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MIAMI DADE COLLEGE
NORTH CAMPUS
ESL & Foreign Languages
Professor: Marta Menendez
Email: mmenend1@mdcc.edu
Phone: 305-237-1284
Hours: TBA
Term: 2005- 3/4
Office: Room 7322-6
EAP 1121 Reading Level 1
Course Description:
Students develop the ability to comprehend limited written materials.
3 credits
Prerequisite: None
Corequisite: None
Course Competencies:
Competency 1:
The student will comprehend familiar words and/or phrases
related to academic settings, e.g., signs, directions, forms,
and schedules.
Competency 2:
The student will understand simple sentences that are
clearly related (i.e., sequenced) when context, background
knowledge, and/or visual information support meaning.
Competency 3:
The student will use a bilingual or basic dictionary to
search for word meaning.
Expectations:
Punctual,
Prepared,
Productive,
Polite,
Respectful
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Materials:
Text:
A First Look at the USA
Author: Milada Broukal
Text:
Basic Reading Power
Authors: Beatrice S. Mikulecky & Linda Jeffries
Dictionary:
Newbury House Dictionary
4th edition
(CD-ROM included)
Pens: Blue or Black ink only
#2 Pencils
Notebook, Folder & Scantrons
Attendance:
Attendance in this class is mandatory.
The only excused absences accepted in this class are:
a) court date or
b) immigration date
1. After three (3) consecutive absences without notification, the instructor will
drop you from this class.
*
If you know you are going to be absent when a paper is due, you must
make sure that the instructor receives all assignments on time.
2. If you are absent, you are still responsible for:
a. turning in assignments
b. getting copies of handouts (ASK!)
c. get the name and number of two (2) classmates that you can call if
you are absent and need homework info.
NAME:__________________________________________________________
NAME:___________________________________________________________
* The instructor reserves the right to give unannounced quizzes or tests. There
are no make-up sessions for these tests; therefore, you will receive a grade of
“O” for that test.
Tardies:
Tardies in this class are unacceptable. They are a distraction to both your
classmates and the instructor.
1.
If you have an emergency and must be late, before entering make sure the
class is not taking a test. If so, wait until the instructor tells you to enter.
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2.
Continual tardies will affect your grade:
Every three (3) late arrivals will count as one (1) There will be deduction
of two (2) points from your final grade for every two absences.
Assignments:
All assignments must include name, date, course and reference number.
All in-class assignments must be written in blue or black ink only.
All assignments must be double-spaced.
***If the instructor returns homework to be re-written the grade will
drop one complete grade.
Homework:
The instructor will not accept late assignments. IF you are going to be absent
Have a classmate hand in the work for you, or leave it in the instructor’s mailbox
the night before.
Make-up Exams:
The instructor will not give makeup exams.
Withdrawals:
Dropping or withdrawing from the class is the student’s responsibility. The
instructor may initiate drops for no-shows and non-attendance
Drop Date:
The student is responsible to officially drop this class within the allotted time.
Please refer to the college’s Academic Calendar available at our website:
http://www3.mdcc.edu/academic_calendar/calendar.pdf
Student Records:
The instructor will keep information on students for one additional semester.
Any questions regarding grades must be presented within this timeframe.
Final Exams:
These exams will not be administered early under any circumstances.
Please make sure your trips and vacations are scheduled around the College’s
schedule. NO exceptions will be made!
Grades:
100 – 90
89 – 80
79 – 70
69 – 60
59-below
=A
=B
=C
=D
=F
Grading Scale:
Tests
= 35%
Homework = 35%
Final Exam = 30%
Final grades are based on:
quizzes, exams, homework, participation, attendance and final exam.
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Academic dishonesty:
We will adhere to the rules and guidelines delineated in Miami-Dade College Student
Handbook Procedure No. 4074 in dealing with academic dishonesty. The ramifications
for cheating or any other form of academic dishonesty may include: a grade of ‘F’ for
the course, a student being placed on academic probation, suspension, or dismissal from
the college. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with this document. The College
policy for dealing with Academic Dishonesty is located at
http://www.mdcc.edu/pdf/procedures/4074.pdf
* In this class, if you are caught cheating: you will automatically fail the course,
***** NO EXCEPTIONS *****
NOTE: Students who receive a grade of D, F, and W must repeat the course.
Cell phones:
 When you enter the classroom, please make sure that all pagers and cellular
phones are turned off—not vibrate!
 Do not leave the classroom to answer your phone, or send text messages during
class.
 If a cell phone rings during class, the student’s final grade will drop by 1 grade.
Exams:
 A student is not allowed to leave the room to answer or make a call during a test.
 If you leave the room you must hand in your test and not return.
NOTE:
Though I understand that to many they are a necessary part of life, they are also
a distraction. In addition, the disruption they cause is a sign of disrespect to
your classmates.
The following is a guideline for this semester’s work. The instructor reserves the
right to make any changes necessary. These are only GUIDELINES.
Week 1
Introductions, Overview
Syllabus, Diagnostic
Vocabulary introduction (RP)
Notebook explanation (RP)
Pg. 122 & 129 (RP)
Labor Day (USA) Pg. 45-47
Week 2:
(Labor Day )
Learning About Context (RP) Pg. 140-142
Isaac Singer’s Sewing Machine (USA) Pg. 15-17
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Week 3
Learning About Context (RP) Pg. 145-147
Josephine Cochran’s Dishwasher (USA) Pg. 18-20
Garret A. Morgan’s Traffic Light (USA) Pg. 21-23
Week 4:
Guessing Word Meanings (RP) Pg. 150-152
Langston Hughes (USA) Pg. 63-65
Learning New Words in Categories (RP) Pg. 153-156
The Capitol (USA)
Week 5:
Learning New Words in Categories (RP) Pg. 157-160
The Smithsonian Institution (USA) Pg. 54-56
Scanning for Key Words (RP) Pg. 43-45
Arlington National Cemetery (USA) Pg. 57-59
Week 6
Scanning for Information (RP) Pg. 52-57
Paul Revere’s Ride (USA) Pg. 75-77
Week 7
Making Inferences (RP) Pg. 64-70
John Brown (USA) Pg. 78-80
Mock election for Experiential Learning
Looking for Topics (RP)
Week 8
Looking for Topics (RP) Pg. 87-92
Part I (USA) Pg. 1-2 in group
Florida (USA) Pg. 3-5
Week 9
Understanding & Building Sentences (RP) Pg. 75-83
Washington (USA) Pg. 6-8
Understanding Paragraphs (RP) Pg. 100-106
Minnesota (USA) Pg. 9-11
Week 10
Thinking Skills (RP) Pg. 164-182
Library field trip to research other points of interest in the USA.
Week 11
Practice Tests and Review
Week 12
Final Exam
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Classroom Etiquette in the United States

