Heartland Community College
Master Course Syllabus
Social and Business Sciences
Course Prefix and Number: TESL 104
Course Title: Cross-Cultural Aspects of TESOL
DATE PREPARED: February 10, 2009
DATE REVISED:
PCS/CIP/ID NO:
1.1-131401
IAI NO. (if available):
EFFECTIVE DATE OF FIRST CLASS: August 17, 2009
CREDIT HOURS: 3
CONTACT HOURS: 3
LECTURE HOURS:
3
LABORATORY HOURS: 0
CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
Prerequisite: Successful completion of ENGL 101 and COMM 101 or consent of the
division. This course provides an introduction to cultural differences as they apply to language
learning and the language learning classroom. Content includes politics of TESOL and L2
teacher education, of genres, texts, written and spoken knowledge. A research paper is
required. Placement in TESL 104 presupposes competence in English grammar, mechanics,
punctuation, and spelling.
TEXTBOOK:
Ramanathan, Vai. The Politics of TESOL Education: Writing Knowledge, Critical Pedagogy.
New York: Routledge/Falmer, 2002.
RELATIONSHIP TO ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND
TRANSFERABILITY:
TESL 104 was designed to meet the specific needs of the Heartland Community College TES/FL
Certificate Program and not as an Illinois Articulation Initiative transfer course. This course
fulfills 3 hours of elective credit for the A.A. or A.S. degrees. This course may transfer to
various institutions in a variety of ways. Please see an academic advisor for an explanation
concerning transfer options.
COURSE OBJECTIVES (Learning Outcomes):
After completing this course, the student
should be able to:
General
Assessment
Education
Learning
Outcome
Recognize meanings and values in his or her
CO5
own culture; recognize meanings and values of
other cultures; take similarities and differences
into account during the communication
process
In-class collaborative activities and
participation, quizzes, reflective
introduction, research paper, annotated
bibliography, final exam
Analyze, synthesize, and evaluate different
cultural perspectives
Conversation partner work, interviews,
research paper, final exam
DI5
CO5: Students communicate ethically through monitoring their behavior and interactions with
others.
DI5:
Students consistently and characteristically approach diversity issues in a manner that
exemplifies respect for and appreciation of difference.
COURSE/LAB OUTLINE:
Unit 1: Analyzing cultures (differences, similarities, language as cultural medium,
ethnocentrism)
Unit 2: Cross-cultural teaching and learning (language interference, ESL/bilingual
education/total immersion, LI linguistic patterns in spoken and written English (L2))
Unit 4: Introduction to critical pedagogy and the social nature of texts, authors, and the field of
TESOL (power of language, issues of identity as they relate to L1 and L2, social inequity
in education, educational systems, stable/dynamic systems, critical language awareness,
cultural imperialism)
Unit 4: Politics of TESOL (discourse communities, discourses, social construction of knowledge,
ideology, status of TESOL, English as an international language)
Unit 5: Cultural analysis (traditions, beliefs, values, history, language, stereotyping,
discrimination, oppression)
Unit 6: Benefits of cross-cultural teaching and learning (humanitarian, educational, economic)
METHOD OF EVALUATION (Tests/Exams, Grading System):
Participation and Assignments which may include but are not limited to conversation partner
work, interviews, homework, quizzes, and oral presentations
20-60%
Research paper written through process, includes an annotated bibliography of sources and a
reflective introduction
20-60%
Final Examination comprehensive assessment of course content
20%
Final grades will be determined according to the following scale:
90 to 100% = A
80 to 89% = B
70 to 79% = C
60 to 69% = D
59% and below = F
REQUIRED READING AND WRITING:
Students will meet with a conversation partner and write a reflective journal about this
practice. Students will conduct interviews and provide oral presentations relating this
information to the class. A 10-pg. (2500 words), 5-source paper is required which includes a
reflective introduction and competent use of a documentation style. Quizzes will be given
during the semester. Students will complete a comprehensive final examination.