Course Syllabus: Listening and Speaking 3
Instructor: Norah AlFayez
Semester 361, Fall 2015
Section #235: MON 10-11:40, THU 12-12:50
Section #254: MON 12-01:40, WED 11-11:50
Instructor’s Website: http://faculty.mu.edu.sa/nalfayez/
Email (best way to reach me): n.alfayez@mu.edu.sa
Office Phone: 016 404 5924
Office Address: Majmaah University, College of Education – Majma’ah Ladies
Campus, Building D, 3rd Floor – Room No. 041-03-D01
Office Hours: SUN 9-9:50, 12-1:40 || MON 9-9:50 || WED 10-10:50 || THU 9-9:50
Required Textbooks (available in AlBuraik Bookstore)
Interactions 2 – Listening and Speaking, Judith Tanka and Lida Baker. 2007
McGraw-Hill Education.
Course Description
The course aims to train the students to develop their speaking and listening skills so
that by the end of the course they will be able to handle specific communicative tasks.
The focus of the course will be on practical language use. Every student will perform
these tasks numerous times within the class. Extensive use will be made of audio and
visual materials to train the students to listen to language used in different situations.
Intonation drills will be covered so that students can produce language that
approximates native language rhythms. Assignments, tests, quizzes, and student’s
active participation in class individual, pair, and group activities are the tools that may
be used to assess student’s achievement of the objectives of the course.
Grade Breakdown
10% First Listening Midterm Examination
10% Second Listening Midterm Examination
10% Student’s Performances in Speaking Tasks
10% Speaking Midterm Examination (Speech + Presentation)
20% Speaking Final Midterm Examination
40% Final Listening Examination
Important Dates
MON 28th of Thu AlHijja = First Midterm Examination (Chapters included are: 1 & 3)
MON 3rd of Safar = Second Midterm Examination (Chapters included are 4 & 7)
WED 12th of Safar = Speaking Midterm Examination Section #254
THU 13th of Safar = Speaking Midterm Examination Section #235
SUN 23rd of Safar = Speaking Final Examination
Speaking Grades
It is required that you perform required speaking tasks when you are present at
the class. Failure to do so will most likely result in a ZERO for that task. Being
Absent doesn’t affect your grade. However, it will lower your chances to raise
your overall grade. In case of a medical/ family emergency please contact me by
email before the task is due so I can consider granting an extension.
Attendance
As many of our speaking tasks and listening sessions will take place in class, class
attendance is a requirement! University attendance rules apply. Starting from
week 1, attendance is mandatory. When a student is absent, an acceptable excuse
should be provided to the instructor within one week of the day of the lecture,
otherwise it will be considered as an excuseless absence. A student who reaches
25% will be automatically denied to take the final examination
Part of your Speaking grade includes taking part in class activities and
contributing to group discussion. Please recognize that it take courage to speak
up in front of a large group and treat your fellow students with respect. This
includes not dominating conversation or interrupting others. This means that
classmates of different races, class backgrounds, political or religious affiliations,
ages and abilities should be treated with respect, as should those topics in any of
the literature we encounter. I am also subject to these rules. If you are ever
concerned, confused, or offended by anything I say or do in class, please let me
know.
Presentation Task
You are responsible for giving one 15-20 minute presentation with a group of 3
other students. In this presentation, you are going to perform task 8, page 65 in
the textbook. The task says: Work in small groups. Pretend that you are an
entrepreneurial team. Design a product or service together. Don’t worry if your
idea seems impossible. Use your imagination. Use the following questions to
guide you. When you are finished, make a presentation to your classmates. Use
pictures, posters, or PowerPoint to make your presentation more interesting.
1. Think of a problem, need or opportunity on which you would like to focus.
2. Invent a solution to the problem. It can be a product or a service.
3. Design a business plan. Make decisions about the following items:
a. Will you need any special equipment?
b. Where will your business be located?
c. What special people will you need to hire in order to produce your
product or provide your service?
d. Where or how will you get the money to create and market your
product or service?
e. Where, when and how will you test-market it?
f. How will you raise capital to make and sell your product?
Your presentation must include class involvement and some sort of visual aid
and handouts. Be as creative as possible. Sign up with me ahead of time. Your
group must come to my office hours before you present to go over your plan.
Notice to Students With Disabilities
If you are a student with a documented disability and would like to discuss
special accommodations, please contact me (during office hours, after class, in
whatever way would be best for you to talk with me privately).
Feedback
Make use of my office hours! I am here to alleviate confusion and to help you
become better speakers. Feel free to contact me by email if you want to set up an
extra meeting time. In addition, I am aware that college life is complicated and
that it involves a lot more than your course work. If you or someone you know is
experiencing difficulties, PLEASE SEEK HELP. There are people out there to help
you through these problems. Ask me who to contact if you have concerns about
sexual assault, eating disorders, drug or alcohol abuse, depression, or anything
else that might be preventing you and your peers from thriving both as
individuals and as students. Assault, abuse and harassment are never acceptable
and should always be reported. I am not a counselor, but I can point you to
resources.