Novels to Films

Abstract

The aim for this Portfolio is to create a Textbook that allows university students to learn the joy of reading authentic novels while enhancing all four English skills through the various activities provided in ‘Novels to Films’. Currently in Korea, many colleges including Ewha Womans University does not provide courses in which students can read authentic novels. Courses that require students to read authentic books are mostly from the Department of Literature. However, many college students have strong desires to read books in English; however, they do not know what books to read and sometimes authentic novels are difficult to read without guidance. Due to the hardships of reading authentic books, teachers believe that students will avoid courses that require them to read authentic novels. On the contrary, according to a survey conducted amongst 113 undergraduate students at Ewha Womans University (from the Departments of Fine Arts, Natural Science, Nursing, and International Studies), 73 students revealed that they would be interested in a course in which they are given opportunity to read authentic novels. This shows that students are willing to read authentic novels and there is a genuine need for a Textbook of this nature. The target university students are intermediate high to advanced low according to ACTFL. They have been required to take introductory English courses, and specifically for Ewha Womans University, this Textbook will be used for an English IV course provided by the English Program Office (EPO). English IV courses are composed of advanced English classes that cover topics such as literature, film, and business English.