Discourse Strategies

Welcome to the 'Discourse Strategies' Course Web Page!

'Discourse Strategies' is an elective course offered by the UN English Language Programme at UN Headquarters in New York City.

What is the difference between the English used on the streets of New York, and the language of the UN? This course presents these differences with a focus on the language appropriate for work and formal meetings.
Links Student Work Quizzes

Course Calendar
Week Date In Class Homework
1 3, 5 January
  • Do quizzes on 'Register Use' handout, and revise the conversations on p2 to make them more appropriate.
  • Complete 'Dress for the Occasion' handout
2 10, 12 January
  • Opening exercises (continued)
  • Discuss ' Dress for the Occasion' suggested answers
  • Unit 1: General Language Points - pages 9-12
  • Study pp 9-12
  • Read/Do ex. on p17
3 17, 19 January
  • Unit 1: General Language Points - pages 13-17
  • Study Unit 1
  • Read handout: Larry King reading, chapters 1-2, prepare for a discussion, and complete vocabulary chart
4 24, 26 January
  • Larry King Reading - Vocabulary and Discussion
  • Unit 2: 19-21
  • Review Unit 2 expressions
  • Prepare for 'The Chance of a Lifetime' activity
5 31 Jan.; 2 February
  • Meet with your partner and prepare for your interview
  • Meet with your group and record the interview
  • Write (a) letter(s) - as a follow-up to the activity
6 7, 9 February
  • Is this pragmatically correct? Looking at a transcript of an interview from last week.
  • Unit 2: Presenting an Argument
  • Mini p resentations based on recent news events
  • Do Unit 1 Overview exercise
  • Do 'Correct the errors' ex. (with Unit 2 expressions)
  • Do 'Emails' exercise - do they need some revision?
  • Try Unit 2 collocation exercises - pp25-27
7 14, 16 February
  • Do 'E-mails' exercise - correct any messages that need correcting.
  • Bring a topic to class for discussion - so that you can ask your classmates for their opinion.
  • Complete mid-term questionnaire
8

21, 23 February
  • Video: Level with Me
  • What would you say? Exercise based on the video.
  • Role Play exercise
  • Do 'Quiz 2' - test of roles described in video, and collocations from Units 1-3
  • Read Chapters 1-2 by Deborah Tannen, do vocabulary exercise and prepare for discussion
9 28 February;
2 March
  • Discussion: Deborah Tannen reading.
  • Do crossword puzzle to practice new vocabulary
  • Study Unit 3 collocations
10 7, 9 March    
11 14, 16 March    
12 21, 23 March