minimally 6 years nevertheless
j. Communicate
many are ________ to write an English essay.
k. Inevitable
5. English mastery becomes ________ for the
l. Experience
students of college in order to be ready for
m. Translating
work.
n. Invaluable
6. Firing some workers is ________
o. Untouchable
disappointing the rests of them.
p. Improvement
7. The external accountant has ________
q. Accurately
inspected the financial report.
r. Think
8. Considering this current situation, multiplying
s. Famous
the product selling seems _________.
t. Unable
9. It has been proven that ________ English

21
English for College Students

words into our language is not effective way to master it.

10. Our career path will be influenced by the extent of ________ we make
toward ourselves.
11. ________ of the staffs agree to extend our business abroad.
12. Doing _________ and practices is essential in English proficiency.
13. Sometimes, doing mistakes can become ________ lesson for better
learning.
14. Learning vocabularies without grammar is ________ to English learning.
15. Young generation tends to underestimate ________ given by their parents.

FORM AWARENESS Strategic forms of statement

Task 1. Please discuss the following questions in class.

1. Why do you think that grammar is considered difficult by students?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. To be proficient in English, can we not to learn grammar? Why?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
3. What is the difference between:
Learning OF English communication, and
Learning FOR English communication?

The differences:
Learning OF English Communication Learning FOR English Communication

22
 2 Ways to be Proficient in English

Which one do you actually need? Why?

How shall the new perspective change the habit of learning?

Remember that you may not need to learn all or most of the theories of form. Therefore,
prioritizing your learning on how to produce strategic types of statement and question
properly is more crucial.
Listen to your lecturer on the Strategic statements related to predicative functions, and work
on the following tasks in groups.

Task 2. Look at the following statements and can you group them into two big
categories (for example just say Group A & B) in terms of its predicative function?

23
English for College Students

1. She drives slowly. ( )

2. The girl is a nurse. ( )
3. The man works at a bank. ( )
4. They are naughty boys. ( )
5. Students go to beach every weekend. ( )
6. We usually write a letter to our parents. ( )
7. A cat ran quickly on the tile last night. ( )
8. The cat is funny. ( )
9. The beggars are very dirty. ( )
10. The lecturer teaches us English. ( )
11. The children swim in a pool. ( )
12. Those children are strong. ( )
13. His father is a policeman. ( )
14. The plane arrives in the evening. ( )
15. I am thirsty. ( )
16. Farmers walk to the field everyday. ( )
17. A businessman reads many books. ( )
18. The security staff opens the gate in the morning. ( )
19. Doctors take care of patients. ( )
20. Midwives take care of pregnant woman. ( )
21. He hunts deer. ( )
22. A father watches his children. ( )
23. We are good students. ( )
24. Jenny is an English lecturer. ( )
25. The boys play football every Sunday. ( )
26. My sister cooks well. ( )
27. He is a dentist. ( )
28. They are vocational students. ( )
29. A carpenter makes wooden furniture. ( )
30. We watch TV programs. ( )

24
 2 Ways to be Proficient in English

Task 3. Can you please name and describe in more detail the groups of statement in
Task 2? Use the following table.

Group A Group B
Name
Characteristics

WRITE IT WELL! Writing sentence

Task 1. Remember what you have done in the previous tasks and try to make your
own sentences by using the words in the table below.

Word Meaning Your sentences

1. unable Not capable The student is unable to speak well.
2. disappointing

3. to utilize

4. probably

5. to attribute

6. untouchable

7. improvement

8. consequence

25
English for College Students

9. subsequently

10. undoubtedly

Task 2. Give your works in Task 1 above to your partner and ask for feedback. Have
a mutual feedback to each other and revise the mistakes by referring to what you
have done in Part FORM AWARENESS Task 3 on two strategic forms of statement.

SPEAK UP! Learning motivation

Task 1. Please discuss the following questions with your partner in pairs.
1. Getting through this lesson, have you ever thought about the purpose of
learning English? What do you think is your purpose?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. If you are asked to choose which of these represents your learning
motivation so far? Can you explain?
 I learn English because I have to.
_________________________________________________________
 I learn English because I must.
_________________________________________________________

Task 2. Now try to change partner, get more information about the characteristics of
these two learning motivations:
(1) I learn English because I have to.
(2) I learn English because I must.

26
 2 Ways to be Proficient in English

After that, please work individually to compare both types of motivation by using this
table.

No I have to I must

Task 3. What you have written in the table can provide useful insight for speaking
about comparison between two types of motivation. Now try to grasp everything you
wrote as a whole into your mind and share it in front of the class.

Remember, learning to speak in foreign language requires you to make proper

intensive form adoption. Adoption means you want to use it in your genuine
situations. Form might comprise of the most frequently used vocabulary as
recommended in this lesson, and strategic grammar rules.

27
English for College Students

3 FACTORS INFLUENCING ENGLISH PROFICIENCY

LET’S START! When learning at schools

Task 1. Have an interactive class discussion by using the questions below.

1. Talking about learning English, can you make comparison between difficulty
of English and Indonesian learning? Which is definitely more difficult to
learn? Why?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
2. What are factors influencing the success of students in acquiring the English
skills?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
3. Do you know what is the best way to master English Skills? Can you explain?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

28
 3 Factors Influencing English Proficiency

Task 2. Work in pairs to explore your past experience of learning English at schools.
What type of learning does represent yours?
 Mostly theoretical; more oriented to introduce the basic grammar
 Mostly theoretical with some limited practical activities
 Many practical activities underpinned with theoretical knowledge
 Predominated with practical activities underpinned with limited theoretical
knowledge

IDEAS FOR MIND Proficient in English

Task 1. Enjoy reading the text below and try to make notes on what is interesting
and relevant to you.
Notes ___
1 I truly hope that at the end of this short
essay I will be able to convey you some pertinent
information to point you in the right direction on
how to learn the English language and by doing
this I hope it will stimulate those who would like
to improve their language skills. I trust that you
will all bear with me while I will try to describe
you how I, as a foreigner, did learn the English
language and where I struggled most.
Notes __
2 Having been born in Somalia, with Asian
background and with Italian as my mother tongue, I
have to admit that I have always been more prone to
learn languages rather than being dragooned into
doing so. Learning English, however, has been
anything but easy or predictable, for when I arrived in

29
English for College Students

London my knowledge of the language was, to say

the least, a bit thin. Luckily enough, soon after my
arrival, I was able to enroll in a Sixth Form college
where I found highly motivated and caring teachers,
who patiently taught me English. This, I think, was a
significantly important factor that allowed me to learn
the language. Nonetheless, those of you who are not
fortunate enough in this regard should not despair,
because, if enrolling in the right college or being
taught by a caring teacher are very important and
practical issues in learning a language, even more
important, however, is to work hard and to be
committed to doing well. I was committed to learning
English; more precisely, I desperately wanted to go to
university, and mastering the language was the means
to achieve my goal.
Notes
3 Now that I have completed my Master
Degree from Oxford University, and looking back
in retrospect, I realize I was quite naïve, for I never
imagined learning English was going to be so
much work, and the more fluent I became the
harder the language became too. English is indeed
a very peculiar language: not only does it have so
many grammatical rules, but, irritatingly enough,
there are also hundreds of exceptions to those
rules, which one can master only through years of
persistence, dedication, and indefatigable energy,
and earnestly speaking I have yet to reach such
flawlessness in the use of English.

30
 3 Factors Influencing English Proficiency

Notes
4 Some basic recommendations, which I
would give to those who were interested in learning
the language, are: firstly, buy a good English
dictionary, for this is the most important thing that
you will need when learning English. Successful
English learners use their dictionaries all the time.
Secondly, if you want to improve your
speaking/writing ability, read the newspaper, and
while doing that, highlight the words you do not
know, and then go and check them on your new
dictionary. Thirdly, instead of watching TV, listen to
the radio. Fourthly, talk, talk and talk to anyone at
anytime and anywhere. And finally, learn to go with
the flow while enjoying the many benefits of
learning a new language; and even though, at times
it may be frustrating and embarrassing to make
mistakes, you will eventually learn to accept them,
and only when you will focus more on
understanding your mistakes rather than judging
yourself, then you will start to become fluent.

