EVERETT
COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
FALL
2013
ESL 040/050 - Level 4 and 5 (0749/0750)
Teacher:
Sherry Tuinstra-Rosales
Place:
Mariner High School, Room E111
Times:
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:00pm-8:50 pm
(Tuesdays 7:45 - 8:30 pm Computer Lab, E231)
Office Hours:
Make an appointment to see me when you have questions or need extra help.
Phone/voicemail: (206) 934-3741, press 4 and leave a message (24 hours a day)
Students who need accommodations to participate equally in class may call the Center for
Disability Services (CDS) office (425) 388-9272, or visit CDS at Everett Community College in
Parks Student Union building, room 267.
EVCC Office:
Rainier Building, Learning Services Division (425/388-9291)
Email:
sherry.tuinstra@seattlecolleges.edu I check it almost every day.
Please type your name in the subject line so I know it is you!
Materials:
-Our grammar books are available at the EVCC Bookstore for purchase.
“Fundamentals of English Grammar, 4th Edition” (with answer key & self-study CD)
by Azar and Hagen. (The workbook for the Azar text is also at the bookstore. It is OPTIONAL.)
-We will study vocabulary and use our class set of Longman Dictionary of American English. We will
read and discuss government and current events as we read the ESL newspaper “Easy English
News”.
You will need:
-Full-size notebook paper. (8.5”x11”)
-A 3-ring binder to organize your handouts and notes.
-A pencil and eraser. (#2 lead is best, we use these for testing.)
-A good English/English Dictionary if you have one.
-A “blue book” to use as a writing journal.
(These cost about $0.65 each at the bookstore.)
There are 21 class days. (63 class hours)
First day of class:
Last day of class:
Tuesday, September 24
Tuesday, December 10
NO CLASS: Thursday, October 31—Halloween
Thursday, November 28—Thanksgiving
CELL PHONES:
Please turn off your cell phone during class times!
Class Objectives: We will review main verb tenses and study upper level grammar such as phrasal
verbs, gerunds and infinitives, passive voice, and modals. We will work on writing skills: free writing,
composition, revision and editing. We will take dictation, practice conversation and have group
discussions on current issues. We will also read stories and newspaper articles and use the EnglishEnglish dictionary to learn new vocabulary. Computer lab hour will be used for practice of grammar
points via ESL websites, for typing written compositions, and for the introduction of computer software
such as Word and Excel.
THESE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT TO** PASS**THIS CLASS:
Homework:
It is your responsibility to study and turn in your homework. When you miss
class, ask a classmate for the homework. If it is a worksheet, ask me for it.
Attendance:
Please be on time and stay for the whole class. If you are sick or have an
emergency please let me know by email or phone message. Come to class
regularly.
Computer Lab is considered to be class time. You will receive grades for
your performance on the tasks we do during lab time. Computer skills are
a percentage of your final grade.
Participation:
Every day I watch and listen to see how well you are learning. SPEAK ONLY
ENGLISH IN CLASS. Listen when other students, the teacher are talking. Work
politely and respectfully with your classmates.
How your final grade will be calculated: For a passing grade for the quarter, you must have an
average of at least 75%** overall. Because we have only 6 hours a week, many students repeat this
class before they are able to move up a level.
Attendance, Participation and Homework=
(Includes Computer Lab Performance)
Speaking and Listening Performance=
Writing Assignments and Rewriting=
Tests =
10%
20%
20%
50%
Total= 100%
**In order to move up a level, (“Level 6”=ESL 097) you must pass a writing challenge from the
instructor, and have 85% in each area above. This class has only 6 hours a week of class time, so we
can not study all the information you need to know in only one quarter. Most students stay in level 5
evening classes 2 or 3 quarters before they are ready to move up. If you want to move up quickly, I
recommend taking the day section of ESL 050 at EVCC campus, which meets 12 hours a week.**
Tests:
There will be a test over each grammar and reading unit, as announced in class.
Academic Honesty: Talking during tests or looking at another student’s test is considered cheating.
1st: I will take away 10% from your final test score.
2nd: I will take away your test and you will receive a zero grade for that test.
 Plagiarism: Do not copy from another student, a book or the internet.
That is known as “plagiarism” and it is seriously wrong in the United States. Do your own work, and
you will learn. You will not improve your English skills if you plagiarize or cheat. IF you copy
someone else’s words in your writing, you will receive a zero (0%) for that writing assignment.
“The more you write, the better you will write. Writing each week in a journal will help
you to write better. A journal is a special notebook in which you write about anything that
interests you. You may wish to share what you write with your teacher or a friend.”
From Write Ideas by Connie Shoemaker and Susan Polycarpou. Heinle and Heinle Publishers, 1994. page 9.
Guidelines for journal writing in this class:


Keep a separate notebook for journaling. A journal is NOT for class work, graded writing
assignments, note taking, dictation, or any other class work. A journal is like a story of your
life and your English language improvement.
PLEASE use regular-sized notebook paper (8.5” x 11”).
I suggest that you buy an “Exam Blue Book”. It is thin and light, but has full-sized
paper. You can buy one in the college bookstore. OR You can staple together 20 sheets
of notebook paper, then write JOURNAL and your name on the front.

You must write a total of 10 journals, minimum.
Write for at least ten minutes, once or twice a week. You may want to set a timer or beeper.
If you wish to write more than ten minutes, that is GREAT! It is a good idea to write often in
English in order to improve your writing skills.

I will collect your journals (a few at a time) and check to be sure that you have written each
week. I may not correct them. The purpose of a journal is to increase your fluency in writing,
and to allow you to feel more comfortable expressing your ideas in English and in writing. I
may write back to you, make comments or ask you questions about what you write. I may
correct your errors IF they are important to understand your writing.

Journals are meant to be private. When we write, we express our feelings and sometimes our
writing is very personal. If you do NOT want me to read a journal entry, FOLD the
page over and write “DO NOT READ” and I will just give you credit for the journal
entry.
Core Learning Outcomes assessed by this course are:
2. Think critically: Students will develop and practice analytical skills, problem-solving skills and quantitative
reasoning skills. Using creativity and self-reflection, they will be able to engage in inquiry that produces wellreasoned, meaningful conclusions.
4. Participate in diverse environments: Students will gain the awareness of and sensitivity to diversity, including
one’s own place as a global citizen. Students attain knowledge and understanding of the multiple expressions of
diversity, and the skills to recognize, analyze and evaluate diverse issues and perspectives.
5. Utilize information literacy skills: Students will develop and employ skills to recognize when information is
needed and to locate, evaluate, effectively use and communicate information in its various forms.
6. Demonstrate computer and technology proficiency: Students will use computers and technology as appropriate
in their course of study.
“Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.”
--Chinese proverb
Sylbs040.050.doc 9/24/13