Arrive on time to class. However, if you arrive late, sit down quietly without
greeting your classmates. The fact that you are late is already an unacceptable
behavior in this culture.

Cellular phones are off. Also, alarms on watches are turned off.

You must have your own materials in class. This means having your own
book, pencils, erasers, dictionaries, etc.

When the professor is talking, the students listen.

Pay attention to the instructions your professor gives you during class.

If you have a question, you need to ask the professor. His/her purpose for
being there is to help and guide you in your learning process.

There is complete silence when taking a test. Do not ask to borrow erasers, paper,
pencils, or dictionaries during the exam. If you have a question, you must raise
your hand. Do not speak out loud in class.

If you talk during an exam/tests the professor has the right to ask you to leave the
room, and you will get a zero.

When you are taking a tests and the professor advises you that it is time to hand in
the tests, YOU MUST DO IT! If you keep your paper longer, or continue to write,
the professor may decide not to accept it.

Do not bring guests or to class unless you’ve made prior arrangements with your
instructor.

Keep the classroom clean.

Tell your friends to wait for you away from the classroom. They should not knock
on the door to get your attention or come into the classroom to get things from
you while the class is in session.

You must follow the rules explained by your instructor regarding absences, tests,
homework, exams, and makeup policies if any. Each professor has different rules
and these are listed in your syllabus. Be familiar with them.

Ignorance of the above rules does not exempt you from paying the consequences.