(Taken from “How to master English Language”, written by Abdulla, D.)

Task 2. Discuss in groups to answer the questions below.

1. What is the main idea of the text?

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

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English for College Students

2. What is the purpose of the writer in writing this essay?

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
3. Can you describe who the writer is?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
4. How did he feel in English learning as what has been admitted by him?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
5. What factor did permit him to learn English better?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
6. How does he express how difficult studying English is?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
7. What does he claim about the only way to master English then?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

8. What does he suggest to do to be proficient in English?

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
9. Which of those recommendations you have been done? Which is the most
difficult to do?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
10. Do you think that his suggestions will be effective in your situations? Why?

32
 3 Factors Influencing English Proficiency

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

WORDS FOR THOUGHT The words of struggling

Task 1. Match the words in the left column with the meaning given in the
right column.

1. to convey A. The state of being without an error or mistake

2. to stimulate B. The act of persisting or persevering; continuing or
3. to struggle repeating behaviour
4. to admit C. In a serious manner
5. dragooned D. Contemplation of things past
6. luckily E. Move into the foreground to make more visible or
7. arrival prominent
8. to enroll F. Abandon hope; give up hope; lose heart
9. to allow G. Make a possibility or provide opportunity for;
10. to despair permit to be attainable or cause to remain
11. retrospect H. Register formally as a participant or member
12. persistence I. The act of reaching to a certain place
13. earnestly J. Make you to do something
14. flawlessness K. By a good fortune

15. to highlight L. Being forced by threats or challenges

M. Make known about some information
N. Say the true about the existence of a reality
O. Make an energetic attempt to achieve something

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English for College Students

Task 2. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words in the table.

a. Peculiar (adj) b. Precisely (adv) c. Prone (adj)

d. Fortunate (adj) e. Pertinent (adj) f. Embarrassing (adj)
g. Fluent (adj) h. Indefatigable (adj) i. Frustrating (adj)
j. Irritatingly (adv) k. Significantly (adv) l. highly motivated (adj)
m. Exceptions (noun) n. practice (noun) o. Predictable (adj)

1. In order to get a good position in this department, an employee has to

master ______________ English skills.
2. English is known as a ______________ language since there are a lot of
exceptions in the grammar rules.
3. He is _______________. He didn’t prepare anything to face the test but he
get A.
4. The result of English exercise can be _______________. If a student does
it gradually and continuously, he will be successful in particular level.
5. As the student of college, his English ability is ________________. He
even cannot tell his identity correctly.
6. The lecturer moved some chairs _______________ when the students
were joining an examination.
7. All students have to attend the night meeting without any
______________.
8. A student who likes English will be ______________ to practice the
skills.
9. The lecturer always explains everything _____________ that the class
ended before the time.
10. Today, Applied English skills are considered more ____________ for
working in industry than General English Skills.
11. A factor influencing the success of English learning is being
________________ in practice.

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 3 Factors Influencing English Proficiency

12. ______________________ is one of requirements to work in any

company.
13. After joining a life skills training, he changed his
attitude________________.
14. It is a general consensus that ____________ makes perfect.
15. A lot of students admitted that studying English is difficult and
_____________.

FORM AWARENESS Adverbs & Adjectives

Task 1. Please take a careful look at the following sentences, particularly their
underlined words. Try to group them into two strategic functions in terms of what
types of word they explain or alter.

1. He cannot drive slowly. Explain drive, a verb

2. A girl usually works beautifully. _______________
3. They are very greedy. _______________
4. The students are diligent. _______________
5. The book is expensive. _______________
6. Music is wonderful. _______________
7. Today is bright. _______________
8. Children are honest. _______________
9. A doctor always arrives punctually. _______________
10. The farmers are polite. _______________
11. She reads books diligently. _______________
12. Security staff is brave. _______________
13. Nurses are patient. _______________
14. The woman is angry. _______________

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English for College Students

15. Hunters are cruel. _______________

16. A father watches children carefully. _______________
17. The boys are naughty. _______________
18. My sister is clever. _______________
19. A carpenter makes wooden furniture keenly. _______________
20. This TV program is exciting. _______________

Task 2. Can you please name and describe in more detail the groups of statement in
Task 1?

Group A Group B
Types of word
explained

Marry is beautiful.
The word beautiful explains Marry, a noun. It is called adjective.
The man works well.
The word well clarify or specify works, a verb. It is called adverb.

WRITE IT WELL! Process of paragraph writing

Before doing the following tasks, remember that you have learned:
 Two strategic forms of statement: verbal and nominal.
 Two important words to explain, describe, specify, or clarify things: adjective
and adverb.
Could you apply those in writing?

36
 3 Factors Influencing English Proficiency

Task 1. Work in small groups to figure out things or to describe a person together
based on the table below.
No Person/thing Description
1 Mr. Jason smart, work punctually, impressive achievements, …
2

Task 2. Based on Task 1, work individually to find ways of proper statement

construction to compose a short well-prepared descriptive paragraph.
Mr. Jason:
No Descriptive words Your writing
1 Smart I know a person known as Mr. Jason. He is a smart
person working for a multi-national company in
2 Work punctually
Jakarta. He works punctually. He is a professional
3 Impressive staff who have obtained many impressive
achievements achievements over the years.

_________________:
No Descriptive words Your writing

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English for College Students

_________________:
No Descriptive words Your writing

Task 3. Give your works in Task 2 above to your partner and ask for feedback. Have
a mutual feedback to each other and revise the mistakes by referring to what you
have learned.

SPEAK UP! The role of environment

Task 1. Please discuss the following questions in class.

1. Is learning environment influential for effective mastery? Why?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. What kinds of learning environment have become the most influential in
your learning so far? Can you explain?
 School
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
 Family
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

38
 3 Factors Influencing English Proficiency

 Friends
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

Task 2. Now interview at least 2 (two) students in class to explore more about:
(1) How have their school supported their learning?
(2) How have their family supported their learning?
(3) How have their friends supported their learning?

Write down your interview results in the table below.

Q __________________ __________________ __________________

1

Task 3. Do present your interview results in front of the class without preparing a
script. Just rely on your table while speaking and say what is in your mind.
Remember, it is beneficial to practice speaking without short memorization.

39
English for College Students

4 WAYS OF VOCABULARY LEARNING

LET’S START! How did you learn vocab?

Task 1. Discuss the following questions in class.

1. Is vocabulary learning important in English proficiency? Why?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
2. Do you think that students of university learn vocabulary sufficiently or not?
Can you explain what about yourself?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
3. What method is the best to study vocabulary? Why?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

40
 4 Ways of Vocabulary Learning

Task 2. Start a conversation with your partner in pairs. Can you try to explore the
following ways of vocabulary learning that you and your partner have frequently
done.

 I have sporadically memorized words

 I have occasionally memorized words
 I have memorized certain words regularly, mainly from dictionary
 I have memorized certain words regularly, mainly from school textbooks
 I have memorized certain words regularly from variety of sources
 I have learned words regularly through reading
 I have learned words through actions and authentic interactions
 I have learned words through actions and authentic interactions and have
monitored progress

IDEAS FOR MIND Learning vocabulary

Task 1. Enjoy reading the text below and try to make notes on what is interesting
and relevant to you.
Notes ___
1 One of the best ways to build your
vocabulary is to read, and read some more. You
will want to read everything you can get your
hands on. If you come across a word that you're
not familiar with, you will want to take the time to
look it up. While this may be tedious at first, you
will want to make it into a habit. Once you've done
it a few times, you will become used to it, and this
will help you increase your vocabulary. In addition

41
English for College Students

to this, reading also improves the way you speak.

You will learn how to properly structure your
sentences, and you can say them in a way that
makes a lot of sense.

