Planning to Teach Prose

TEACHING PROSE

• Prose, “is words in their best order” – ST Coleridge.• Prose is meant for learning a language.• Teaching prose means teaching reading with comprehension.• The learners are taught the skill of reading. • It enables the students to understand the passage, to read

fluently, to enrich their vocabulary and to enjoy reading and writing .

• It helps to improve their four language skills. (LSRW).• They can develop the ability to speak English correctly and

fluently.

Main Aims of Teaching Prose To develop the language ability of the students. The language ability helps the learners to use English

language without any problem. It is the intensive study of a language.

General Objectives of Teaching Prose

• Helps to enhance the language skills, especially Reading and Writing.

• Increase vocabulary and develop speaking and writing skill.• Kindle their imagination.• Learn correct pronunciation and read passages with proper

pronunciation, stress and intonation.• Comprehend the meaning of what they read.• Create interest in literature.

Specific Aims of Teaching Prose

• Specific aims of teaching prose depend upon whether the prose work is

essay story biography and autobiography plays……..

Specific Aims of an Essay

• The learners learn a few facts• To make students curious about the subject of essay• Exposure to the style of essay writing

• To arrange ideas in an organized manner.

Story

• The learners learn a few facts • To teach morals• To mould one’s character• Exposure to the style of story writing

Biography and Autobiography

• To make students acquainted with the lives of great men• To cultivate among the students desirable sentiments• To mould one’s character• Aspiration for better things in life

Plays

• To provide opportunities for self expression • To play different roles• To speak English in the conversational style • To mould one’s character

Reading skills

• Intensive reading skill • Extensive reading skill

Intensive reading

• Reading a text for accuracy.• Close guidance of a teacher .• Forces the learners to pay more attention to the text.• It involves the profound and detailed understanding of the

text.• Primarily concerned with the developing of reading strategies.

• Judgement • Reasoning• Interpretation • Appreciation

• It is more an exercise in accuracy.• Reading not only for specific purpose of information.• For scanning of information, paying attention to the writer’s

intensions, arguments, ideas, style etc.• Understanding of text, grammar, vocabulary, writing etc.

Extensive reading

• non-detailed study of a book .• “ the main purpose of extensive reading is the cultivation of

taste for reading and make a form of visual interaction” - Thompson and Wyatt.

• Reading for fluency.• Reading for pleasure.• Not meant for minute details.• Rapid reading or Independent silent reading.

• Extensive reading means to read silently and quickly.• Without the guidance of teacher.• Trains the reader to understand the subject matter as quickly

and efficiently as possible.• Plays a vital role in learning second/foreign language.• The reading texts are within the linguistic competence of the

reader.• Learners can read at their own pace.• They learn to read faster.

Specific objectives of Extensive reading

• To understand the meaning as quickly as possible.• To increase passive vocabulary.• To develop taste for reading.• To develop the habit of reading for pleasure.• To concentrate upon subject matter.

Steps involved in extensive reading

• Introduction– The teacher gives main hints of the passage.– He explains the difficult portions.– He deals with difficult areas of a language.

• Silent reading– The students should read silently and quickly.

• Question– The teacher asks questions to test the students

understanding.

Steps Involved in Teaching Prose

• Introduction.• Presentation.• Model reading.• Pronunciation drills.• Loud reading.• Linguistic drills and explanation.• Silent reading by the pupil.• Comprehension questions.• Evaluation.