Course Syllabus: ESL Low/Intermediate Level
Winter Term 2011
PCC SE MS #204; 9:00 – 12:00 pm, M–TH
Instructor: Hanna Castro
Resource Specialist: Esperanza Beck, Mathilda Lee
Office Hours: By Appointment
hanna.reed@pcc.edu
Course Description
This course is intended to help students improve their English skills in preparation for
GED courses or the Gateway to College program. There is a particular focus on
developing reading and writing skills, speaking, pronunciation, listening, spelling, and
grammar. We will also work on mathematics by focusing on vocabulary. We will be
meeting two hours a week in the computer lab to work on reading comprehension,
vocabulary and speed, and mathematics.
Course Objectives
We will study strategies for improving reading skills including: vocabulary development,
reading speed, comprehension, and identifying main ideas in reading passages.
In writing we will focus on writing paragraphs that include: a clear focus on one topic,
well-developed support of the topic, and proper grammar, spelling and punctuation.
Texts
The instructor will be issuing the appropriate texts for the different levels. You are
responsible for returning the textbooks at the end of the term in the same condition that
you received them. You will be charged for the cost of replacing any books that you do
not return.
Materials:
You need a notebook with four different dividers, pens, pencils, eraser, and a dictionary
available at all times.
Student Responsibilities
 Attendance is mandatory and recorded; therefore you are required to come to
class every day. If a student will be absent, the student has to call the resources
specialist to explain the absence.
 You are required to come to class prepared for work on time.
 You are required to complete and turn in all class work on time.
 You will maintain a student binder or notebook that contains all of the
assignments, handouts, and homework required for the class.
 You must maintain a positive attitude and be respectful to students and the
instructor.
 To the best of your ability speak only English while in class.
Evaluation :
You will be evaluated on your classroom behavior and academic performance. If you do
not display appropriate classroom behavior (See class rules above) or academic
performance, you will be required to discuss your behavior and performance with your
Instructor and Resource Specialist. If you do not make an effort to improve the situation,
you will be required to explain and discuss your behavior with the Program Manager.
Weekly Schedule:
Week 1
03/28-03/31
1 Reading: WIT Unit 1: Special Days; Your Personality
2.Grammar : Verbs To Be, To Have, To Do (Review Present, Present Progressive, Past, Past
Progressive)
3.Writing: The Writing Process, The Paragraph, Parts of a Paragraph,
Narrative Paragraph
Reading Box; Reading Plus
1. Reading: WIT Unit 2: Places; Food
2. Grammar : Nouns (Count, Non-count, Regular, Irregular), Articles (a, an, the), Adjectives,
4.
Week 2
04/04-04/07
Comparatives
Week 3
04/11-04/14
Week 4
04/18-04/21
3.Writing: Expressions of Time, Transitions, Descriptive Paragraph
4. Reading Box ; Reading Plus
1. Reading: WIT Unit 3: Health; Customs and Traditions
2. Grammar : Adverbs, 5W Questions, Capitalization, Punctuation
3.Writing: Sentence Structure, Definition Paragraph
4. Reading Box; Reading Plus
1. Reading: WIT Unit 4: Customs; Famous People
2. Grammar : Prepositions, Conjunctions, Present Progressive
3.Writing: Essay Structure, Process Paragraph
4. Reading Box; Reading Plus
Week 5
04/25-04/28
1. Reading: WIT Unit 5: Food; Nature’s Disasters
2. Grammar : Pronouns
3.Writing: Comparison Paragraph
4. Reading Box; Reading Plus
Week 6
05/02-05/05
Midterm
Conferences
Week 7
05/09-05/12
1. Reading: WIT Unit 1-5 Catch Up and Review
2. Grammar : Review
3.Writing: Catch Up and Review
4. Reading Box; Reading Plus
1. Reading: WIT Unit 6: Inventions
2. Grammar : Irregular Verbs
3.Writing: Cause/Effect Paragraph
4. Reading Box; Reading Plus
Week 8
05/16-05/19
1. Reading: WIT Unit 7: People; The Law
2. Grammar : Future Tense
3.Writing: Contrast Paragraph
4. Reading Box; Reading Plus
Week 9
05/23-05/26
1. Reading: WIT Unit 8: Readings from Literature
2.Grammar : Modals
3.Writing: Three paragraph essay on favorite subject
4. Reading Box; Reading Plus
Week 10
05/31-06/02
1. Reading: WIT Catch Up and Review
2. Grammar : Catch Up and Review
3.Writing: Review
4. Speaking Test
Week 11
06/06-06/09
1. Writing Test
2. Grammar Test
3. Reading Test
4. Results
*WIT – Weaving It Together 1 (Low Level); Weaving It Together 2 (Intermediate Level)