Notes __
2 The people who have the most impressive
vocabulary skill are those who look at reading as
being fun or recreational, not a chore that needs to be
done. When it comes to building up your vocabulary,
all the methods available can be broken down into
two basic categories. These are reading, and learning
formally. Reading is a method that we are all familiar
with. You pick up a book, and you read it. As you
come across words that you don't know, you will look
at their context within the sentence, and if this doesn't
work, you will want to look them up in a dictionary.
This is the first method of increasing your
vocabulary. The second technique is what I refer to as
being the formal method. This is the method that is
used the most in elementary schools. The teacher will
give the students a workbook, or they will be given
spelling tests. They will also be tested to determine
their comprehension of the words.
Notes
3 There are some teachers that would argue
that one method is better than the other, but in
truth, most people use both methods. By using
both, you make up for any weaknesses that may
exist in the other method. However, I think that

42
 4 Ways of Vocabulary Learning

many people would find that reading is much more

fun when compared to the more formal method of
learning.
Notes
4 No matter which method you prefer, both
are proficient in allowing your vocabulary to
become larger. Having a strong vocabulary will
allow you to succeed in multiple areas of your life.
You will be able to convey ideas, and you will
convey them well.

(Adapted from an article entitled “The Importance of Strong Vocabulary”, available

at: http://www.exforsys.com/career-center/english-vocabulary/importance-of-strong-
vocabulary.html, accessed on 7 February 2009, at 14.12)

Task 2. Discuss in groups to answer the questions below.

1. What is the main idea of the text?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
2. What is the purpose of the writer in writing this essay?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
3. In relation to vocabulary learning, to whom does the writer admire? Can you
behave the same as the figure? How will you do that?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

43
English for College Students

4. According to the writer, what should we do when we have problem to

understand some words in a text we don’t know the meaning?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
5. What benefits can be gained by reading activity?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
6. What are the best ways to enrich our vocabulary mentioned by the writer?
(1) ____________________________________________________________
(2) ____________________________________________________________
7. What are differences between those two ways?
No Method A: No Method B:
_________________________ ________________________

8. Which one of the two, is considered preferable for people according to the
writer? Why?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
9. In paragraph 3, what is suggested by the writer about how to choose a method
of vocabulary learning?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

44
 4 Ways of Vocabulary Learning

10. In the last paragraph, how does the writer encourage the reader in vocabulary
learning? Why does he do that?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

WORDS FOR THOUGHT Words of learning

Task 1. Match the words in the left column with the meaning given in the right
column.

1. Tedious a. In the right manner

2. Properly b. Decide upon or fix definitely

3. Sense c. Making a strong or vivid impression

4. Impressive d. of or relating to recreation
5. Recreational e. A student's book or booklet containing
6. Available problems with spaces for solving them
7. Formally f. Obtainable or accessible and ready for use
8. Technique or service
9. Elementary g. The property of lacking physical or mental
10. Workbook strength; liability to failure under pressure
11. Spelling or stress or strain
12. To determine h. So lacking in interest as to cause mental
13. Weaknesses weariness
14. Multiple i. In a formal manner
j. A practical method or art applied to some
particular task
k. The meaning of a word or expression; the

45
English for College Students

way in which a word or expression or

situation can be interpreted
l. Of or being the essential or basic part
m. Forming words with letters according to
the principles underlying accepted usage
n. Having or involving or consisting of
more than one part or entity or individual

Task 2. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words in the table.

a. familiar with b. recreational c. context

d. tedious e. available f. argue
g. properly h. categories i. workbook
j. structure k. formally l. elementary
m. sense n. impressive o. weaknesses

1. In general, most of students have problem in arranging their sentences

_____________.
2. Vocabulary learning is essential to build students awareness on sentence
___________.
3. In English learning, it is important that the students be able to
_______________ what to be said.
4. In English, there are only four tenses _________________. They are
simple, continuous, perfect and perfect continuous.
5. Don’t be so serious! Studying English needs to be done as a
________________ activity.
6. Some students slept in the class while a _____________ speaker was
speaking to them.
7. The English lecturer is always ______________ in campus. You can
consult your language problem anytime.

46
 4 Ways of Vocabulary Learning

8. You don’t have always to look up your dictionary when you don’t know
the meaning of a word. You can interpret the meaning using the
_____________ where it is written.
9. A factor affecting students’ success in mastering the speaking skill is that
the extent to which they are ___________________ the sound of English.
10. When informal education is not enough to accomplish English skills, you
can try to study them _____________.
11. They are joining an English course but in different level. Jenny is in
intermediate and Jonnie is in ______________ level.
12. A pair of key to be wise is recognizing our own ________________ and
willing to repair them toughly.
13. After spending a long time studying English, I find that English grammar is
very ______________ that I cannot stop studying it.
14. It is useless to ___________ with him. He is always true!
15. Don’t fight about what task we got yesterday. Let me check it in my
_____________ because I remember had marked the numbers.

FORM AWARENESS Making questions

Task 1. Remember that there are two strategic statements: verbal and nominal. Try
to explore possible functions of the statement types.

Verbal Nominal
Functions

47
English for College Students

Task 3. Make Yes/No Question and the answer by considering the sentence type.

Example:
1. Merry studies hard. (verbal )
Does Merry study hard?-- Yes, she does./ No, she doesn’t.
2. Merry is a student. (nominal)
Is Merry a student?--Yes, she is./ No, she isn’t.

1. She drives slowly. ( )

____________________________________________________________
2. The girl is a nurse. ( )
____________________________________________________________
3. The man works at a bank. ( )
____________________________________________________________
4. They are naughty boys. ( )
____________________________________________________________
5. Students go to beach every weekend. ( )
____________________________________________________________
6. We write a letter. ( )
____________________________________________________________
7. Cat runs quickly. ( )
____________________________________________________________
8. The cat is funny. ( )
____________________________________________________________
9. The beggars are very dirty. ( )
____________________________________________________________
10. A lecturer teaches. ( )
____________________________________________________________
11. Children swim in a pool. ( )
____________________________________________________________

48
 4 Ways of Vocabulary Learning

12. Those children are strong. ( )

____________________________________________________________
13. His father is a policeman. ( )
____________________________________________________________
14. The plane arrives in the evening. ( )
____________________________________________________________
15. I am thirsty. ( )
____________________________________________________________
16. Farmers walk to field. ( )
____________________________________________________________
17. A businessman reads many books. ( )
____________________________________________________________
18. The Security staff opens the gate in the morning. ( )
____________________________________________________________
19. Doctors take care of patients. ( )
____________________________________________________________
20. Midwives take care of pregnant woman. ( )
____________________________________________________________
21. He hunts deer. ( )
____________________________________________________________
22. A father watches his children. ( )
____________________________________________________________
23. We are good students. ( )
____________________________________________________________
24. Jenny is an English lecturer. ( )
____________________________________________________________
25. The boys play football every Sunday. ( )
____________________________________________________________
26. My sister cooks well. ( )
____________________________________________________________

49
English for College Students

27. He is a dentist. ( )
____________________________________________________________
28. They are midwifery students. ( )
____________________________________________________________
29. A carpenter makes wooden furniture. ( )
____________________________________________________________
30. We watch TV programs. ( )
____________________________________________________________

Task 3. Make W-h Question and the answer based on the underlined word.

Example:
1. Merry studies hard. (verbal )
How does Merry study?/ She studies hard.
2. Merry is a student. (nominal)
What is Merry?/ She is a student.

1. She drives slowly. ( )

____________________________________________________________
2. The girl is a nurse. ( )
____________________________________________________________
3. The man works at a bank. ( )
____________________________________________________________
4. Students go to beach every weekend. ( )
____________________________________________________________
5. Cat runs quickly. ( )
____________________________________________________________
6. The cat is funny. ( )
____________________________________________________________
7. The beggars are very dirty. ( )

50
 4 Ways of Vocabulary Learning

____________________________________________________________
8. Children swim in a pool. ( )
____________________________________________________________
9. His father is a policeman. ( )
____________________________________________________________
10. The plane arrives in the evening. ( )
____________________________________________________________
11. Farmers walk to the field. ( )
____________________________________________________________
12. A businessman reads financial planning books. ( )
____________________________________________________________
13. The security staff opens the gate in the morning. ( )
____________________________________________________________
14. Nurses take care of patients. ( )
____________________________________________________________
15. Jenny is an English lecturer. ( )
____________________________________________________________
16. The boys play football every Sunday. ( )
____________________________________________________________
17. He is a dentist. ( )
____________________________________________________________
18. They are midwifery students. ( )
____________________________________________________________
19. A carpenter makes wooden furniture. ( )
____________________________________________________________
20. They watch TV programs. ( )
____________________________________________________________

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English for College Students

WRITE IT WELL! Topic sentence

Task 1. Discuss the questions below in class.

