DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH STUDIES
ENG2611
Applied English Language for Foundation and Intermediate Phase: FAL
Assignment 1
Question 1
1.1
Critical reading is referred to as an active process because it involves actively
engaging with a text and using a variety of strategies to analyze, evaluate, and
interpret its content. It requires the reader to ask questions, make connections, and
draw conclusions based on the information presented in the text. Critical reading
also involves being aware of one's own biases and assumptions and actively seeking
alternative perspectives and evidence to support or challenge ones’ understanding of
a text. All in all, critical reading is an active and dynamic process that requires the
reader to fully engage and pay attention to the text.
1.2
The relationship between literary texts and language is symbolic because literary
texts rely heavily on language to convey their messages and meanings. Language is
the medium through which literary texts are written, and the choice of words,
phrases, and syntax can greatly influence the interpretation and impact of a text. For
example, William Shakespeare, who uses iambic pentameter in his plays,
contributes to the rhythmic flow of the language and helps create a certain
atmosphere or tone. Similarly, the use of metaphor and symbolism in literature
depends on the ability of language to convey complex ideas and emotions through
the use of metaphors and figurative language. In this way, language is both the basis
and the tool of literary texts, which enable them to communicate their thoughts and
emotions to the reader.
1.3
What is a poem?
, A poem is a form of literary expression that uses language to convey thoughts,
emotions, and ideas in a creative and artistic way. Poems often use rhythm, meter,
and other literary devices to create a unique form of expression that can be
appreciated for its beauty, complexity, and depth of meaning.
Scanning, skimming and summarizing are all useful techniques for teaching poetry to
young children at the foundation stage. Here's how each technique can be used:
Scanning: Scanning is a technique used to quickly find specific information in a text.
This is when the student quickly scans the text line by line looking for key words,
dates, names and numbers. This is a useful skill to use when a student needs
answers to specific questions. In other words, scanning text means looking through it
quickly to find specific information. Scanning is commonly used in everyday life, such
as looking up a word in a dictionary or looking up a friend's name in your phone's
contact directory. Scanning and another speed reading skill, skimming, are often
confused, even though they are quite different. While skimming is concerned with
looking for general information, namely main ideas, scanning involves looking for
specific information (White, et al 2022). Students will use their hands as they go
through the lines in the poem and also use them to find important information such
as how the writer can be compared to animals and birds. Another thing students will
come across as they scan is important names that will come in handy if they want to
fully understand the poem they are reading. Students should keep key word
concepts in mind as they scan, as their purpose will be determined by these key
words. For example, this poem contains the names of animals and birds. Students
will have an idea of the characteristics of each animal, the birth mentioned in the
poem and why to receive fruits from mother earth.
Skimming: Skimming is a technique used to quickly read a text to get a general idea
of what it is about.To use skimming to teach a poem to young children, the teacher
could read the poem aloud to the class and then ask them to skim it to get a general
idea of what it is about. This method is when the reader quickly skim the text to get a
general idea of it. The reader doesn’t have to read every word - just pick out key
words and sentences. Skimming is a technique of quickly reading or processing
information in order to understand the key messages of a text with less emphasis on
details. It is characterized by reading at a much higher speed than traditional reading