Contra Costa College
Course Description and Syllabus
ESL-135A Pronunciation A – 2 units
Semester:
Instructor:
Office:
Office Hours:
Office Phone:
E-Mail:
Class Dates:
Holidays:
Schedule:
Final Exam:
Advisory: Successful completion of ESL 123 or appropriate score on ESL Placement Test
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course provides instruction in pronunciation, emphasizing individual sounds and words, for
intermediate and advanced-level ESL students. Students learn to recognize their pronunciation
problems, to listen to themselves, and to self-correct.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students will be able to deliver a 3-5 minute expository presentation using intelligible stress, intonation
and phonology.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
At the completion of the course, you will improve your ability to:
1. Use the sounds and word stress patterns of English;
2. Express yourself in social and academic situations;
3. Speak intelligibly and confidently with others;
4. Monitor speech and self-correct.
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:
1. Guided activities incorporating audio-visual materials
2. Pair and small group work
3. Lecture
TEXTBOOK AND SUPPLIES:
1. Textbook: Clear Speech, 4th Ed. J. Gilbert
2. Instructor-prepared handouts
GRADES AND ASSIGNMENTS:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Tests and quizzes - 40%
Homework and Classwork – 20%
Final Exam – 20 %
Speeches – 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]
I expect you to be present in every class meeting and participate actively in class activities. You must
come to class on time and complete your homework before class begins. This is a two-unit course, so you
will have to spend approximately four hours a week doing homework and preparing for class.
Attendance policy: If you miss class often, regardless of the reason, you will not learn the material
covered by the course. For that reason, there are no excused absences in this course. If you miss more
than three class meetings, you may be dropped from the class. When you are late to class, I will add
up the number of minutes you miss. Each fifty-minute period will count as an hour of class. If you miss
class, contact a classmate or me to find out what the homework is. I expect you to complete the homework
even if you miss class.
When students are late, unprepared, or distracted, they can’t learn and they don’t let other students learn, so we
must all do our part to create a good learning environment. This includes respecting and supporting other
members of the class, doing our share of the work in groups, staying on task, speaking English, and listening to
the instructor or other students when they are speaking to the class. Telephones and beepers must be turned off
and put away before class begins.