1. Refer to what you have read in Part Ideas for Mind. What do you think is a
topic sentence?
____________________________________________________________
2. What do you think is the function of a topic sentence in a paragraph?
____________________________________________________________
3. Can you make a strong topic sentence properly? Is it difficult? Tell your
experience!
____________________________________________________________
4. Do you know what the imperative parts of topic sentence are? Can you
mention?
Parts of Topic
____________________ ____________________
Sentence:

5. Please analysise the topic sentences below. Do they fulfil the requirement
of strong topic sentences? Please explain!
 Reading is important.
 The importance of reading in the writing process.
 Reading habit is beneficial for better writing.
 When you are going to write something, it is important to
understand that your reading habit will be very useful to guide your
writing.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

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 4 Ways of Vocabulary Learning

Task 2. Write 10 topic sentences about Learning English and underline one of the
parts and circle the other one.

 _____________________________________________________________

 _____________________________________________________________

 _____________________________________________________________

 _____________________________________________________________

 _____________________________________________________________

 _____________________________________________________________

 _____________________________________________________________

 _____________________________________________________________

 _____________________________________________________________

 _____________________________________________________________

Task 3. After finishing your topic sentences, try to get feedback from your partner.
The feedback shall comprise the following aspects:
1. Is each TS appropriate?
Strong – weak – misleading
_____________________________________________________________
2. Is each TS well-constructed?
Excellent – good – poor
_____________________________________________________________
3. Is each TS anticipating the whole paragraph?
Yes – No – Perhaps
_____________________________________________________________

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English for College Students

SPEAK UP! Learning from the top

Task 1. Find at least 2 students from other classes who have excellent English skills.
Ask them about what ways they have done in acquiring their Excellent English
skills.

Work in pairs so that while you are doing an interview, your partner can video
record the interview. The questions may involve:
 Motivation and purpose of learning English
 How did they organize their learning?
 What aspects of English skills they have focused on
 What strategies or methods they applied
 What media support English learning
 Other: ___________________________________

Task 2. Make a short presentation in front of the class to report your interview.
Remember that it will be more beneficial for you to practice speaking in the
presentation without memorizing everything in advance.

Make an outline, just it, and do not write every single word you want to say. If you
get stuck during the presentation, check your outline and try to speak what is in your
mind.

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 5 Fundamental for Language Acquisition

5 FUNDAMENTAL FOR LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

LET’S START! Monitoring your level

Task 1. Discuss the following questions in class.

1. Do you remember, in what level was your English proficiency prior to your
participation in Basic English Course? Can you tell your previous level in
Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
2. Do you see any changes in your proficiency level now? Do you think your
current English proficiency is appropriate to the time you spent in studying
English? Why?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
3. What do you think of the most difficult problem to handle in English learning?
Give your reasons? Can you tell a relevan experience of yours?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

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English for College Students

_______________________________________________________________

IDEAS FOR MIND Learning the language

Task 1. Enjoy reading the text below and try to make notes on what is interesting
and relevant to you.
Notes ___
1 The acquisition of foreign language
especially English as an international language has
become more and more important in facing the
globalization. Everyone has to be able to
communicate to foreigners because there will be
no boundaries among the countries. Indonesia, that
is located in a strategic area, will get a strong
effect of this phenomenon. Ordinary people
especially the old generations might not feel the
direct effect caused by the globalization. However,
the young learners have to be ready as the next
generation will be responsible for their better
future because globalization in free trade has just
started and predicted to reach a peak in relatively
short period of time.
Notes __
2 English plays an important role in every
aspect of human life, such as communication,
economics, education, science, and technology.
English is mostly used in the world. We know that it
is also needed in the scientific fields as a mean of
expanding science and technologies written in
English. The mastery of English by Indonesian people

56
 5 Fundamental for Language Acquisition

could be significant requirements in order to be

successful in the process of getting science and
technology. It is reasonable enough to learn it since
English plays an important role.
Notes
3 According to English curriculum, English
teaching covers four skills, namely reading,
listening, speaking and writing. The four skills are
supported by the learning of language elements.
They are structure, vocabulary, pronunciation and
spelling. Vocabulary is one of the important
language elements the students should master.
Vocabulary includes collections of words. The
words are known not only as individual words, but
also as a group of words that have meaning.
Therefore, learning vocabulary means learning the
meaning and their function in group in order to be
able to form meaningful sentences.
Notes
4 To develop students’ language skills in
reading, listening, speaking and writing, the learners
must master vocabulary. The mastery of vocabulary
cannot sometimes be reached optimally. The
mastery of vocabulary is needed by each language
skill. In reading, for instance, the students will get
difficulties in comprehending the text if they do not
know the words in the text. Similarly in speaking,
they will have the same problem if they have only
few vocabularies.

57
English for College Students

Notes
5 Students learn best when they are involved
and their works are valued, and they have
opportunity to experience and experiment for
themselves. Tasks should be varied, motivating and
interesting and should offer “concrete perceptual
support”. The experience and environment as well as
how language is taught and practiced play a vital
role in language acquisition. For adult learners,
however, they should find the best or the effective
technique to learn English vocabulary individually
beside joining the English class. In class, media as
teaching aids are needed to help the student’s
understanding and to increase the effectiveness in
the communication between teacher and students in
the teaching and learning process. It is also used to
stimulate the students’ motivation and student’s
interest to the lesson.

(Adapted from “Teaching Media in Vocabulary Mastery”, available at:

http://peni.staff.uns.ac.id/2008/10/07/teaching-media-in-vocabulary-mastery-part-1)

Task 2. Discuss in groups to answer the questions below.

1. What is the main idea of the text above?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
2. What do you think of the main point of the writer in paragraph 1 about English
role in globalization era? Do you agree with him? Why?
_______________________________________________________________

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 5 Fundamental for Language Acquisition

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
3. According to the writer, who’ll perceive the direct effects of globalization and
who won’t? Why? Do you agree with it?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
4. Do you know what free trade is?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
5. The writer states that English mastery for Indonesian people is significantly
needed? Why is it so?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
6. How do the language skills correspond to language elements? Which are more
fundamentals in English mastery?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
7. How does the vocabulary mastery influence the four language skills?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
8. What is the main idea of the fourth paragraph?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
9. What are the factors influencing the success of learning English?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

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English for College Students

_______________________________________________________________
10. What is the writer intension in writing this article?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

WORDS FOR THOUGHT Language learning

Task 1. Match the words in the left column with the meaning given in the
right column.

1. foreigner a. A particular branch of scientific knowledge

2. boundary b. Get the meaning of something
3. future c. A person who comes from a foreign country;
4. science someone who does not owe allegiance to
5. comprehend your country
6. cover d. The way a word or a language is customarily
7. pronunciation spoken
8. experiment e. The act of conducting a controlled test or
9. opportunity investigation
10. effectiveness f. A line determining the limits of an area
g. A possibility due to a favourable combination
of circumstances
h. the quality of being able to bring about an
effect
i. Provide with a covering or cause to be
covered
j. The time yet to come

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 5 Fundamental for Language Acquisition

Task 2. Can you find the synonyms for the following words?

No. Word Synonyms

1 ordinary
2 direct
3 peak
4 reasonable
5 collection
6 phenomenon
7 motivating
8 concrete
9 vital
10 to stimulate

Task 3. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words in the table.

a. Foreigners b. Peak c. Pronunciation

d. Boundary e. Predicted f. Collection
g. Phenomenon h. Community i. Comprehend
j. Ordinary k. Requirements l. Opportunity
m. Free trade n. Covers o. Environment

1. The __________________ is clearer than the previous years that free

trade is getting to reach the top.
2. Some experts have ________________ that Indonesia cannot easily cope
with the financial problem due to some reasons.
3. One of terminologies used to refer to groups of people interacting using an
international language and formed as a consequence of globalization is the
global ________________.

