Speaking and Listening for Academic English IEI 035/036
Instructor: Finch Roberts
Office: 110 JNC
Phone: 517-768-7097 #115
Email: Finch@jccmi.edu
Office Hours:
MW: 1:00 – 5:00 @ 110 JNC
TR: 8:30 – 9:00, 10:30 – 11:00 @ 110
JNC
Class Time and Location
TR, 1:30 – 2:53 @ HLC 101
Course Description:
Non-native English speaking students practice intermediate level listening and speaking. They
prepare to participate in everyday social conversations, classroom interactions, listening
effectively to lectures and being involved in basic discussions. Students are expected to prepare
and give short speeches. . Generally intended for non-native speakers with a range of
intermediate to advanced scores on the TOEFL.
Course Objectives:
By the end of the course students will be able to:
1. Recognize main ideas in short audio listening segments
2. Locate and comprehend detailed information in short audio listening segments
3. Take brief notes on short audio listening segments
4. Discuss topics and carry out tasks in small groups
5. Enhance vocabulary and recognize grammatical structures related to listening tasks
6. Make a brief presentation to the class
7. Hold a brief interview outside of class on a topic related to in-class listening exercises
& discussion
Grading
Final Course Grades are comprised of the following:
25% - Listening quizzes
 25% - Short presentations
 30% - Daily assignments
 20% - Pronunciation quizzes
Course Grade Breakdown:
 A= 100 - 93 %
 AB = 92 - 87 %
 B = 86 - 82 %
 BC = 81 - 77 %
 C = 76 - 72 %
 CD = 71 - 67 %
 D = 66 - 60 %
 F = 59 - 0 %
Required Materials:
Pathways: Listening, Speaking and Critical Thinking: Chase, Johannsen & Folse (2014)
ISBN: 13-978-1-111-39863-7
Academic Honesty Policy:
We will adhere to the JCC policy on academic honesty. It states that all work must be done by
the student whose name appears on the document and that all sources be correctly credited. If
you have additional questions, please contact us directly.
Weekly Class Schedule / Assignments:
*Note: All homework assignments are found in our textbook under the section title listed in the syllabus.
Use the CD that came with your textbook to complete the listening portions of the homework.
Week 1  Welcome and Introductions
 Review of syllabus
 Initial listening assessment
 Initial speaking assessment
Week 2  Unit 1: Exploring the Theme – Staying healthy in the modern world
o Lesson A: Listening to a talk about preventing heart disease, Giving a presentation on
health and exercise habits
o Lesson B: Listening to an informal conversation, Keeping a conversation going
 Listening skills: Listening for main ideas and details, word endings – s and es
 Speaking skills: Using expressions of frequency, Making small talk
 Homework: Understanding meaning from context, Using new vocabulary in an everyday context.
Week 3  Unit 2: Exploring the Theme – Energy and our planet
o Lesson A: Listening to a PowerPoint lecture, Discussing personal energy use
o Lesson B: Listening to an informal conversation, Planning a group presentation
 Listening skills: Listening for specific information, Interpreting speakers’ tone and attitude,
Listening for main ideas, listening for speakers’ conclusions, Stressing key words, using
intonation to show feeling
 Speaking skills: Giving examples, Giving advice and making suggestions, organizing ideas for a
group presentation
 Homework: Understanding meaning from context, using new vocabulary to complete a text
Week 4  Unit 3: Exploring the Theme – Culture and Tradition
o Lesson A: Listening to a lecture, Giving information
o Lesson B: Listening to an assignment and a student presentation, Planning a presentation
 Listening skills: Listening to confirm predictions, Listening for details, making inferences, taking
notes to remember information
 Speaking skills: Asking for and giving clarification, Interrupting politely
 Homework: Understanding meaning from context, using new vocabulary to complete a text
 Listening quiz #1, Pronunciation quiz #1
Week 5  Unit 4: Exploring the Theme – A Thirsty World
o Lesson A: Listening to a guest speaker, Presenting an idea
o Lesson B: Listening to a group discussion, Role-playing a meeting
 Listening skills: Listening for main ideas, listening for details, making inferences, taking notes to
remember information
 Speaking skills: Talking about priorities, Expressing opinions
