Syllabus

Here is your syllabus.



= Ohlone College =

**Class Wiki: http://esl183lsspring2012.wikispaces.com/**
=Email: **vcurtis@ohlone.edu**=

In this course you will develop and improve your overall communication skills in American English. You will practice English speaking, listening, reading and writing with an emphasis on fluency, vocabulary development, verb tenses, and basic sentence structure. The skills you learn will be applied in oral, aural and written assignments and in natural communication tasks.
 * Course Description**

= Course Learning Outcomes = Upon completing this course you will be able to:
 * 1) Produce sentences and chunks of discourse from 1 to 10 minutes in length of time appropriate to the spoken task (i.e. impromptu speeches, dialogs, planned presentations) with a focus on verb tenses, correct word form choice, and intermediate level sentence patterns.
 * 2) Respond to questions and discuss topics addressed in class and/or related to his/her own life with increasing comprehensibility.
 * 3) Identify main ideas and isolate specific details in a variety of listening passages including one on one conversations, small group discussions, and short lectures.
 * 4) Successfully accomplish given authentic tasks and projects requiring oral/aural communication skills out in the campus and local community.
 * 5) Students will successfully comprehend the main idea and details of an Ohlone college level class lecture.
 * Student Learning Outcomes**
 * Speaking**
 * 1) Identify and use main idea to organize spoken passages
 * 2) Develop main idea for spoken discourse using specific supporting details
 * 3) Use correct sentence patterns with increasing accuracy.
 * 4) Develop and refine fluency and accuracy in pronunciation of phonemes, words, and sentences, so as to not interfere with message communication.


 * 1) Develop and refine fluency and accuracy with the supra-segmentals including focus, stress, intonation, and rhythm.

discourse with increasing accuracy. = = = Books and Other Materials =
 * 1) Increase expressive and receptive personal and academic vocabulary in speaking and listening through the use of common prefixes, collocations, synonyms, antonyms and word forms.
 * 2) Use present timeframe with simple, progressive, and perfect aspects spoken discourse with increasing accuracy.
 * 3) Use past timeframe with simple and progressive aspects in spoken discourse with increasing accuracy.
 * 4) Use future timeframe with simple, progressive, and perfect aspect in spoken
 * Listening**
 * 1) Identify main idea in a listening passage.
 * 2) Isolate specific details in a listening passage.
 * 3) Identify supporting details in a listening passage.
 * 4) Make inferences based on listening texts.
 * 5) Make predictions of future content or organization based on material read or heard with increasing accuracy.
 * 6) Produce simple spoken or written summaries and paraphrases of information from a listening passage.
 * 7) Develop a familiarity with the conventions of at least 3 different auditory sources of English.
 * 8) Required Textbooks: **__Q: Skills for Success Listening and Speaking 4,__ Robert Freire and Tamara Jones, Oxford University Press 2011, English Central online program to be purchased online in class with assistance from instructor**
 * 9) Internet Access
 * 10) Computer headphone/microphone set

= = = Class Activities and Content = You will do a variety of listening and speaking activities in pairs, groups and individually. You are expected to participate in all activities. In addition, there will be supplemental listening and speaking activities required. You are expected to do all homework assignments and to take all quizzes. You should do your homework before coming to class. You need to come to class prepared to discuss the assignments. Meeting deadlines on time is an important part of American academic culture; therefore, I will not accept late assignments unless you talk to me in advance. Do not assume a late assignment will be accepted. If you know that you will be absent for a quiz or test, tell me before, so we can make other arrangements. We will be covering approximately 4-5 unit in the Q series text as well as weekly assignments in English Central. You are expected to come to every class on time. If you are absent from class more than 3 times, or if you are late more than 3 times, I may drop you from the class. Even if you are absent, you are responsible for all work. Call one of your classmates or your instructor if you have questions. __________________________ _______________________
 * Course Schedule **
 * Attendance**
 * Classmate’s Name** **Phone Number**

__________________________ _______________________ = Grading = To **pass** this class, you must score an average of **70%** on assignments and tests in both areas of listening and speaking. If you do not have an average of **70%** in either area, you might not pass the class. Your class grade will be determined as follows: Class Participation 20% 90-100%= A Excellent Homework/Quizzes 10% 80-89% = B Above Average Listening/Speaking Portfolio 30% 70-79% = C Average Tests 15% 60-69% = D Below Average Final Exam 25% 0-59%= F Failing

= = = = = Withdrawal Policy = The last day for dropping the class with a “W” is **Friday April 20, 2012.** You are responsible for dropping the class by that date if you wish to receive a “W”. **If you do not drop by that date and fail to complete the course requirements, you will receive a grade of “F”.**

=Language Policy= As this is a class designed to help you improve your written/oral/aural English skills, only English will be spoken in class. Exceptions will rarely be made and then only for absolutely necessary translation purposes. You will have your class participation percentage reduced if you use other languages in class.

In American colleges, cheating on tests, copying other students’ homework, and copying other people’s papers are unacceptable and grounds for failure. You are expected to turn in only your own work. If you have any questions about policies that are not answered in this paper, please read your Student Handbook or the college catalog. If you have any questions about English, this class or if you just want to talk, please come by my office. I would be glad to help you in any way I can. I hope you enjoy the class and feel more comfortable with English as we go along.
 * Academic Dishonesty**
 * Note**
 * Cell Phones**
 * ALL CELL PHONES MUST BE TURNED OFF DURING CLASS.****