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English for College Students

4. The true exercise for students who learn English is to have conversation
with ________________.
5. _________________ is another element of language. It deals with the
sound of words in a language.
6. The financial crisis attacking our country is going to reach the
______________.
7. “No worry! The course _____________ not only the English proficiency
but also business concept for practical application.”
8. The lecturer has a _______________ of leadership books in his bookshelf.
9. English proficiency can help people _______________ literature written
in English.
10. Language skill is now becoming one of the important _______________
to get involved in job competition.
11. Literacy competence provides _______________ to develop knowledge
and skill.
12. In the global community, people in different countries use English as
lingua franca and there is no ______________ among the countries to
interact one another.
13. Conducive _________________ is one of factors influencing the success
of learning English.
14. _______________ is indicated by a phenomenon that people in other
countries can work easily in our country relying on their special
competences.
15. In facing globalization era, ________________ people need special
preparation in order to comply with it.

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 5 Fundamental for Language Acquisition

FORM AWARENESS The big picture of tenses

Task 1. Do you know what is tense? What is the difference between tense and time?
Study the sentences below and complete the table.
1. She worked as a teacher two years ago.
2. She works as a teacher.
3. She will work as a teacher next month.

No Tense Time

Task 2. Take a look at the following table, analyse how verb forms change, and
identify how every change of verb forms determine meaning and function.

KINDS KINDS OF VERB FORMS MEANING/FUNCTIONS

OF TIME TENSE
Simple Is, am, are + … (noun/adj/adv)
Verb (s/es)
Present Continuous Is, are, am Verb-ing

Perfect Has, have Verb-3

Perfect Has been/have Verb-ing

Continuous been
Simple Was, were + … (noun/adj/adv)
Verb-2
Continuous Was, were Verb-ing

Past Perfect Had Verb-3

Perfect Had been Verb-ing

Continuous
Simple Will be + … (noun/adj/adv)
Will Verb-1

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English for College Students

Continuous Will be Verb-ing

Future Perfect Will Have Verb-3

Perfect Will Have been Verb-ing

Continuous

Task 3. Please refer to the table above and identify the function of verb forms in the
following sentences.
1. Marvel’s family live in Jakarta.
The word live shows a fact or reality that the family live there until now.
2. They have already finished the paper.
_______________________________________________________________
3. The boy was very clever before the accident.
_______________________________________________________________
4. She usually swims on Saturday evening.
_______________________________________________________________
5. Look! The beggar is stealing from the store.
_______________________________________________________________
6. I have been waiting for my girlfriend for two hours.
_______________________________________________________________
7. The English examination will be held tomorrow.
_______________________________________________________________
8. The Sun sets in the west.
_______________________________________________________________
9. The sun rises in the East.
_______________________________________________________________
10. They have lived in this city since 10 years ago.
_______________________________________________________________
11. We were watching TV when it started to rain.
_______________________________________________________________

64
 5 Fundamental for Language Acquisition

12. The farmers are planting their fields with rice.

_______________________________________________________________
13. I wanted to visit you yesterday, but you were not at home.
_______________________________________________________________
14. There are a lot of clouds! It is going to rain soon.
_______________________________________________________________
15. Human beings need water and air.
_______________________________________________________________
16. Look! It is raining, so we can't go to the beach.
_______________________________________________________________
17. Since 2003, they have visited their son every year.
_______________________________________________________________
18. Wait a minute! I will carry this box for her.
_______________________________________________________________
19. While the doctor was examining Jane this morning, her friend was waiting
outside.
_______________________________________________________________
20. After Larry had seen the film on TV, he decided to buy the book.
_______________________________________________________________

WRITE IT WELL! A 7-sentence paragraph principle

Task 1. Analyse the paragraph below. Which sentence is the topic sentence? Why?
Please underline it.
Reading is important in a writing process in terms of idea development and
writing model. Firstly, since writing is an activity of knowledge exchange, it is
inevitable to make sure a writing provides robust information to the readers.
For this purpose, reading helps an author to explore ideas extensively and

65
English for College Students

examine if they are relevant and credible. Without reading relevant sources,
one will have barriers in exploring and examining ideas. Secondly, writing is a
process-based activity which requires a writer be aware of what constitutes
good writing. Particularly, reading texts written by excellent authors can be
fruitful in recognizing the model of good writing. By exploring such best
model as writing a paragraph, for example, inexperienced writer could
effectively learn by adopting phrases or style.

Task 2. Please work in pairs to break down every sentence in the paragraph in task
1. Can you identify the role or function of each sentence in the paragraph?

No Sentence Role
1 Reading is important in a writing process in terms of
idea development and writing model.
2 Firstly, since writing is an activity of knowledge
exchange, it is inevitable to make sure a writing
provides robust information to the readers.
3 For this purpose, reading helps an author to explore
ideas extensively and examine if they are relevant
and credible.
4 Without reading relevant sources, one will have
barriers in exploring and examining ideas.
5 Secondly, writing is a process-based activity which
requires a writer be aware of what constitutes good
writing.
6 Particularly, reading texts written by excellent
authors can be fruitful in recognizing the model of
good writing.
7 By exploring such best model as writing a paragraph,
for example, inexperienced writer could effectively

66
 5 Fundamental for Language Acquisition

learn by adopting phrases or style.

Task 3. Write a paragraph by choosing one of the topic sentences you have made in
Task 2 page 58 in the previous chapter. Adopt the strategy in Task 2 in this chapter.

No Your sentences/paragraph Role

1

SPEAK UP! Learning from teacher

Task 1. Make an interview with an English lecturer, not necessarily your course
lecturer. Work in groups of 3 or 4 students, while one of you is video-recording the
interview, the rest can participate in the interview. Explore some issues below:
 Why is he/she interested in teaching English?

67
English for College Students

 Did he/she encounter difficulty in developing the English communication skills

before being an English lecturer? How to cope with the difficulty?
 What is the biggest challenge of teaching English in the university?
 What is impressed on the students of university in terms of the habit of learning
English?
 What could he/she suggest/recommend for effective development of English
skills?

Task 2. Make a short presentation in front of the class to report your interview.
Remember that it will be more beneficial for you to practice speaking in the
presentation without memorizing everything in advance. Since you are in groups of
3 or 4, please distribute specifically the role for each within the presentation.

68
 6 The Role of Languages

6 THE ROLE OF LANGUAGES

LET’S START! Diversity in language

Task 1. Discuss the following questions in class.

1. Do you know how many languages do we have in the world? And how many in
Indonesia?
_______________________________________________________________
2. Have you ever imagined—how is human life without a language? Can you tell
us?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
3. There are a lot of languages in one world. Do you think that this fact is positive
or negative? Explain the reason!
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
4. Why don’t we decide to use one language for all people around the world, so
that all communication will be easier to do?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

69
English for College Students

IDEAS FOR MIND Language reservation

Task 1. Enjoy reading the text below and try to make notes on what is interesting
and relevant to you.
Notes ___
1 Languages are increasingly under threat.
Of over 6,000 languages, 50 percent are dying, 40
percent are "endangered" and only 10 percent are
considered secure. Ninety-six percent of 6,000
languages are spoken by only four percent of the
world’s population. Only a few hundred languages
have genuinely been given the pride of place in
education systems and the public domain; and less
than one hundred are used in the digital world.
Notes __
2 Most of the endangered languages are spoken
by ethnic minorities. If nothing is done, these
languages and their cultures are going to die out.
UNESCO's General Conference has therefore
proclaimed "International Mother Language Day",
celebrated annually on Feb 21 since 2000, to promote
linguistic, cultural diversity and multilingualism.
With the death of a language, an irreplaceable facet of
our knowledge and an understanding of human
thought and a particular world view is lost.
Notes
3 An endangered language will survive and
thrive if its speakers increase their prestige within

70
 6 The Role of Languages

the dominant community, increase their legitimate

power in the eyes of the dominant community,
create a written record of their language and make
use of electronic technology. It helps if their
language has a strong presence in education
systems.
Notes
4 Education systems play a critical role in
whether languages become extinct - or are able to
survive and thrive. Many education systems are
inappropriate, or are even hostile to indigenous
minority groups and their languages. It is critical,
both for cultural and linguistic development and for
academic achievement, that early education and
initial literacy, for both children and adults, be
conducted in the learner's mother tongue. It is
impossible to teach the majority of people to read
and write in a language they do not understand.
Notes
5 A strategy of bilingualism produces better
learning outcomes and higher rates of internal
efficiency. Skills in the first language of instruction
must be consolidated before the second is mastered.
The world community must promote the idea that
improved integration will enable excluded ethnic
minority communities to become contributors to
national economic and social development. Also, in
order for local communities to draw benefits from
the education system, these communities need to
have a significant influence on the governance of the

71
English for College Students

education programmes and the determination of the

content and methods of instruction.

