KARADENIZ TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL of FOREIGN LANGUAGES
At the School of Foreign Languages (SFL) at Karadeniz Technical University (KTU), the curriculum is meticulously designed to foster effective language acquisition. The curriculum ensures that students receive English language education of high quality, preparing them for global communication and professional success.
CURRICULUM PRINCIPLES
1. The curriculum at the School of Foreign Languages (SFL) at Karadeniz Technical University (KTU) follows a spiral approach, where goals from previous levels are revisited and built upon in each module. New objectives are also introduced to support natural language learning progression.
2. The curriculum at SFL, KTU, is learner-centered, meaning it is designed and implemented with careful consideration of learners' needs and interests. It incorporates various learning styles and strategies, encouraging students to develop autonomy and independence.
3. Elements of social constructivism are integrated into the curriculum at SFL, KTU. This approach fosters collaborative learning environments that prepare students for both academic and real-world contexts.
4. The curriculum at SFL, KTU, aims to provide English language education that meets international quality standards, aligning with the specifications outlined in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
STAGES OF CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
The mission and the teaching policy of KTU School of Foreign Languages, its goals and objectives, needs and expectations of the students, and the framework of international standards of CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) guide how the process of curriculum development proceeds.
The three basic stages of curriculum development with some minor tasks under each stage can be described as follows:
Planning
Implementation (in the classroom through teaching and learning activities and teacher training materials and tasks)
Evaluation
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR THE MODULES
In order to clarify what is meant by the modules in the program, some of the salient goals describing each have already been provided in the form of ‘can do statements.’
MODULE 1 (A1 and A2)
Listening
The students can
become aware of familiar words and very basic expressions about themselves, their families and their immediate surroundings when people speak slowly and clearly.
understand and follow simple directions.
follow conversations about people's current, past and future experiences and expressions.
decide whether the statement is true or not based on the content they listen to.
understand conversations in different contexts (restaurant, hospital, hotel, etc.).
Reading
The students can
understand familiar names, different types of words and very simple sentence structures in advertisements, posters, tables, research results, surveys, blogs or catalogues with various written content.
understand texts describing people's lives.
understand a text containing daily activities.
understand texts that tell stories or events about the past.
read and follow a simple level map.
decide whether it is right or wrong based on the text they read.
read and understand an illustrated text.
read a text and write a title.
understand a text expressing an opinion.
give answers to questions about such texts.
Speaking
The students can
interact simply, provided the other person is prepared to convey or rephrase what has been said at a speaking rate appropriate to their level and help formulate the content he or she is trying to say.
ask and answer simple questions in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics.
use simple expressions and sentences to describe the place where they live and the people they know.
introduce themselves verbally.
introduce themselves and others in conversation.
talk about family ties, professions, daily routines and lifestyles.
hold different face-to-face conversations or answer questions during the interviews, appropriate to their level.
hold conversations in different contexts (restaurant, hospital, hotel, market, etc.).
talk about past events and engage in conversation about relevant situations.
give simple directions or request road information with the help of a map.
express their personal opinions on a subject.
describe the characteristics of a place.
make a speech about a famous person.
answer or ask questions at their own level about a text they read.
talk about future plans.
Writing
The students can
write short and simple content, such as sending greeting cards, in parallel with the structures and expressions they have learned appropriate to their level.
fill out forms containing personal information, such as entering their name, nationality and address on the hotel registration form.
create and share content on different social media.
write informal/formal e-mails.
write about situations related to the past tense.
make descriptions of places they have been to.
keep a diary.
write about their plans and predictions for the future.
create literary content based on the requested number of words.
MODULE 2 (A2 and B1)
Listening
The students can
understand expressions and most frequently used words related to areas of immediate personal interest (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, living environment, work environment).
capture the main idea in short, clear, simple messages and announcements.
understand how people feel from their speech.
understand the details of a description, place, place or event they hear.
understand the content of people's discussions about a topic.
listen to a content and answer relevant questions.
repeat a sentence they listen to with correct stress, pronunciation and rhythm.
understand the abbreviation structures in the sentences they listen to.
make predictions about the content they listen to.
understand given directions and mark them on the map.
produce an expression they hear from the person's mouth using a transfer sentence.
