Whether you're in a master's level English course or you are starting with English 101, one goal of your course will be to expose you to new and different readings, help you engage with those readings through annotation and response, and encourage you to synthesize those readings with other readings or your interests. In basic English classes, the goal will be more focused on reading comprehension, while more advanced English courses will focus on your critical response to these readings.
Most English courses seek to develop better writers at the end of the semester. In some cases, this might mean that you spend a great deal of time focusing on grammar or composition strategies. For creative writing classes, you may study various art forms and then learn to reproduce them. In some specialized literature and writing classes the course's goal will be to help you develop better writing skills within a particular genre, like the grant, or when writing about a particular subject, like pedagogy.
Though they are usually only stated goals in English classes that deal with speech or English for speakers of other languages, most English classes seek to develop their students as speakers and listeners throughout the semester or year. Often English classes have discussions regarding pieces of literature or current events. These classroom activities are designed to help students learn to express opinions in cordial discourse with their peers. Other classes may specifically address how students can speak more effectively in different situations and how students can practice listening for content.
While many English classes stress the importance of reading and writing, an important goal of nearly every course is to develop critical thinkers. People who think critically are better readers and writers because they can read and write both with and against the grain of other writers' content. Because higher level thinking skills are a prerequisite to meaningful reading and writing, most English classes try to develop them through asking students to consider controversial subjects, research new ideas and listen to a variety of points of view.