(Taken from “Languages are the keys to life” written by Abdul Hakeem)

Task 2. Discuss in groups to answer the questions below.

1. What is the main idea of the text?

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
2. What is happening to the languages in the world?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
3. What can you infer about languages in the world from the statistic mentioned
in paragraph 1?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
4. What is the purpose of UNESCO in declaring the day of International Mother
Language Day?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
5. What happens if a language becomes extinct?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
6. What can the speakers or community do to keep their language from
extinction?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

72
 6 The Role of Languages

_______________________________________________________________
7. What can the government do to avoid the extinction of any local languages?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
8. In what matter does the writer state that many education systems in countries
around the world are inappropriate for the languages presence?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
9. What program is recommended by the writer to maintain the minority’s
languages in countries?
_______________________________________________________________
10. How can such program be implemented in the context of national issues?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

WORDS FOR THOUGHT Multilingualism

Task 1. Match the words in the left column with the meaning given in the
right column.

1. population a. The ability to speak more than two languages

2. digital colloquially
3. cultures b. The state of having little or no money and
4. multilingualism few or no material possessions

73
English for College Students

5. poverty c. A state of being essentially equal or

6. equality equivalent in status and quality
7. maternal d. The people who inhabit a territory or state
8. hunger e. Related on the mother's side
9. bilingualism f. A physiological need for food; the
10. sustainability consequence of food deprivation
g. The ability to speak two languages
colloquially
h. Displaying numbers rather than scale
positions
i. The property of being sustainable
j. The attitudes and behaviour that are
characteristic of a particular social group or
organization

Task 2. Circle the antonym of the following words.

No. Words Antonym

1 secure safe protected vulnerable
2 genuinely falsely truly authentically
3 to proclaim to declare To deny to speak out
4 die out appear vanish disappear
5 extreme tremendous insignificant acute
6 irreplaceable common inimitable exceptional
7 to eradicate to eliminate to get rid of to maintain
8 diversity variety uniformity multiplicity
9 minority underground marginal majority
10 integration grouping separation combination

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 6 The Role of Languages

Task 3. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words in the table.

a. threat b. bilingualism c. a framework

d. secure e. facets f. eradication
g. equality h. poverty i. livelihood
j. digital k. sustainability l. extinct
m. diversity n. partnerships o. hostile

1. An indicator of the globalization era is the presence of ______________

tools to make easy people in processing something.
2. Currently, issues on _________________ has become more and more
important in cross-countries relationship.
3. Laziness is a _______________ for people who want to be successful in
life.
4. It is important that a leader make _________________ first before running
a program of his organization.
5. The commitment of government is the key for the success of poverty
_________________ program.
6. “Everybody has gone. So, it is _____________ now to open all things you
have intended to tell me.”
7. Living in the global community requires the ability to adapt ourselves to
______________ of culture and local value.
8. Living in ______________ environment can drive us nuts and make us
become individual.
9. It is miserable to know that younger generation of this country has begun
to leave the life of “gotong royong”. It is going to be _____________
immediately.
10. In modernism life, gender ______________ between man and woman
becomes fundamental.

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English for College Students

11. The matter of _________________ should become the government

responsibility to ensure that all people earn the proper income.
12. One of benefits can be gained from ________________ is the availability
of sufficient loan to recover our country from multidimensional crisis.
13. Some programs conducted by Indonesian government to help poor people
have halted because the government is not serious with
_________________ of the program.
14. It is common thing to know that students in this era are well-informed
about everything they want to know, even they also learn all
____________ comprised in any knowledge amazingly.
15. In this new society, where countries develop technology for human life for
prosperity, it seems weird seeing that the number of _______________ is
still high.

FORM AWARENESS The simple tenses

Task 1. Do you know what are the simple tenses? Try to analyze the following
paragraph and formulate your understanding on them in the following table.

My name is Nova. I am a student of university. Right now, I am at the

second year of my study. My major is Agriculture but I am very
enthusiastic in learning English. To be frankly, I was bad in English
when studying at schools. I did not feel comfortable in learning
English. But now, it is different. I like English. I frequently speak
English with my friends and read English texts related to Agriculture
and others. I think, I will do my best in these two things—agriculture
and English. It will be great for my future to be skilful in agriculture
and proficient in English.

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 6 The Role of Languages

The simple Sentences/forms Functions/meaning

tenses
Verbal: I will do my best … To express a plan to do
future
Nominal: It will be great for … To indicate prediction

present

past

Task 2. Read the following text and fill in the blanks with the appropriate verb forms
based on the context indicated on the text.

Last week I (go) ____________ to the theatre. I (have) ____________ a

very good seat. The play (to be) ____________ very interesting. I (do)
____________ not enjoy it. A young man and a young woman (to be)
____________ sitting behind me. They (to be) ____________ talking
loudly. I (get) ____________ very angry. I (can) ____________ not hear
the actors. I (turn) ____________ round. I (look) ____________ at the
man and the woman angrily. They (do) ____________ not pay any
attention. In the end, I (can) ____________ not bear it. I (turn)
__________ round again. ‘I can't hear a word!’ I (say) ____________
angrily. ‘It's none of your business, ’the young man (say) ____________
rudely. ‘This is a private conversation!’
(adapted from Alexander, 1993:13)

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English for College Students

Based on your analysis, what is the purpose of the paragraph above?

Task 3. Read the following text and fill in the blanks with the appropriate verb forms
based on the context indicated on the text.
Most people don’t like bugs, but Doctor Mark Moffet (love)
____________ them! In fact, his nickname (to be) ____________ Doctor
Bugs. He’s a photographer and an entomologist. An entomologist
(study) ____________ bugs.
Doctor Moffett’s favorite bug is the ant. He (go) ____________ all over
the world to study ants. He (watch) ____________ them as they (eat)
____________, (work) ____________, (rest) ____________, (sleep)
____________, and (fight) ____________.
He (take) ____________ photographs of the ants. He (lie)
____________ on the ground with his camera and (wait) ____________
for the right moment. The ants and other bugs often (bite)
____________ him, but that doesn’t stop Doctor Bugs. He (has)
____________ an interesting and unusual job, and he (love)
____________ it!
(adapted from National Geography Learning Unit 3, Lesson 1)

Based on you analysis, what is the purpose of the paragraph above?

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 6 The Role of Languages

WRITE IT WELL! Paragraph writing

Remember that so far you have learned:

 the strategic forms of statement (verbal and nominal)
 how to write a topic sentence/TS (topic/T and controlling idea/CI)
 the big picture of tenses, the simple tenses (past, present and future)
 a 7-sentence principle of paragraph writing

Task 1. Write a paragraph telling your past experience of learning English before
you take study in the university.
Create a strong topic sentence for the paragraph first.

T
CI

TS

Now, develop your paragraph here.

79
English for College Students

Task 2. Try to get a feedback from your partner, get it confirmed in the class by your
lecturer and revise it in order to fulfil the following criteria:
 The topic sentence is strong
 The controlling idea is relevant to the paragraph
 All supporting details explain the controlling idea
 There is/are illustration(s), example(s), or clarification(s) to strengthen the
supporting detail(s).

SPEAK UP! Describing photograph

Task 1. Look at the following photograph. If you are asked to describe it orally, what
types of information that you need to explore?

