Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) English I Syllabus - Mumbai University

About this course

English is a global language, widely used for both informal and formal communication across various contexts. As social work professionals prepare to engage with diverse communities and address complex societal issues, developing proficiency in English is crucial for effective communication. In addition to technical knowledge, social workers must possess the skills to interact with clients, colleagues, and organizations on a global scale. English, therefore, becomes an essential skill for social workers, enabling them to navigate modern challenges in an increasingly interconnected world. The English course in the Bachelor of Social Work both personal and professional interactions, thus preparing them for the evolving demands of the social work field.

Course objectives

• Learner will be able to demonstrate foundational skills in English for everyday communication by identifying and using basic vocabulary, greetings, and simple sentence structures for both social and professional interactions in social work contexts.
• The learner will be able to analyze and engage in professional conversations, describe social issues in English by utilizing appropriate vocabulary and phrases, and by producing clear, simple written communication in social work settings.

Learning outcomes

• CO 25 Demonstrate basic English communication skills including pronunciation, greetings, self-introduction, and everyday conversational phrases relevant to social contexts.
• CO 26 Apply listening and writing skills to comprehend simple dialogues and construct grammatically correct sentences and short paragraphs used in social work settings.
• CO 27 Use appropriate professional English expressions for initiating and maintaining interactions with clients, colleagues, and service users in a social work environment.
• CO 28 Recognize and use basic social work-related vocabulary and terminology to describe social issues, engage in discussions, and interpret short texts relevant to the field.

Unit I: Basics of English for Social Work

• Introduction to basic English
• Pronunciation and alphabets; Focus on sounds, vowels, consonants, and basic word stress.
• Common Greetings and Self Introduction.
• Socialising in English; Simple phrases for polite conversation: Asking about well-being, giving greetings, and responding to common questions, Making small talk: Talking about the weather, current events, and personal interests.
• Listening Comprehension and basic writing
• Short audio clips or dialogues of everyday conversations.
• Writing simple sentences and short paragraphs; Focus on proper sentence structure: Subject + Verb + Object

Essential readings

• Bottomley, J. (2010). English for social work. Palgrave Macmillan.
• DK. (2019). English for everyone: English grammar guide. DK.
• Adelson- Goldstein, J., & Shapiro, N. (2008). Oxford picture dictionary (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.

Unit II: English for Professional Social Work Interaction

• Professional Greetings and Introductions
• How to greet a service user or colleague in a professional setting
• Simple phrases for starting and continuing conversations with clients.
• Building rapport: Asking simple questions, listening actively, and showing empathy.
• Describing Social Issues in English
• Vocabulary and phrases for talking about social problems (e.g., poverty, child welfare, education, health care).
• Reading and discussing short texts related to social work issues (e.g., case studies, reports).
• Basic understanding of social work terminology: "intervention," "assessment," "support services," "casework," etc.

Essential readings

• Edwards, R. L. (2005). English for social work: A workbook for practice. Pearson Education.
• Johnson, B. L. (2007). Basic English for social workers. Allyn & Bacon.