Course Syllabus
Intermediate Conversation
ESOL 0349
Semester
Spring 2011
CRN (Course
Reference #)
68282
Instructor
Shannon Montiel
Contact
Information
shannon.montiel@hccs.edu
Office Location
and Hours
Office hours by appointment. Your performance in my class is very important to me.
I am available to hear your concerns, just let me know and we will find a time to
discuss them.
Course
Location/Times
LHSB 406, M/W, 11:30am-2:00pm
Course Semester
Credit Hours
(SCH) (lecture, lab)
If applicable
Credit Hours
3.00
Lecture Hours
3.00
Laboratory Hours 2.00
Total Course
Contact Hours
80
Course Length
(number of weeks)
16 weeks
Type of Instruction Lecture/Lab
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.
Course
Prerequisite(s)
Completion and passing grade in ESOL 0345 or a satisfactory score on the CELSA.
Academic
Discipline/CTE
Program Learning
ESOL 0349, Advanced Intermediate Conversation, seeks to prepare students for
college or workforce classes and speaking assignments in general by accomplishing
the following objectives:
Outcomes





Develop students’ speaking and listening communication skills in different
contexts, including academic, workforce and social situations.
Introduce students to the language and culture of academic, workforce and
social situations through the use of in-class presentations, role plays, panel and
group discussions.
Develop students’ listening comprehension and note taking skills through
exposure to recorded and teacher-generated listening comprehension material,
which can include guest speakers.
Give students practice in English pronunciation, including common stress and
intonation patterns, through exposure to songs, jazz or grammar chants, tapes
and other recorded materials (these may be found on the Internet).
Reinforce English language skills used in formal situations (such as academic or
workplace presentations or interviews). These skills include: 1) Developing
topics; 2) Organizing ideas; 3) Building complex sentence structure; 4)
Increasing academic and workforce vocabulary.
Course Student
Learning
Outcomes (SLO): 4
to 7
1. Comprehend academic and workforce-related discourse
2. Understand and use an expanded range of vocabulary related to academic and
workforce topics.
3. Produce comprehensible speech with accurate pronunciation.
4. Present a talk on a researched topic.
5. Analyze a topic by note-taking
Learning
Objectives
(Numbering
system should be
linked to SLO e.g., 1.1, 1.2, 1.3,
etc.)
Comprehend academic and workforce-related discourse
Understand and use an expanded range of vocabulary related to academic
and workforce topics.
Produce comprehensible speech with accurate pronunciation.
Present a talk on a researched topic.
Analyze a topic by note-taking
Student
Assignments
Comprehend academic and workforce-related discourse
No assignments selected for this outcome
Understand and use an expanded range of vocabulary related to academic
and workforce topics.
No assignments selected for this outcome
Produce comprehensible speech with accurate pronunciation.
No assignments selected for this outcome
Present a talk on a researched topic.
No assignments selected for this outcome
Analyze a topic by note-taking
No assignments selected for this outcome
Student
Assessment(s)
Comprehend academic and workforce-related discourse
No assessments selected for this outcome
Understand and use an expanded range of vocabulary related to academic
and workforce topics.
No assessments selected for this outcome
Produce comprehensible speech with accurate pronunciation.
No assessments selected for this outcome
Present a talk on a researched topic.
No assessments selected for this outcome
Analyze a topic by note-taking
No assessments selected for this outcome
Instructor's
Requirements
As your instructor and as a student in this class, it is our shared responsibility to
develop and maintain a positive learning environment for everyone. Your instructor
takes this responsibility very seriously and will inform members of the class if their
behavior makes it difficult for him/her to carry out this task. As a fellow learner, you
are asked to respect the learning needs of your classmates and assist your
instructor achieve this critical goal.
Attendance
Students are expected to arrive to class on time with their textbooks (you will not be
allowed to share a textbook after the first week of class). If a student is late, he or
she will be marked tardy. If a student is tardy two times, that is equal to one
absence. After four absences (10 hours) a student will be dropped. If the student is
an F-1 student, he or she will then be out of compliance for his or her student visa.
If students are absent from class, they must ask the teacher for the assignments
that they missed.
Make-Up Policy
If you are absent on the day of a presentation, you will be expected to present the
day you return. You can not make up a listening quiz, however, I will drop the lowest
grade.
