Contra Costa College
Course Description and Syllabus
ESL-51 – Reading and Vocabulary for Beginners - 3 units
Semester:
Instructor:
Office:
Office Hours:
Office Phone:
E-Mail:
Class Dates:
Holidays:
Schedule:
Final Exam:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course provides instruction in basic reading and common everyday vocabulary. Students improve
their reading skills, expand their vocabulary, and increase their fluency through discussion of reading
material. This course supplements material covered in ESL 50.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students will improve their ability to read and understand elementary-level dialogs and paragraphs in
English.
Course Objectives:
At the completion of the course, the student will be able to:
1. Read and understand short elementary-level texts in English.
2. Relate reading passages to their own backgrounds and experiences, both orally and in writing.
3. Write answers to comprehension questions using complete sentences.
4. Recognize and use 400-700 high-frequency words.
5. Apply reading strategies appropriate to the text and purpose of reading.
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Text reading and discussion
Pair and small group work
Lecture
Individual conferences
TEXTBOOK AND SUPPLIES:
1. Textbook:
2. Instructor-prepared handouts
GRADES AND ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Tests and quizzes
60%
2. Homework
3. Final Exam
20 %
20%
70% and above = Credit
Below 70% = No Credit
Course expectations: [Optional – can be modified]
Attendance
I expect you to attend every class meeting. Good attendance is very important. If you miss class, you
won’t learn much. If you have to miss class, you still have to do the homework. Check the course
website or contact me or a classmate to find out what the homework is. You must attend every class
meeting and arrive on time. If you are absent more than three times, I may drop you from the class. If
you arrive late or leave early, I will add up the time you are not in class and count it as time you are
absent.
Homework
You will have homework for every class meeting. You will have about six hours of homework every
week for this class. There will be unannounced homework quizzes often.
Class etiquette
The way students behave in a class makes a big difference in how much we can all learn. For that
reason, you are expected to behave in ways that help you and others learn the most. That includes:
coming to class on time and finishing all your homework before class,
turning off your cell phone ringer before the beginning of class,
never using your phone to send or receive texts, to make calls, or to check messages
never leaving the class to talk on the phone, smoke a cigarette, or take a break,
participating actively in group and classwork, and helping everyone participate,
treating everyone with respect and kindness.