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This action research was conducted to investigate the efficacy of networking, an adjusted cooperative learning method employed in an English literature class for non-English majors in China. Questionnaire was administered online anonymously to college students after a 14-week cooperative learning in literature class in a Chinese university, aiming to study whether the proposed cooperative learning method was an effective method in literature class and how it would impact students. The results indicated that it was an effective instructional practice with benefits in academic study, accountability and social skills.

This article performs an exploratory study of the newly formulated "Guidelines" for College English Teaching ("Draft Exposure")("2015")("Guidelines"), aiming at exploring how different the latest Guidelines is from the previous ones, what challenges it brings to teachers and how these challenges can be countered. Therefore, comparisons are made among six syllabi to illustrate the developments college English has achieved and its existent problems as well. To address these problems, "Guidelines" (2015) is issued with three new features: the integration of instrumentality and humanity, the introduction of intercultural education and the system of multiple curriculum for multiple teaching objectives. Its issuing poses tremendous challenges to college English teachers, of which increasing demands on college English teachers' professional expertise, skillful employment of information technology and academic performance stand out. To help counter these challenges and difficulties, suggestions are made from three levels with the hope that improved teachers' quality can facilitate the implementation of "Guidelines" (2015) and guarantee the potential achievement of its expected objectives. These suggestions are: life-long learning and self-directed development consciousness, the establishment of teacher education system by faculties and universities and continued governmental support in and favorable policies to college English teacher education.

Abstract: Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and organochlorine pesticide (OCP) were analyzed in surficial sediments from the Haihe River and Haihe Estuary Area, Tianjin, China. The concentrations of ∑PCBs (the sum of 32 PCB concentrations) and ∑OCPs (the sum of eight OCPs concentrations) in the sediments from this area ranged from n.d. (not detected) to 253ngg−1 (average value: 66.8ngg−1) and from 0.997 to 2447ngg−1 (average value: 738ngg−1), respectively. Among the OCPs, the range of concentrations of hexachlorocyclohexane and its isomers (HCHs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) were 0.997–1620ngg−1 (547ngg−1), n.d. – 155ngg−1 (18.5ngg−1) and n.d. – 835ngg−1 (173ngg−1), respectively. In general, the concentrations of all persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from the Haihe River were higher than those from the Haihe Estuary Area. Compositional analyses of the POPs indicated that tri-PCBs were dominant in sediment from the Haihe River, while tetra-PCBs and penta-PCBs were identified as being prevalent in the Haihe Estuary Area. In addition, β-HCH and p,p′-DDD were found to be the dominant HCHs and DDTs, respectively. Compared with other areas around the world, the concentrations of POPs in sediments from the Haihe River were higher, but pollution level was comparable with other areas in the Haihe Estuary Area. According to established sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), POPs in this area have potential ecological risk. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]