 Interaction: Visit a COM course, and participate in a speaking activity with American students
 Homework: Understanding meaning from context, Using a dictionary to understand new words,
Discussing unit content using new vocabulary
Week 6  Unit 5: Exploring the Theme – Inside the Brain
o Lesson A: Listening to a documentary, Discussing problems and solutions
o Lesson B: Listening to a conversation between students, Planning a group presentation
 Listening skills: Predicting content, Listening for main ideas, Listening for details, Linking
sounds
 Speaking skills: Making suggestions, Making suggestions during group work, Pausing to check
for understanding
 Homework: Understanding meaning from context, Using a dictionary to understand new words
Week 7 –
 Unit 6 – Exploring the Theme – What We Eat
o Lesson A: Listening to a Seminar, Participating in a mini-debate
o Lesson B: Listening to a group discussion conversation, Using visuals to support a
presentation
 Listening skills: Listening for the main ideas, Listening for details, Listening for intonation,
Intonation of finished and unfinished sentences
 Speaking skills: Interrupting and returning to topic, Managing a discussion
 Homework: Understanding meaning from context, Using new vocabulary to complete a food quiz
and label graphics
Week 8 –
 Unit 7 – Exploring the Theme – Our Active Earth
o Lesson A: Listening to a Seminar, Participating in a mini-debate
o Lesson B: Listening to a group discussion conversation, Using visuals to support a
presentation
 Listening skills: Listening for the main ideas, Listening for details, Listening for intonation,
Intonation of finished and unfinished sentences
 Speaking skills: Interrupting and returning to topic, Managing a discussion
 Interaction: Visit a JC course, and participate in a speaking activity with American students
 Homework: Understanding meaning from context, Using new vocabulary to discuss unit content
Week 9 –
 Presentation #1
Week 10 –
 Unit 8 – Exploring the Theme – Ancient Peoples and Places
o Lesson A: Listening to a Guided Tour, Presenting an Ancient Artifact
o Lesson B: Listening to a conversation between students, Giving a summary
 Listening skills: Listening for the main ideas, Listening for details, Making inferences, Question
intonation
 Speaking skills: Using the passive voice to talk about famous sites, Discussing problems
 Homework: Understanding meaning from context, Using new vocabulary to complete a food quiz
and label graphics
 Listening quiz #2, Pronunciation quiz #2
Week 11 –
 Unit 9 – Exploring the Theme – Species Survival
o Lesson A: Listening to a Biologist’s Talk About Birds, Discussing Endangered Species
o Lesson B: Listening to a Conversation About a Science Experiment, Planning and
Presenting a Research Proposal
 Listening skills: Taking brief notes, Using graphic organizers for note-taking, Listening for
specific expressions, Full and reduced vowel sounds
 Speaking skills: Explaining causes and effects, Congratulating, Choosing information to support
your topic
 Interaction: Visit a COM course, and participate in a speaking activity with American students
 Homework: Understanding meaning from context, Using new vocabulary to paraphrase
statements
Week 12 –
 Unit 10 – Exploring the Theme – Entrepreneurs and New Businesses
o Lesson A: Listening to a PowerPoint Lecture, Discussing New Business Ideas
o Lesson B: Listening to a Case Study and Conversation, Creating a Commercial
 Listening skills: Listening for the main ideas, Listening for details, Note-taking
 Speaking skills: Speculating about the future, Using the present perfect to start conversations,
Giving compliments, Showing enthusiasm for your topic
 Homework: Understanding meaning from context, Using new vocabulary to discuss unit content
Week – 13
 Sample TOEFL exams – We will take three sample TOEFL listening quizzes in class, and discuss
the results
o Lesson A: TOEFL test taking skills, and study tips
 Listening Quiz #3, Pronunciation Quiz #3
Week 14 –
 Sample TOEFL exams – We will take three additional sample TOEFL listening quizzes in class,
and discuss the results
o Lesson A: Guest speaker who has successfully completed the TOEFL exam will discuss
how to prepare for the test, and offer suggestions
*Take course placement exam for next semester
Week 15 –
 Final presentations