Reading
The students can
read very short and simple texts.
find certain predictable information in simple everyday content such as advertisements, brochures, menus and timetables.
understand short, simple personal letters.
relate questions about a passage to the relevant paragraph.
complete a word or phrase left blank in a text.
examine a text and find the meaning of a new word.
scan a text and find the necessary information. Can express their own opinions by reading a text.
read a problem and give advice about it.
complete half-empty sentences in a text by selecting them from the list.
read a biography and remember specific details.
read and talk about specific real situations.
have a discussion with their friends by reading about different inventions.
present their own opinions by discussing a statement with their friends.
Speaking
The students can
communicate in simple and routine tasks that require a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar topics and activities.
carry on very short social conversations, although usually not able to understand enough to carry on the conversation themselves.
use a range of verbal formulaic expressions and sentences to describe in simple terms their family and other people around them, their living conditions, their educational background and current educational process, or the line of work in which they work.
express their opinions on a text by speaking.
define the meaning of a word by talking about it.
both ask questions and give answers about a past situation.
answer questions with correct pronunciation.
express a common opinion by working in a group.
talk about how their lives have changed.
repeat stated sentences with correct pronunciation, stress and rhythm.
express their opinions to their friends about a text they have read in their own words.
share their decisions, suggestions or promises on a subject.
listen to a friend and ask questions to learn more about the topic.
Writing
The students can
write short, simple notes and messages on topics in areas of urgent need.
write a very simple personal letter; for example, thanking someone for something.
write down future plans by keeping a diary.
identify a settlement and find spelling, grammar and punctuation errors in the content.
define a concept with their own words.
use adverbial structures in the right place in the sentence.
complete incomplete sentences.
take short notes about the content they listen to.
complete missing parts of a table.
create literary content based on the requested number of words.
MODULE 3 (B1 and B2)
Listening
The students can
regularly understand the main points of clear and standard speech on familiar topics.
understand the gist of many radio or TV programs on current events or topics of personal and professional interest when they are slow and clear.
understand simple idiomatic expressions.
understand simple statistical information in verbal expressions.
complete the information in the blanks by listening.
compare and comment on the information in the listening content with their own knowledge.
understand a speaker using standard dialect and construct sentence structures based on what they hear.
understand the content of a listening session at a sufficient level and answer relevant questions.
understand a movie in general terms and watch it satisfactorily.
follow a content produced in a standard dialect and use extensive vocabulary and extract the meaning of unknown words from the context.
follow and comment on the discussions of their friends and respond to their opinions.
understand content with difficult structures and respond by creating similar structures.
Reading
The Students can
understand texts consisting mostly of everyday or business-related language.
understand expressions of events, feelings and wishes in personal letters.
read a simple short story and extract specific information from it.
create a series of alternative contents by arranging them in a specific meaningful order.
complete the blank content with words.
read a text and form their own opinions.
read a short story and uncover the underlying main theme.
read a text and identify different grammatical structures in it.
read a text and rearrange its content in different ways or comment on it.
find the main lines of a story and order them in a meaningful way.
understand humour or sarcasm in the text.
understand contemporary literary texts.
find grammatical, word, punctuation and spelling errors in the text.
evaluate the perspective of the author of a descriptive text and answer questions.
write a word for a blank part in a story or sentence, making his choice based on the context.
Speaking
The students can
respond verbally to most situations that are likely to arise when traveling in an area where the target language is prevalent.
participate in impromptu conversations on topics that are familiar, of personal interest or related to daily life (family, hobbies, work, travel, current events).
create simple linked phrases to describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions.
briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
tell a story, describe the plot of a book or movie, and share personal reactions.
have a conversation with their friends about a given topic or theme and answer questions.
argue with their friends about whether their ideas are compatible on a subject.
express their feelings about a subject they have read or experienced in a dialogue.
research or discuss answers to questions with a group or a friend.
use their own experiences to describe familiar objects or situations.
practice verbally on a difficult level of pronunciation of a word or its grammatical structure, either by themselves or with a friend.
take part in dialogue or discussion activities with a sufficient level of fluency.
tell a story they have heard before from memory, adhering to the plot.
tell a friend in detail about an event that happened to them or someone else.
evaluate an argument from two different perspectives and express an opinion.
