Winter 2011 Syllabus:
EFL 499 - ENGLISH ACADEMIC SPEAKING & LISTENING SKILLS
COURSE PURPOSE:
This course is designed to aid non-native English speakers in gaining skills that will
help them to make a smooth transition into studying in a university where English is
used as the primary language. Listening and speaking skills fostered in this class
include elements of speech fluency, such as intonation, rhythm, and stress; paralinguistic and non-linguistic features of language; preparing and delivering
academic presentations; note taking and active listening; and actively participating
in a panel discussion or a debate. Culture related to the English-speaking study
context will also be covered.
COURSE GOALS:
Through completion of this course, students will gain/develop the following skills:
L.5.1.a Use age-appropriate social conventions that characterize the new culture
while listening, such as eye contact, physical proximity, and turn-taking
L.5.3.a Interpret speaker’s messages, purposes, and perspectives
L.5.3.b Listen critically to interpret and evaluate
S.5.3.a Respond to messages by asking questions, challenging statements, or offering
examples that affirm the message
S.5.4.a Talk about experiences using expanded vocabulary, descriptive words and
paraphrasing
S.5.4.b Negotiate and initiate conversations by questioning, restating, requesting
information, and paraphrasing the communication of others
S.6.3.a Speak clearly and comprehensibly by using standard English grammatical
forms, pronunciation, phrasing and intonation
S.6.4.a Demonstrate control of the English phonological system and patterns of
intonation when conversing with a native speaker in spontaneous situations
S.7.4.a Prepare and deliver presentations and reports in various content areas,
including a purpose, point of view, introduction, coherent transitions, and
appropriate conclusions
Course goal expectations reference the Michigan ELP Standards, retrieved from:
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/English_Language_Proficiency_K12_Standards_103705_7.pdf
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TEXTS AND COURSE MATERIALS:
 Talk It Over! Listening, Speaking, and Pronunciation, by Joann Rishel Kozyrev
Houghton Mifflin, 2002. ISBN: 0-618-14401-3 ($36.95)
 Assorted handouts adapted from New Ways series & Internet sources
CURRICULUM DESIGN BY:
Dan Hopper
Aya Morihara
Bernard Nkuyubwatsi
dhopper@emich.edu
amorihar@emich.edu
bnkuyubw@emich.edu
STUDENT EXPECTATIONS:
1.
Attend and actively participate in each class
2.
Complete speaking & writing tasks as assigned & on time
3.
Keep a weekly reflection journal which appropriately discusses the
weekly assigned topic (as attached) and/or the YouTube video from that
week
4.
Assess classmates’ class speaking/listening performance using rubrics, as
assigned
5.
Participate in group work as assigned, including a controversial-topic
panel debate at the end of the class.
6.
Access and view YouTube recordings for the purpose of self assessment &
reflection
GRADING:
Impromptu Speaking Assignments
Weekly In-Class and Homework Assignments
Formal Presentations
Midterm Presentation
Final Presentation (Panel Debate)
Reflection Journal
Final Reflection (YouTube Video)
10%
10%
15%
15%
25%
15%
10%
The percentage cut-offs for each letter grade are as follows:
A
93
C+
77
A90
C
73
B+
87
C70
B
83
D
60
B80
E
<60
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:
Learn to Listen-Listen to Learn by Roni S. Lebauer
Make Your Point!: Debate for ESL/EFL Students by Michael H. Lubetsky
http://www.eslflow.com/debateanddiscussionlessons.html
http://www.esl-lab.com/
http://www.esl.net/pronunciation_power.html
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TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE
Week 1 (Jan 10):
Introduction & First Speech Assignment
1-min speeches, YouTube reflection, Create Reflection Journal
Week 2 (Jan 17):
Pronunciation: Segmentals/Supra-segmentals
Impromptu speeches
Week 3 (Jan 24):
Pronunciation: Segs/Supra-Segs, cont. & Thought Groups
Resp to acad content from a video / Impromptu speech
Week 4 (Jan 31):
Pronunciation: Para-Linguistic & Non-Linguistic Features
Phone convos & Mime convos / Formal presentation
Week 5 (Feb 7):
Speaking: Structure/Rhetoric & Designing speech notes
Hooks, body devel., transitions, & concls / Impromptu speech
Week 6 (Feb 14):
Speaking: Ranking Lists & Defending an Opinion
Speeches for spec. purposes, learning to speak to an audience /
Week 7 (Feb 21):
Speaking: Persuasive/Formal
Content areas fm students’ progs of study / Imp. / Prep for MT
Week 8 (Feb 28):
Pronunciation/Speaking: Mid-term presentations
Incl. reflection paper, due the following Monday (Mar 7)
Week 9 (Mar 7):
Listening: Introduction to Note Taking
Basics of note-taking, outlining / Note taking assignment
Week 10 (Mar 14): Listening: Main ideas and details/key terms
Cause/effect, idea mapping /
Week 11 (Mar 21): Listening: Comp/contr, Infer/predict, Timelines/attitudes
Formal presentations: Ss each pre a 5-Q quiz to test compr.
Week 12 (Mar 28): Discussion: Pros/Cons
Impromptu pro/con speeches, beginning Q/A periods
Week 13 (Apr 4):
Discussion: Asking/answering questions & Debate
Impromptu panel/debate topics on everyday social issues
Week 14 (Apr 11):
Discussion: Debate, cont. & Useful rhet phrases & transitions
Prep, research time for Panel Debates/Final presentations
Discussion: Final presentations/debates
2-on-2 debates (YouTube reflections & journals due Sat.)
Week 15 (Apr 18):
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