ESOL 0349
Advanced- Intermediate Conversation
Fall 2010 Course Syllabus
Class Information:
Meetings: Monday, Wednesday
Time: 8:30a.m.- 13:20p.m.
Designation: 3a
Room: 156
Lab Room: 156
Physical address: 13803 Bissonnet St.,
Houston, Texas 77083
Instructor Information:
Instructor: Leilani Clark
Office Phone: 713-718-6870
Office hours: By appointment
E-mail: heather.clark@hccs.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
A continuation of ESOL 0345. This course is designed to further develop conversational skills by incorporating
more complicated vocabulary and grammatical structures. Students are also required to present oral reports at
various times during the semester.
ESOL 0349 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
The Intensive English Program offers a sequence of four ESL conversation courses which range from
beginning to advanced English conversation. The overall purpose of the Intensive English Conversation
program is fourfold:
a. Collaborative learning: The curriculum in each course offers students the opportunity to work in teams
with other students to learn English by practicing it;
b. Productive assessment: The conversation program seeks to assess students based on what they can
do in English, rather than on their ability to memorize;
c. Use of computer technology: Students use computers not only for accessing special programs for
teaching ESL, but for learning “real-world” skills such as Internet communication and research;
d. Pronunciation practice: Students are instructed in improving their pronunciation through
communicative activities and awareness of stress patterns.
COURSE OUTCOMES:
After taking ESOL 0349: Advanced-Intermediate Conversation the student should:
a. show proficiency in recognizing and producing linguistic structures appropriate for the following
situations: complaints, apologies, requests, commands, offers, refusals, and complements;
b. be able to successfully prepare and deliver a 10-15 minute oral presentation and answer questions
from classmates afterwards;
c. participate in pairs, small groups, and large groups which are discussion current issues and relevant
topics;
d. be able to deliver a summary or a written text or brief spoken passage;
e. be able to express a comparison or contrast between an experience or situation in the student’s home
country and one similar to it in the USA.
GRADE BREAKDOWN:
Participation:
Vocabulary Assessments:
Homework/ Lab:
Projects 1, 2, & 3:
Group Project:
10%*
10%
10%
50%
20%
100%
*Participation encompasses individual contributions, pair work, as well as small and whole group discussions.
It also means being an active listener and peer feedback contributor during class. Your Peer Feedback
Notebooks will also be factored into this grade.
TEXTBOOKS:
Each student is required to buy the following textbook for this course:
Kisslinger, E. (2009). Contemporary Topics 2: Academic listening and note-taking skills. (3rd ed.). Pearson Longman.
ORAL PRESENTATIONS/ PROJECTS:
You will have four (4) oral projects this semester. Project 1 will be an individual, oral presentation. It will need
to be five (5) minutes and it will count 5% towards your overall grade. Project 2 will be an individual, oral
presentation as well. It will need to be ten (10) minutes, and it will count 15% towards your total grade. The
next project you will complete is your Group Project. It will need to be fifteen (15) minutes and 20% of your
overall grade will be attached to this project. Your final project, Project 3, will be an individual, oral
presentation. It will be fifteen (15) minutes long, and will account for 30% of your overall grade.
a. Video-taping: All oral presentations/ projects will be recorded. The class will use the recordings for
self-critiquing and peer feedback purposes.
b. Peer Feedback Notebooks: In this notebook you will take notes, paraphrase your peers’ individual
presentations, and use them to write questions you would like to ask the presenter.
c. Timing: Keeping to the designated time is essential when delivering a speech; it will also be a
standard upheld in our classroom. A timer will be set at the beginning of each presentation. Points
will be deducted for presentations that are too short or too long.
COURSE SCHEDULE
Note: This schedule is approximate. I may make changes to it, if necessary, to cover the required course
material.
WEEK
1
DATE
Monday August 31
Wednesday September 1
Monday September 6
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Wednesday September 8
Monday September 13
Wednesday September 15
Monday September 20
Wednesday September 22
Monday September 27
Wednesday September 29
Monday October 4
Wednesday October 6
Monday October 11
Wednesday October 13
Monday October 18
Wednesday October 20
Monday October 25
Wednesday October 27
Monday November 1
Wednesday November 3
Monday November 8
Wednesday November 10
Monday November 15
Wednesday November 17
Monday November 22
Wednesday November 24
15
Monday November 29
Wednesday December 1
Monday December 6
Wednesday December 8
16
Monday December 13
Wednesday December 15
14
TOPICS
ASSIGNMENTS/ NOTES
Unit 1: Names
Orientation/ Placement
Unit 2: Global English
Labor Day Holiday, No
class
Unit 3: Phobias
Unit 4: Owning a Successful
Restaurant
Unit 5: How We Each Learn Best
Unit 6: The Silk Road
Vocab. Assess. 1
Project 1
Project 1
Vocab. Assess. 2
Substitute
Substitute
Vocab. Assess. 3
Substitute
Unit 7: Team Building
Unit 8: Frank Gehry
Project 2
Project 2
Vocab. Assess. 4
Unit 9: Building Immunity
Unit 10: Principles of Journalism
Unit 11: DNA Testing
Vocab. Assess. 5
Group Presentations
Group Presentations
Vocab. Assess. 6
Thanksgiving class dinner
Unit 12: Risk Management
Vocab. Assess. 7
End of Semester class
celebration
Project 3 presentations
Last day of G/C class
CLASS POLICIES
CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR: Students must act appropriately in class. Please do not use beepers or cell
phones in class. Students must always treat all students with respect. Since this is an English class, you
should try to speak English at all times. If sitting next to someone who speaks your language causes a
problem in class, I may change your seat.
ATTENDANCE: HCCS has very strict attendance policies. If you miss 10 hours of class, you may be dropped
from this class. There are no excused absences. Speak to me if you know you must miss several classes.
TARDINESS: It is not acceptable to be late to class. If you are more than 10 minutes late, it will count as an
absence. If you arrive late, quietly take your seat and get out your books. Explain after class.
WITHDRAWALS: Students may receive a “W” (Withdrawal) up to the last official day to withdraw from school,
which is Thursday November 18, 2010 at 4:30pm. After that day, if you have excessive absences, you will
receive a grade of “F” (failing) instead of a “W”. If you are an F-1 student, being dropped from a course puts
you out-of-status. If you are receiving financial aid, being dropped from a course could cause your
assistance to be pulled. This is serious! If you are having a problem, you can always talk to me after class or
email me.
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.
MAKE-UP TESTS / LATE HOMEWORK: It is very important that you be present for all tests. If, however, you
are ill or must be absent on a day that we have a test, you will have one week from the date of the test to make
it up. It is YOUR responsibility to talk with me about making up your test at a time that is acceptable to the
instructor. If you do not make up your test within the required time, you will receive a zero (0). For the oral
projects/ presentations, these can only be made up during the week they have been scheduled. Homework
will be accepted late only on the day the student returns from being absent. Vocabulary Assessments can be
made up only on the day the student returns from being absent.
ACADEMIC HONESTY / CHEATING: Any form of copying, cheating, or plagiarism will result in a zero (0) for
the assignment. This includes homework, tests, and projects. 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:
Phone: 713-718-7909, Fax: 713-718-7906
SEXUAL HARASSMENT: Sexual harassment in any form is not tolerated at HCCS. See the student
handbook for further information.
PROBLEMS: If you have a problem in class, please speak to me after class. I will make every effort to help
you. You may always see me during office hours for extra help. Additionally, you may email me.