Types of information to explore:

_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________

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 6 The Role of Languages

Task 2. Now try to describe it orally to your partner and get feedback mutually. The
feedback may comprise the following criteria:
 Pronunciation
 Accuracy of information
 Completeness of information
 Appropriateness

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English for College Students

7 VERSATILE READING SKILLS

LET’S START! Reading habit

Task 1. Discuss the questions below in class.

1. Do you know that reading habit is beneficial for somebody? Do you know
why?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
2. In fact, most of students didn’t read appropriately? Do you know why? And
what about yourself?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
3. What method is the best to read any reading materials? Can you give the
reasons?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

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 7 Versatile Reading Skills

IDEAS FOR MIND The power of reading

Task 1. Enjoy reading the text below and try to make notes on what is interesting
and relevant to you.
Notes ___
1 In most reading classes, the teacher
carefully scripts the reading materials that students
are assigned and clearly identifies what type of
reading should be used. Knowing which reading
skill is best for the task makes reading easier and
fun. While this is useful when first learning about
and practicing the four reading skills - scanning,
skimming, extensive reading, and intensive
reading - it does not allow students to think for
themselves.
Notes __
2 At one point, they are often pleased to report
that of the pages assigned, only two offered useful
insights and had taken them only about an hour to
read. While this exercise is possible with a small
class, it would be very difficult and time-consuming
with a large one. However, with larger classes, and
depending on the level, an alternative is to use free
magazines distributed locally. After that, design
several topics and remember to keep in mind the
basic reasons for using each of the several reading
skills.

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English for College Students

Notes
3 While scanning for answers to questions,
students should use a word, number or phrase from
each question and quickly search for relevant
material. This is best done when using short
reading samples. An entire magazine would be
overwhelming, and most students would probably
be perplexed about what to do. The goal is to have
them examine some magazines in the first few
weeks, then discuss where they might find the
answers. If a question asks how much the lunch at
any restaurants costs, have students flip through
and scan until they find the page, and then, using
the key words, look for the answer by skimming.
Notes
4 Scanning includes finding telephone
numbers, prices, dates, times, proper names and any
other data that can be obtained by scanning a
magazine, then a page, and finally, a part of that
page. With skimming, students need to decide which
articles would be the best to use if they want to
answer particular questions. If a magazine has five
or six related articles, have students skim the various
articles to find which one will best answer the
question. For example, if you want information
about investments or household planning, which
article would be best to read? To complicate this
task, in later classes, include questions not answered
in the magazine. Initially this may be frustrating, but
students will soon learn that not everything will be

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 7 Versatile Reading Skills

there. They must learn to use skimming also to

exclude material or an entire magazine.
Notes
5 Intensive reading usually revolves around
"how-to" articles. Examples of good materials could
be about how to buy clothes or how to rent an
apartment. The questions might include what pitfalls
or tips are included. Students then need to read
carefully to find the answers.
Notes
6 Extensive reading requires more thought and
can often involve setting up situations. For example:
You have a date this weekend and need to find a good
restaurant in a magazine. Explain why you chose that
magazine to help you find the information. By having
students answer a variety of questions, they will
appreciate the need for different reading skills and
become better at deciding which skill is best for a
particular task. This will allow them to gain real
practice in reading, and hopefully encourage them to
read more of what they like and enjoy.

(Adopted from “Versatile Reading: Four useful reading methods and how to get
students to practise them” written by Timothy Cornwall)

Task 2. Discuss in groups to answer the questions below.

1. What is the main idea of the text?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

85
English for College Students

2. Why does a teacher need to identify what reading type is appropriate to any
reading task assigned to the students?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
3. According to the text, what is beneficial to do prior to the effective reading?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
4. In what condition will reading class be inefficient?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
5. From the text above, when can we use scanning method?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
6. When can we use skimming method?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
7. What are differences between scanning and skimming?

No Scanning No Skimming

8. When can we use intensive reading method?

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
9. When can we use extensive reading method?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
10. Which is the best from four reading methods mentioned above? Why?

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 7 Versatile Reading Skills

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

WORDS FOR THOUGHT The words of reading

Task 1. Match the words in the left column with the meaning given in the
right column.

1. time- a. Recognize with gratitude; be grateful for

consuming b. An unforeseen or unexpected or surprising
2. reduction difficulty
3. insight c. A social unit living together
4. to appreciate d. Of a task that takes time and patience
5. pitfalls e. The act of laying out capital in an
6. household enterprise with the expectation of profit
7. apartment f. Clear understanding or deep perception of
8. investment a situation
9. alternative g. One of a number of things from which only
10. thought one can be chosen
h. The content of cognition; the main thing
you are thinking about
i. The act of decreasing or reducing
something
j. A suite of rooms usually on one floor of a
house

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English for College Students

Task 2. Circle the antonym for the following words.

No. Words Antonym

1 review pass analyze assess
2 gain lost get obtain
3 allow let forbid permit
4 enjoy get pleasure from like dislike
5 include embrace comprise exclude
6 appreciate be glad about be sad about commend
7 complicate simplify make difficult confuse
8 flip close scan go round
9 rebel obey fight back against
10 verify confirm make sure doubt

Task 2. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words in the table.

a. possible b. investments c. situations

d. alternative e. information f. initially
g. insights h. allowed i. pitfalls
j. reduction k. proper l. frustrating
m. irrelevant n. time-consuming o. encourage

1. Effective reading provides _______________ about everything we read.

2. Reading newspaper and magazine is useful for attaining
_______________.
3. Speed reading is a term used instead of the activity of effective reading. In
doing it, a student isn’t _____________ to read a text word by word but a
unit of meaning.

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 7 Versatile Reading Skills

4. Sometimes, reading is difficult to do if the ________________ where a

reader read isn’t conducive enough.
5. Being well-informed is _______________ if the students are willing to
generate the reading habit.
6. Reading activity is ______________ boring, but after enough time doing
it, a reader will find it interesting.
7. Reading medical text is really ________________. There are too many
technical terminologies that we have to always look up our dictionary.
8. Today, _______________ are categorized into the best thing to do in order
to reach better life in the future.
9. Reading word by word isn’t efficient because it is really
___________________ to do.
10. A teacher plays important role in class. He has to become inspirational
enough to _______________ the students.
11. Intensive exercise in reading is required to help a reader cope with all
_____________ in reading activity.
12. There are some ________________ ways of versatile reading such as
scanning, skimming, intensive and extensive reading.
13. Those students are not accustomed to reading activity. They are asking for
_______________ of the pages targeted.
14. An effective reader can automatically determine the _____________
reading method suitable with the reading purpose.
15. To be an effective reader, we have to determine our reading targets and
put away all ________________ reading materials.

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English for College Students

FORM AWARENESS The perfect tenses

Task 1. Do you know what are the perfect tenses? Try to analyze the following
paragraph and formulate your understanding on them in the following table.

I feel very hard today. Learning at higher education is never the same
as learning at schools. Actually, I had prepared strategies before
studying at a university. But in fact, they do not work effectively. For
instance is what happens right now. Within this term, a lecturer
requires us to read 5 books written in English and we have to present
our reviews every month. Today afternoon will be the presentation
day for the first review. Soon after, there will be a meeting for a
group project of another course. I have a very tight schedule today.

As a matter of fact, I have read some of the first chapters from the
books but I completely cannot get the points. A big question is what I
am going to present? But of course, I keep struggling, I am a positive
person. I believe that I will have presented some points this
afternoon. It will have been done, even though, right now I don’t
know for sure.

The perfect Sentences/forms functions

tenses

Future

Present

Past

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 7 Versatile Reading Skills

Task 2. Read the following text and fill in the blanks with the appropriate verb forms
based on the context indicated on the text.

