Contra Costa College
Course Description and Syllabus
ESL-123 Listening/Speaking 1 – 4 units
Semester:
Instructor:
Office:
Office Hours:
Office Phone:
E-Mail:
Class Dates:
Holidays:
Schedule:
Final Exam:
Advisory: Appropriate score on ESL Placement Test.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course provides instruction in listening and speaking for high-beginning ESL students. Special
attention is given to pronunciation and aural comprehension.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Students’ ability to communicate orally in English will improve during the semester.
2. Students will demonstrate their ability to understand main points and details in conversations.
Course Objectives:
At the completion of the course, you will improve your ability to:
1. have a conversation about familiar topics
2. understand the most important ideas in short conversations and videos
3. understand American culture and customs
4. give a short (2-3 minute) presentation on a topic that interests you
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:
1. Guided activities incorporating audio-visual and text materials
2. Pair and small group work
3. Lecture
TEXTBOOK AND SUPPLIES:
1. Textbook: World English 1 by Martin Milner
2. Instructor-prepared handouts
GRADES AND ASSIGNMENTS:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Tests and quizzes - 40%
Speaking assessment – 20%
Homework – 20 %
Final Exam – 20%
A letter grade will be assigned based on the following categories: 90-100% = A,
80-89% = B, 70-79% = C, 60-69% = D, below 60% = F. Students who choose
the Credit/No Credit option will receive CR for an average of 70% and above,
or NC for an average of 69% or below.
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 eight 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.