Writing
The students can
write simple, linked texts on topics they already know or are of personal interest.
write personal letters describing experiences and impressions.
take notes or summarize the content they listen to.
write about the characteristics of a person they know.
populate a given list or table.
create sentences using various complex sentence structures.
write a short story by making a plan.
summarize their own ideas, make a note and use it for their oral presentations.
take notes about a listening passage and answer questions.
write clear explanations to support an argument.
write different grammatical structures or word types in the blanks by choosing from a given list.
write e-mails for different purposes.
create literary content based on the requested number of words.
MODULE 4 (B2 and Academic Skills)
Speaking
The students can
understand dialogues on most general topics, even in a noisy environment.
understand recordings in the standard form of the language likely to be encountered in social, professional or academic life and determine the speaker's perspectives and attitudes as well as the information content.
understand standard spoken language, live or broadcast, on both familiar and unfamiliar topics normally encountered in personal, social, academic or professional life.
follow animated conversation between speakers of the target language.
understand detailed instructions reliably.
summarize and evaluate main discussion points on topics within their academic or professional competence.
use indirect expressions and explanations to fill in gaps in vocabulary and structure after listening.
follow discussions on topics related to their fields and understand in detail the points highlighted by the speaker.
understand most radio documentaries and many other recorded or broadcast audio material presented in the standard form of the language and detect the speaker's mood, tone, etc.
can follow long conversations and complex lines of argument, provided the topic is fairly familiar and the direction of the conversation is clearly indicated.
understand announcements and messages on concrete and abstract topics spoken in standard spoken language at normal speed.
follow the basics of lectures, speeches and reports, and other forms of academic/professional presentation that are complex in proposition and language.
understand the speaker's perspective on topics of current interest or area of ??expertise provided the speech is delivered in standard colloquial language.
Reading
The students can
detect the reasons given in the text, paragraph integrity, and the order of the plot in context.
guess the meaning of keywords in a text and create titles for each paragraph.
distinguish an opinion stated in the text, clues, examples, and how the examples support the main points.
derive meaning from the context in the text.
quickly scan long and complex texts and place relevant details and necessary information in the spaces provided.
collect information from different parts of a text or within different texts to accomplish a specific task.
use contextual clues to understand the main idea of ??the text.
understand articles or reports that state contemporary issues related to the perspective or view adopted by the author.
recognize the factual information contained in a text and thus the effort to persuade the reader.
become aware of different structural elements in which problem-solution focused content and content establishing cause and effect relationships are used together.
Speaking
The students can
interact with a level of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native English speakers quite possible.
actively participate in discussions and express and support views in familiar contexts.
provide clear and detailed explanations on a wide range of topics related to their field of interest.
explain their perspectives on a current issue by giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
participate in a discussion or conversation with a person about various topics.
describe personal experiences in a conversation.
ask and answer questions by taking turns and listening.
describe personal experiences in daily conversations.
take turns telling stories and responding.
plan and organize a story, set the scene, and organize the main events.
ask and answer questions by paying attention to body language and verbal cues.
work collaboratively to make a list of things that make cities attractive.
interview a person, take turns speaking, and respond to what people say.
communicate spontaneously in longer and more complex parts of speech.
talk about how to feel and how to act in difficult situations.
talk about things they feel strongly about (for example, embarrassing mistakes or things that make them feel depressed)
present information about a topic to the class.
Writing
The students can
write clear and detailed texts on a wide range of topics related to their interests.
write an article or report that conveys information or provides reasons to support or oppose a particular point of view.
write letters emphasizing the personal significance of events and experiences.
use comparative forms in a written expression.
check their writings, correct errors and edit them.
write an informal email explaining how they feel and what they did.
use descriptive language such as adjectives and adverbs while writing.
use conjunction expressions to list advantages and disadvantages.
provide examples, add ideas, present opposing ideas, provide reasons, and present conclusions when editing their writings.
check and edit a text for grammar, punctuation or spelling errors.
write a story chain using conditional structures.
write arguments for and against a statement.
introduce, emphasize and generalize the topic.