I can't believe I (get) ________________ that apartment. I (submit)

________________ my application last week, but I didn't think I had a
chance of actually getting it. When I (show) ________________ up to
take a look around, there were at least twenty other people who
(arrive) ________________ before me. Most of them (fill, already)
________________ out their applications and were already leaving. The
landlord said I could still apply, so I did. I (try) ________________ to fill
out the form, but I couldn't answer half of the questions. They (want)
________________ me to include references, but I didn't want to list
my previous landlord because I (have) ________________ some
problems with him in the past and I knew he wouldn't recommend me. I
(end) ________________ up listing my father as a reference. It was total
luck that he (decide) ________________ to give me the apartment. It
turns out that the landlord and my father (go) ________________ to
high school together. He decided that I could have the apartment
before he (look) ________________ at my credit report. I really lucked
out!

(taken from EnglishPage.Com, Verb Tense Exercises 11)

Based on you analysis, what is the purpose of the paragraph above?

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English for College Students

Task 3. Read the following conversations and fill in the blanks with the appropriate
verb forms based on the context indicated on the scripts.

1.
Margaret : Do you think everything will be finished when I get
back from the store?
Jerry : Don't worry. By the time you get back, I (pick)
_______________ up the living room and (finish)
_______________ washing the dishes. Everything will
be perfect when your parents arrive.
Margaret : I hope so. They (arrive) _______________ around 6
o'clock.
Jerry : Everything (be) _______________ spotless by the time
they get here.

2.
Nick : I just have two more courses before I graduate from
university. By this time next year, I (graduate)
_______________ and I will already be looking for a
job.
Stacey : Does that scare you? Are you worried about the
future?
Nick : Not really. I (go) _______________ to a career
counselor and get some advice on how to find a good
job.
Stacey : That's a good idea.
Nick : I am also going to do an internship so that when I leave
school, I (complete, not only) _______________ over
13 business courses, but I (work, also)
_______________ in the real world.

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 7 Versatile Reading Skills

3.
Stan : Did you hear that Christine (take) _______________ a
vacation in South America this winter?
Fred : I can't believe how often she goes abroad. Where
exactly does she want to go?
Stan : She (visit) _______________ Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador.
Fred : At this rate, she (visit) _______________ every country
in the world by the time she's 50.

4.
Judy How long have you been in Miami?
Elaine I have only been here for a couple of weeks.
Judy How long do you plan on staying?
Elaine I love Miami, so I (stay) _______________ here for an
extended period of time. When I go back home, I (be)
_______________ here for more than three months.
Judy Wow, that's quite a vacation! You (see, definitely)
_______________ just about everything there is to see
in Miami by then.

5.
Jane I can't believe how late we are! By the time we get to
the dinner, everyone (finish, already)
_______________ eating.
Jack It's your own fault. You took way too long in the
bathroom.
Jane I couldn't get my hair to look right.
Jack Who cares? By the time we get there, everyone (left)
_______________ Nobody (see, even)

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English for College Students

_______________ your hair.

(taken from EnglishPage.Com, Verb Tense Exercises 25)

Based on your analysis, what is the purpose using future perfect tense in each
conversation?

Conversation Purposes/functions
1

WRITE IT WELL! Essay writing

You have learned so far:

 the strategic forms of statement
 the big picture of tenses, the simple and perfect tenses
 paragraph writing

94
 7 Versatile Reading Skills

Task 1. Write an essay at least 3 paragraphs telling about what you want to do in
your future. You may include any professional jobs you desire to pursue, other
professional or social projects, and how to prepare yourself to get there. If possible,
add information about how will English communication skills be applied in the
context.

Outline your essay here.

Paragraph
1
Paragraph
2
Paragraph
3

Now, develop your essay here.

95
English for College Students

Task 2. Try to get a feedback from your partner, get it confirmed in the class by your
lecturer and revise it in order to fulfil the following criteria:
 The essay answers the question given
 Each paragraph has only one main idea
 Each paragraph has supporting details explaining the controlling idea
 There is/are illustration(s), example(s), or clarification(s) to strengthen the
supporting detail(s) in each paragraph
 The essay has coherence

SPEAK UP! Speaking about future

Task 1. Work in pairs to have an exchange of information with your partner about
what you desire to do or to achieve in your future.

96
 7 Versatile Reading Skills

Topics that can be included are:

 Professional career
 Social activity
 Professional networking
 Hobby
 Arts
 Others: _______________________

Task 2. Continuing the task 1, please try to get feedback from your partner related to
your speaking performance including:
 Accuracy in listening and speaking,
 Clarity and
 Fluency

97
 REFERENCES

‘Teaching Media in Vocabulary Mastery’, available at:

http://peni.staff.uns.ac.id/2008/10/07/teaching-media-in-vocabulary-mastery-part-1/,
accessed on 26 February 2009, at 12.42
‘The Importance of English’, available at: http://corner.youth.cn/jiqiao/200807/t20080702
745912.htm, accessed on 4 February 2009, at 11.00
‘The Importance of Strong Vocabulary’, available at: http://www.exforsys.com/career-
center/english-vocabulary/importance-of-strong-vocabulary.html, accessed on 7
February 2009, at 14.12
‘Verb Tense Exercises 25’, taken from EnglishPage.Com, available at:
https://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs25.htm, accessed on 15 August 2018, at
17:40
‘Verb Tense Exercises 11’, taken from EnglishPage.Com, available at:
https://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs11.htm, accessed on 15 August 2018, at
17:22
Abdulla, D. (2009) “How to master English Language”, available at:
http://www.usingenglish.com/articles/how-to-master-english-language.html, accessed
on 4 February 2009, at 11.55
Alexander, L. G. (1993) New Concept English: Practice and Progress, Longman
Cornwall, T. (2009) “Versatile Reading: Four useful reading methods and how to get
students to practise them”, available at:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/life/education/12226/versatile-reading, accessed on 27
February 2009, at 10.17
Hakeem, A. (2009) “Languages are the keys to life”, available at:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/life/education/12228/languages-are-the-keys-to-life,
accessed on 28 February 2009, at 10.10
National Geography Learning, Unit 3 Lesson 1, Simple Present Tense, available at:
https://www.habitat.org/sites/default/files/youthprograms-lessons-high-school-
unit-3-geographic-influences-on-homebuilding.pdf
Zamora, C. V. (2009) “The Importance of English in a Global Workplace”, available at:
http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/articles/index.pl? read=2274, accessed on 4
February 2009, at 11.29
 THE AUTHORS

Adriadi Novawan is an English lecturer at

Politeknik Negeri Jember. He is interested in the
studies of curriculum, pedagogy and materials
development in English Language Education. He
completed his master degree in Newcastle
University upon Tyne, UK. At Politeknik Negeri
Jember, he teaches General English, English for
Specific Purposes, Translation, Academic Writing,
Professional Communication, and Public
Speaking.

Siti Aisyiyah is a teaching staff at the English

Study Program, Department of Language,
Communication and Tourism, Politeknik Negeri
Jember. She earned her M.Pd. on Educational
Technology in Universitas Negeri Jakarta. In
addition to teaching General English, she teaches
English for Specific Purposes, Professional
Communication, Materials Development for
Language Course, and Public Speaking.

Furthermore, Adriadi Novawan and Siti Aisyiyah participated actively in a

project funded by Temasek Foundation in Singapore, on “Capability-
Building of English Language Curriculum Developers for Professional
Communication for University Faculty in ASEAN Universities” in 2009-
2012. In addition, they have been involved in many academic forums
relevant to their professional interest. They frequently presented their
papers on international conferences such as Asia Creative Writing
Conference, CamTESOL Conference, TEFLIN International Conference,
ASIA TEFL International Conference, and TESOL ASIA Conference.
Currently, they have received a research grant from DRPM of Kemenristek
Dikti entitlted Developing Values-based Curriculum of English Language
Teaching in the Higher Education Context.
 The English for College Students
Book is appropriate for those who
are studying English in college or
university. It is composed to fulfil the
needs of tertiary students who
expect to experience effective
learning of English at their first
years. It basically provides strategic
reviews on what have been learned
previously and proposes the new
ways of seeing English language
learning for anticipating dynamic
academic and professional
situations.

The materials composed on it are

designed to underpin the academic
interaction with authentic learning
process. It is underpinned with
action-based principle which
encourages both the students and the
lecturers to collaborate as a
meaningful persons in meaningful
discursive situations. This allows for
more gradual communication
capacity development for long-term
investment.