Electronic Devices
As a courtesy to your instructor and your classmates, no electronic devices can be
used at any time. This includes cell phones and laptop computers. Please turn off
any cell phones and other electronic devices before entering the classroom. If one
of these devices goes off and interrupts the class, the instructor may take it until the
end of the class period. If you leave class to talk on your cell phone, you will
counted tardy. You may use your electronic dictionary with the sound turned off.
HCC Grading
Scale
A = 100- 90
4 points per semester hour
B = 89 - 80:
3 points per semester hour
C = 79 - 70:
2 points per semester hour
D = 69 - 60:
1 point per semester hour
59 and below = F
0 points per semester hour
IP (In Progress)
0 points per semester hour
W(Withdrawn)
0 points per semester hour
I (Incomplete)
0 points per semester hour
AUD (Audit)
0 points per semester hour
IP (In Progress) is given only in certain developmental courses. The student must
re-enroll to receive credit. COM (Completed) is given in non-credit and continuing
education courses. To compute grade point average (GPA), divide the total grade
points by the total number of semester hours attempted. The grades "IP," "COM"
and "I" do not affect GPA.
See "Health Science Program/Discipline Requirements" for grading scale.
Instructor Grading
Criteria
Basic Speaking/Listening Requirements for ESOL 0349
Students in ESOL 0349 will have at least 4 graded speaking assignments and 5
graded listening assignments in class:


Student presentations may include the following: individual, pair, group, and
panel. At least two of the presentations will be with Power Point. It is
recommended that at least one presentation include taking a stand on an
issue and then supporting it with specific reasons and details. (Some
teachers hold formal or informal debates.)
Listening quizzes can consist of several types:
1) short dictations
2) note-taking quizzes
Presentation Requirements: AT LEAST ONE PRESENTATION MUST BE IN
POWER POINT
1. Students should be guided in research of their topics on the Internet and/or
in the library.
2. Students should adhere to a time frame in which to speak, (recommended
starting with 2 – 3 minutes, and progressing to longer lengths of time as the
semester progresses.)
3. Students should be informed about how their presentations will be graded.
Aspects to include are:
Content and preparation
Delivery (clarity, eye contact, volume, and use of visuals)
Communicative ability (grammar and vocabulary choices)
Organization of the ideas
Although being grammatically accurate is important, students should not
be expected to speak in grammatically perfect sentences or to have
perfect pronunciation. However, they should be expected to be
comprehensible to a sympathetic native speaker.
4. Students should create visual aids, including posters and/or PowerPoint
demonstrations for use with their presentations as needed.
Final Exam:
The final exam and optional mid-term should test students’ listening comprehension
and speaking abilities. The final could be a paired presentation with one student
arguing the pros and the other the cons of a controversial issue. The exam will also
usually include a listening comprehension test.
ESOL 0349 Grading Formula
Presentations
Listening Quizzes
Attendance/Participation
Final Exam
Instructional
Materials
40%
30%
5%
25%
Contemporary Topics 2, 3rd edition by Ellen Kissinger (Pearson Longman) ISBN:
9780131358096
Clear Speech, 3rd edition by Gilbert (Cambridge), ISBN: 0521543541
HCC Policy Statement:
HCC Policy on Use of Recording Devices
Classrooms and Other Instructional Locations: To prevent disruption and academic dishonesty,
instructors are permitted to impose restrictions on students regarding use of recording devices in classrooms,
laboratories, or other locations where instruction or testing occurs. The 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."
HCC Course Withdrawal Policy
The State of Texas has begun to impose penalties on students who drop courses excessively. For example,
if you repeat the same course more than twice, you have to pay extra tuition. In 2007, the Texas Legislature
passed a law limiting new students (those starting college in Fall 2007) to no more than six total course
withdrawals throughout their academic career in obtaining a baccalaureate degree. There may be future
penalties imposed.
To help students avoid having to drop/withdraw from any class, HCC has instituted an Early Alert process by
which your instructor will "alert" you and HCC Student Services of the chance you might fail a class because
of excessive absences and/or poor academic performance. You should visit with your Instructor, an HCC
counselor, or HCC Online Student Services to learn about what, if any, HCC interventions might be offered to
assist you – tutoring, child care, financial aid, job placement, etc. – to stay in class and improve your
academic performance.
You MUST visit with a faculty advisor, a counselor or on-line student services at:
http://studentservicesonline.hccs.edu/ prior to withdrawing (dropping) the class and this must be done prior to
April 21 to receive a "W" on your transcript. After that deadline, you will receive the grade you are making in
the class, which will more than likely be an "F"
Sexual Harrassment Policy: Sexual harassment in any form is not tolerated at Houston Community
College. See the HCCS Student Handbook for further information.
