The major theme of the story is the struggle between the noisy, common way of life and the quiet and genteel. The central characters in the story are the shy little Mole, clever Ratty, Badger, and crazy Toad, who experience adventures in the English countryside. Class time is divided between discussing the book and related topics, and watching and discussing the video. Students complete worksheets and use scripts to build vocabulary, reading comprehension and writing skills. Listening and speaking practice is stressed in class.
Students read about seven pages of the text each week in preparation for class discussion.
In this course students explore controversial topics such as homelessness, gender roles, and homosexuality. Students participate in small group and class discussions that help to increase their ability to give opinions in English. Students also write short journal entries reflecting on the issues presented. Activities help students increase their vocabulary as well as help them explain their ideas in better detail. Participants need to be willing to make an effort to share their opinions and ideas with other students.