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Houston Community College
Intensive English Program, Northeast College
Northline Center
Syllabus for Level II Conversation
Fall 2011
Instructor:
Course:
CRN:
Course Hours:
Office Hours:
Office Telephone:
E-mail:
Dr. Julie Cote
ESOL 0345 Intermediate Conversation
55332
Monday and Wednesday 11:50-2:00 p.m.
2-2:30 p.m. or by appointment
713-718-8181
julia.cote@hccs.edu
Textbook: Q: Skills for Success Listening and Speaking 1by Jamie Scanlon
Course Description: A continuation of ESOL 0341, this course places emphasis on idiomatic
speech, everyday vocabulary development, and listening comprehension.
Course Objectives: Students will practice talking about daily routines, past and future events,
and personal experiences. They will practice appropriate language used in social situations, for
shopping and employment. They will learn to give opinions and advice.
Attendance Policy: The HCCS policy is that if a student is absent for 12.5% of the time (4 class
days during a 16 week semester), she or he may be dropped from the course. The student is
responsible for all work missed while absent. If you are more than 15 minutes late, you are
considered absent. You must return from lunch and breaks on time. Attendance is marked beginning
the first official day of classes, not the day that you register/enroll.
Tardies: Being on time is very important in the United States. If you arrive more than ten
minutes late, you will be counted tardy. (3 tardies=1 absence) If you are more than fifteen
minutes late, you will be counted absent. A student who is tardy may sign the roll at the end of
class. A tardy student who fails to sign the roll will be counted as absent. You must sign the
role sheet in order to receive credit for being in class. Excessive tardies, either individual or
as a class, are an interruption of instruction. Official tardy count is recorded as follows: three
tardies (or early leaves) count as one class absence.
Notice: Students who repeat a course for a third or more times may soon face significant
tuition/fee increases at HCC and other Texas public colleges and universities. Please ask your
instructor about opportunities for tutoring/ other assistance prior to considering course
withdrawal or if you are not receiving passing grades.
***Students are limited to a total of 6 W’s during the course of their academic careers.
Dropping Courses: It is the responsibility of the student to officially drop or withdraw from a
course. Failure to officially withdraw may result in the student receiving a grade of “F” in the
course.
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Make-up Policy: Daily work cannot be made up in this class, so your attendance is essential. If
you're absent on a day when you're supposed to be giving a presentation, you (or you and your
group) will still need to give it when you get back with a ten point late penalty.
If you have to be absent, you must talk to me about the work you missed. It is very important to
be present when we have a test. You can only make up a test if you had an emergency. You
must call the office at 713-718-8181 if you have an emergency.
Scholastic Honesty: I expect all of you to be responsible students. That means if you have
problems doing the work, ask me for help, not another student. On tests and quizzes, do not
cheat by getting “help” or by “helping” others. It is important to do your own work. A student
who cheats will be given a grade of zero for that assignment.
Students with Disabilities: Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning,
psychiatric, developmental, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable
accommodations must contact the Disability Support Services (DSS) Counselor at the
beginning of each semester. Ms. Kim Ingram is the Northeast College DSS counselor Teachers
can only provide the accommodation requested by the DSS Office. The DSS office is Room
108. Her telephone number is 713-718-8420.
Cell Phones and Electronic Devices: All cell phones and any electronic devices
must be turned off during class. If the phone or device rings/beeps/makes noise
during class, I will hold it until class is over. Turn off your cell phone before you
enter the classroom. Talking and text messaging on the cell phone are not allowed
during class time. The only reason you should be disturbed during class is for a
real emergency. If you must be reached in an emergency, the person should call
the Intensive English office. Someone will come to get you out of class. Laptop
computers, iPods, and any other electronic devices must be put away while you
are in class.
Classroom policy: I am extremely allergic to perfumes, colognes, lotions, hairsprays, and
cigarette smoke. Please do not wear any to class and do not smoke directly before class or on
a break. I may ask you to leave class if I cannot breathe you. This will count as an absence or
early leave.
