ENGLISH LANGUAGE 1  

EG1035 / EG1654 / EG1733

TOPICS

1. Common Expressions and Standard English2. Sentence Structure & Informative Texts3. Parts of Speech & Descriptive Texts4. Vocabulary & Instructive Texts5. Errors in Usage & Persuasive Texts6. Introduction to Phonetics 17. Introduction to Phonetics 2

Unit 1 Common Expressions

& Standard English

• Look at common expressions and check if these are universally understood among speakers of Standard English.

• Be aware of the Standard English equivalents and be able to use them appropriately

• Can you switch from Standard English to Singlish? Are you able to speak Standard English appropriately in everyday situations?

Activity 1

Given phraseYou better don’t go …

One dollar one

Thank you. Can I follow you or not?

Activity 1

Given phrase Suggested answer (Accept other suitable alternatives) 

You better don’t go … You had better not go … 

One dollar one A/One dollar each 

Thank you. Can I follow you or not?

Thank you. Can I take a ride? 

Activity 2

Work as a pair for this activity.• Possible social situations:• On the bus/taxi/ train• At a food court/ restaurant/ fast food joint/ hawker centre• In the classroom• After a test/an examination• At the cinema• At a party• At the hairdresser’s• At a shopping centre

• Create a short script in non-standard English. Also prepare a standard version.• Selected pairs will act out their scripts while another pair will identify the phrases

and expressions in non-standard form and re-write them in Standard English.

Activity 3

• In your pairs, discuss:• the meanings and when they are used• Koyak lah• His car cut mine

Activity 4

• Game: Tic-tac-toe• Objective: To replace idioms and colloquial

expressions in non-standard form with their standard forms.

• Dynamics: Pair work

Activity 4

• Students will take turns to give their answers for each blank in the grid and write it down.

• The tutor will give the answers at the end and the pair will give themselves a tick on their sheet if they have the correct answer.

• The pair(s) that get all the answers horizontally, vertically and diagonally correct will be considered the winners.

Activity 4 one dollar one    

 telephones were jammed    

 I ever read a joke book 

 

 

 say again

 

 can we pay half half    

 wait wait wait   

 situation bad lah

 clever to smoke    

 he always play cheat   

Activity 4 one dollar one one dollar each

telephones were jammed telephone lines were jammed

I ever read a joke book

I have read a joke book

say again

could you repeat it please

can we pay half half can we pay fifty fifty

wait wait wait please wait

situation bad lah the situation is bad

clever to smoke good at lying

he always play cheat cheats

ASSIGNMENT 4 (80marks), (max 3/grp)INVENTION & ORAL PRESENTATION

Part 1 – Invention (30m)• Invent/create something. Make it as incredible, fantastic, bizarre and imaginative as you can!! It does

not have to be possible, plausible or probable. It can be whimsical, far-fetched and unbelievable.• • It can be a Gadget /Appliance /Equipment / Vehicle / Something to wear or apply / Service /

Software / Programme / or anything you can think of.• • Make a model [mock up] OR illustration [PowerPoint or poster min size: A4, max size: A3] of your

invention. • • Submit a page-long description of your invention to your tutor in week 12. Describe how your

invention works along with its uses and benefits. Ensure that you include all the features of a descriptive text in your submission. [Font: Arial size 12 with double-spacing]

• • You will be graded according to:• Creativity of your invention (10m)• Quality of your model/illustration (10m)• Your descriptive report of the invention (10m).

ASSIGNMENT 4 (80marks), (max 3/grp)INVENTION & ORAL PRESENTATION

Part 2 - Oral Presentation 5mins (50m) • Imagine that your classmates are potential buyers of your invention. You are to try your best to “sell”

your invention using persuasive language. Present/display or demonstrate (if possible) your invention using excellent adjectives to convince the audience of its wonders. You are to be dressed professionally. Each team member presents one of the following segments:

• appearance & features [use of nouns & adjectives/vocabulary - descriptive] • purpose & functions ie how it works [use of adverbs & verbs - instructive] • potential benefits to your buyers [use of persuasive language]

• You are graded on: a) your narration of the segment of the invention – use of language, organization of speech

(15m - individual)b) delivery of speech (20m - individual)

1. verbal: clarity/confidence/tone of voice, pronunciation, pace, volume, pitch2. non-verbal: eye-contact, gestures, movement, posture

c) Appearance: grooming & appropriateness of attire (5m - individual)d) Teamwork (10m): cooperation, flow, cohesion & harmony of presentation