Academic Honesty
If a student copies sentences from another person's work without giving credit to the writer by naming the
writer as the source of the ideas and words, it is called "plagiarism." This is a serious offense in American
colleges, and it is unacceptable. Academic honesty is expected of all college students. Any homework,
journal entry or composition that is not a student's own work will be given a grade of 0. The student may
receive an F for the course when plagiarism occurs repeatedly.
College Grading System
Students in ESOL 0349 classes may receive a letter grade of A, B, C, IP or F. IP means "in progress." This is
not a failing grade, but it is given to students who complete the course but who are not yet ready for the next
level. Anyone who receives an IP must take ESOL 0349 again. However, if a student has already received
an IP in this course during a previous semester, that student will receive a letter grade: A, B, C, or F this
semester.
Access Student
Services Policies
on their Web site:
http://hccs.edu/student-rights
Distance Education and/or Continuing Education Policies
Access DE
Policies on their
Web site:
http://de.hccs.edu/Distance_Ed/DE_Home/faculty_resources/PDFs/DE_Syllabus.pdf
Access CE
Policies on their
Web site:
http://hccs.edu/CE-student-guidelines
CALENDAR CONVERSATION ESOL 0349-Spring 2011
ESOL 0349- Advanced-Intermediate Conversation for Foreign Students
(This calendar may change to meet the needs of the class)
Important Dates:
Jan. 19
Classes begin; drop/add/swap ($15.00 fee)
Jan. 19
Last day to drop/add/swap
Feb. 21
Presidents Day Holiday-NO CLASSES
March 14-20 Spring Break-NO CLASSES
April 21
Last Day for Administrative/Student Withdrawals-4:30 p.m.
April 22-24
(Friday-Sunday) Easter Holiday-NO CLASSES
May 9
Final Exam
May 20
Grades available
Introduction
to course. Personal Interview/Classmate Introduction
Week 1
Unit 1-Sociology: Names
1/19
Unit 2 –Linguistics: Global English
Week 2
1/24 & 26 Introduction to note-taking and note-taking strategies
Unit 3-Psychology: Phobia
Week 3
Listening Quiz #1
1/31 &
2/2
Presentation 1
Week 4
2/7 & 9
Unit 4 Culinary Arts: Owning a Successful Restaurant
Week 5
2/14 & 16 Listening Quiz #2
Unit 5 Education: How We Each Learn
Week 6
Listening Quiz #3
2/23
Unit 6 History: The Silk Road
Week 7
Listening Quiz #4
2/28 &
3/2
Unit 7 – Business: Team-Building
Week 8
Listening Quiz #5
3/7 & 9
Presentation 2 (PowerPoint)
Week 9
3/21 & 23
Unit 8 – Architecture: Frank Gehry
Week 10
3/28 & 30 Listening Quiz #6
Unit 9 – Public Health
Week 11
Listening Quiz #7
4/4 & 6
Unit 10-Media Studies: Principles of Journalism
Week 12
4/11 & 13 Listening Quiz #8
Unit 11- Biology: DNA Testing
Week 13
4/18 & 20 Listening Quiz #9
Presentation #3 (Student choice of PowerPoint or not)
Week 14
4/25 & 27
Unit 12- Public Administration: Risk Management
Week 15
Listening Quiz #10
5/2 & 4
FINAL EXAM
Week 16
5/9
ESOL 0349- Advanced-Intermediate Conversation for Foreign Students
PRESENTATIONS
(Note: Your teacher may prefer to give you topics from Contemporary Topics 2)
PRESENTATION 1- This presentation must be 2-3 minutes. Choose one of the
following two topics.
Topic 1-The education system in your country compared
to the education system in the United States.
(e.g. number of years of study, books, teaching
methods, hours of classes, exams)
or
Topic 2- Your lifestyle in your country compared to your
lifestyle in the United States.(e.g. shopping,
transportation, free time activities, studying)
PRESENTATION 2 – Topic: How to Do Something or about Something. (power
point)-3-5 minutes
1. Teach us how to do something (except cook a particular
dish)
or
2. Be a teacher. Teach us about a particular subject such
as something about art, economics, history, poetry,
music, fashion and so on)
PRESENTATION 3 -Topic: A World Problem and Its Solution(s) (power point)-5
minutes
Think of a problem in the world or your country (social,
environmental, or medical). Explain why it is problem and offer a
possible solution.