ESOL 0345

Intermediate Conversation Syllabus

Instructor: Joe Starr

E-mail: star_j@hccs.edu

Office Hours: 1:30-2:00 Mon- Thurs. or by appointment

 

1. COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course places emphasis on idiomatic speech, everyday vocabulary development, and listening comprehension.

 

2. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

ESOL 0345, Intermediate Conversation, seeks to prepare students for college-level academic or workforce study by advancing them from high beginning to high intermediate level in the following English language skills:

·        Listening comprehension

·        Oral fluency

·        Active vocabulary

·        pronunciation

 

3. COURSE OUTCOMES:

After taking ESOL 0345, the student should be able to perform the following language functions at a high intermediate level:

1.   Predict the direction a speaker’s discourse will take

2.   Identify speaker’s main idea and details

3.   Guess meaning from context’

4.   Summarize the discourse

5.   Make inferences

6.   Take notes on a lecture

7.   Express ideas and emotions

8.   Ask for clarification from others

9.   Compare opinions and discuss differences

10. Understand and use new vocabulary relevant to given topics

11. Expand understanding of the meaning, usage, and word forms of vocabulary items in different contexts

12. Understand and use appropriate stress, intonation, singular and plural forms of words, contractions.

 

4. GRADE BREAKDOWN:                                                 GRADE ANALYSIS

Your grade will be calculated as follows:

Daily Work                           30%                                         90 – 100                      A

Presentations                        30%                                         80 – 89                        B

Lab                                           5%                                         70 – 79                        C

Group Projects                     15%                                         Less than 70              F or IP*

Final                                       20%

100%                                       IP means In Progress  and is given to a student who has completed the course work but is not able to pass to the next level

5. TEXTBOOK:

You are required to buy the following textbooks for this course:

NorthStar: Focus on Listening and Speaking, Intermediate

 

 

 

 

 

6. Notice: Students who repeat a course three or more times may soon face significant tuition/fee increases at HCC and other Texas public colleges and universities. If you are considering course withdrawal because you are not earning passing grades, confer with your instructor/counselor as early as possible about your study habits, reading and writing homework, test-taking skills, attendance, course participation, and opportunities for tutoring or other assistance that might be available.

 

 

 

CLASS POLICIES

ATTENDANCE: Students may not be absent more than 8 times in any class.  A student who has more than 8 absences may be dropped from class.

TARDINESS: You must come to class on time. If you are more than 10 minutes late, you are absent.  Being late 3 times equals one absence.

WITHDRAWALS: F-1 students may not withdraw from class without becoming out of status.

MAKEUP TESTS / LATE HOMEWORK: There are no makeup tests.  If you know you will be absent, you can take the test in lab the day before the test.  For every four tests I give, I will drop one low grade.  Turn in all homework assignments on time.  Late work is not accepted.

ACADEMIC HONESTY / CHEATING: Any form of copying, cheating, or plagiarism will result in a zero (0) for the assignment. See the HCCS Student Handbook for more information

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: HCCS POLICIES

Students with a learning or physical disability which might affect their performance in class should contact the HCCS disabilities counselor, Dr. Becky Hauri at 713-718-7909, FAX 713-718-7906

CELL PHONES AND BEEPERS Students are not allowed to use cell phones or beepers in class.  An exception will be made with in emergency situation.  Let me know if you need to have it on.

 

ESOL 0348

COURSE SCHEDULE

NOTE: This schedule is approximate; the instructor may make changes to it if required to cover the required material in the course.  Quizzes may be announced or unannounced.

Week

Topics

1.

Advertising on the Air

2.

Pushing the Limit

3.

Pushing the Limit

4.

Presentation #1

5.

Too Good to Be True

6.

The Art of Storytelling

7.

Separated by the Same Language

8.

Presentation #2

9.

Culture and Commerce

10.

Joking Around

11.

Joking Around

12.

Traditional or Trendy

13.

Presentation #3

14.

To Spank or Not to Spank

15.

Before You Say “I Do”

16.

Final Exam