Oral Skills
Department of English Language & Literature
First Term 2012/2013
Course Title:Oral Skills
Course Number: 2201112
Meeting Time: 2:00–3:00
Name of Instructor
Office hours
Office phone number
Email address
Dr. Raya Kalaldeh
Mon-Wed: 9:30-11
5355000 ext. 24771
r.kalaldeh@ju.edu.jo
Course Description:
This course aims to develop the use of oral English for different purposes in a range of social
settings. Consequently, the course improves students’ ability and confidence to initiate
communication and respond appropriately in English. The various oral tasks employed in this
course include oral presentations, debates, interviews, situation role-plays, and news reports. In
addition to enhancingoral communication in proper English, students are expected to develop
self-confidence in their performance and group work skills.
Course Objectives:
By the end of the course, students are expected to:
1. Be able to well-express themselves and their intentions clearly in proper English.
2. Produce speeches for different occasions.
3. Deliver a well-prepared formal presentationas an authority on a certain topic.
4. Be able to interview and be interviewed as a single guest.
5. Host and participate in a panel discussion.
6. Orally, report and comment on the content of written and spoken material in English.
7. Develop critical thinking skills by producing well thought-out arguments in debates.
8. Be fully aware of the different levels of formality in given situations and contexts.
9. Develop communicative confidence and self-esteem.
10. Improve group skills and appreciate team work.
Methodology:
Students are advised to have a file/folder as they will be given worksheets and material from
different references throughout the course. Classroom oral activities include presentations,
discussions and debates,interviews, scenarios, storytelling, audio-visual material to be reported
orally. All activities require maximum student involvement. Scenariosreflect real-life situations
that entail the unexpected and require the use of language to resolve them.
Course Policy:

You are expected to be in class on time. Students coming late are allowed to enter but
will be counted as absent. The same applies to leaving class early. No exceptions.

Participation and students’ involvement are crucial to the success of the course. All
students are expected to have read the assigned materials before coming to class in order
to fully engage in the discussions.

The University allows students to be absent SEVEN times during the semester. These
times include those with an excuse. If you exceed this limit, you will not be allowed to sit
for the final exam. The only excuse that would remove your absence from your record is
in case of a conflict with a scheduled writtenexam of another course.

No make-up exams. In case of sickness, only reports issued directly from a public clinic
or hospital will be accepted. Medical reports from private practiced doctors or private
hospitals will not be accepted even if they are stamped by the university’s clinic. Reports
should be produced within a week of the date of the exam. No exceptions.
Course Evaluation:
Examination
Grading
Date
Time
Venue
Presentation
10%
As assigned
2:00 – 3:00
Lecture venue
Role-Play
5%
As assigned
2:00 – 3:00
Lecture venue
Debate
5%
Thursdays
2:00 – 3:00
Lecture venue
Midterm
30%
13th +15th +17th of April
2:00 – 3:00
Lecture venue
Final
50%
18th– 27th of May
2:00 – 3:00
Lecture venue
Course Plan:
This course plan is subject modifications. Students will be notified of any changes beforehand.
Sundays: 3 presentations, book lesson
Tuesdays: 3 presentations, 3 role plays
Thursdays: Debates (6≤ speeches)
Week
Dates
Lectures
Topic
1.
16/2 – 20/2
3
Introduction
2.
23/2 – 27/2
3
3.
2/3 – 6/3
3
Course Plan + Task Division
Debate: Television is doing irreparable harm.
Presentations+ Role-plays
Debate:Any form of education other than co-education is simply
unthinkable.
4.
9/3 – 13/3
3
5.
16/3 – 20/3
3
Presentations+ Role-plays
Debate:Arranged-marriages are better than love-marriages.
Presentations+ Role-plays
Debate:Only stricter traffic laws in Jordan can prevent accidents
in Jordan.
6.
23/3 – 27/3
3
7.
30/3 – 3/4
3
8.
6/4 – 10/4
3
Presentations+ Role-plays
Debate: The Tawjihi exam should be cancelled.
Presentations+ Role-plays
Debate:Capital punishment is the only way to deter criminals.
Presentations+ Role-plays
Debate:Education in public schools is better than that in private
schools in Jordan.
9.
13/4 – 17/4
3
10.
20/4 – 24/4
3
11.
27/4 – 30/4
2
MID-TERM EXAMINATION
Presentations+ Role-plays
Debate:Vegetarians have found the secret of good living.
Presentations+ Role-plays
1/5 Labour’s Day
12.
4/5 – 8/5
3
Presentations+ Role-plays
Debate:Social media and easy access to the internet increases
immorality.
13.
11/5 – 15/5
3
Presentations+ Role-plays
Debate:Having a proper economy is more important than
democracy.
14.
18/5 – 22/5
3
FINAL EXAMINATION
25/5Independence Day
15.
27/5
1
FINAL EXAMINATION