Student Conduct: Sleeping in class is disrespectful. If you sleep during class,
you will be asked to leave. This will count as one absence.
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Recording Devices: “Use of recording devices, including camera phones and tape recorders,
is prohibited in classrooms, laboratories, faculty offices, and other locations where instruction,
tutoring, or testing occurs. Students with disabilities who need to use a recording device as a
reasonable accommodation should contact the Office for Students with Disabilities for
information regarding reasonable accommodations.
EGLS3 -- Evaluation for Greater Learning Student Survey System
At Houston Community College, professors believe that thoughtful student feedback is
necessary to improve teaching and learning. During a designated time, you will be asked to
answer a short online survey of research-based questions related to instruction. The
anonymous results of the survey will be made available to your professors and division chairs
for continual improvement of instruction. Look for the survey as part of the Houston Community
College Student System online near the end of the term.
Course Grading:
A= 90-100
B= 80-89
C= 70-79
IP= 0-69
(in-progress: failing but progressing)
F = 0-69 (not passing for a second semester)
Grading Criteria:
Oral Presentations (3)
Quizzes (7)
Participation
Final Exam
50%
20%
10%
20%
CLASS ASSIGNMENTS
Oral Presentations: There will be three oral presentations over unit themes from the textbook.
Quizzes: There will be seven (7) unit quizzes covering content from the textbook.
Participation: Students will earn one point for each day they are present and participate in
class. Missed days will result in a participation grade of zero (0) for that day. Class participation
is judged by your overall willingness to do what is asked for in class activities and to express
your thoughts, ideas, feelings, and opinions. If you are absent when discussion or group
activities take place, your participation grade will go down.
Final Exam: The final exam will be a presentation
Note: Students must have a passing average on major assignments (presentations and
quizzes) and the final exam in order to pass the class. Just having a passing
attendance/participation grade does not indicate that you are ready for the next level.
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Course Calendar for Level 2 Conversation
Fall 2011
Assignments are subject to change due to the needs of the class.
Week 1
8/29-8/31
Introduction to course;
Begin Unit 1: DO YOU LIKE YOUR NAME?
Week 2
9/5-9/7
Unit 1: DO YOU LIKE YOUR NAME?
Week 3:
9/12-9/14
Unit 1 Quiz
Unit 2: HOW CAN YOU FIND A GOOD JOB?
Week 4:
9/19-9/21
Unit 2: HOW CAN YOU FIND A GOOD JOB?
Week 5:
9/26-9/28
Unit 2 Quiz
Unit 3: WHY DO WE STUDY OTHER CULTURES?
Week 6:
10/3-10/5
Unit 3: WHY DO WE STUDY OTHER CULTURES?
PRESENTATION # 1
Week 7:
10/10-10/12
Unit 3 Quiz
Unit 4: WHAT MAKES A HAPPY ENDING?
Week 8:
10/17-10/19
Unit 4: WHAT MAKES A HAPPY ENDING?
Week 9:
10/24-10/26
Unit 4 Quiz
Unit 5: WHAT IS THE BEST VACATION?
Week 10:
10/31-11/02
Unit 5: WHAT IS THE BEST VACATION?
PRESENTATION #2
Week 11:
11/7-11/9
Unit 5 Quiz
Unit 6: WHO MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Week 12:
11/14-11/16
Unit 6: WHO MAKES YOU LAUGH?
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Week 13:
11/21-11/23
Unit 6 Quiz
Unit 7: WHY IS MUSIC IMPORTANT TO YOU?
Week 14:
11/28-11/30
Unit 7: WHY IS MUSIC IMPORTANT TO YOU?
Unit 7 Quiz
Week 15:
12/5-12/7
PRESENTATION #3
Prepare for final exam
Week 16:
12/12
FINAL EXAM: Monday, December 12