SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
SPRING SEMESTER 2009
#7033 ESL 975: ADVANCED IDIOMS, PREPOSITIONS, AND
VOCABULARY
INSTRUCTOR: LISA SAPERSTON
SAPERSTON_LISA@SMC.EDU
9:30–12:30 MONDAYS
BUNDY 440
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed for the advanced ESL student. The course
focuses on enriching and refining students’ knowledge and use of
idioms, phrasal verbs, and vocabulary. Students learn advanced-level
English vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, and grammatical structures,
and engage in complex and culturally-appropriate dialogs and
conversations.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK

Fragiadakis, Helen. All Clear Listening and Speaking 2nd Ed..
MA: Heinle and Heinle, 2007.

American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms for Students of
English. MA: Houghton Mifflin.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

Converse ably using two- or three-word phrasal verbs.

Orally produce complex sentences in English using advanced
idioms, phrasal verbs, and vocabulary.

Respond to complex questions in English using advanced idioms,
phrasal verbs, and vocabulary.

Use advanced idioms and vocabulary in class discussions and
activities.

Analyze complex scenarios in English using advanced idioms and
vocabulary.

Appropriately produce some slang vocabulary commonly used in
television, movies, and popular culture.

Consistently determine when is not appropriate to use slang
vocabulary (e.g., job interviews).

Consistently demonstrate culturally-appropriate conversational
etiquette and expressions of courtesy.

Determine when to use an English-only dictionary, either in print
or online.

Use resources, both in print and online, that may be helpful in
defining slang or other words not typically included in a
dictionary.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Given a particular topic or theme, students will converse fluently
with their classmates using advanced vocabulary, idiomatic
expressions, and two- or three-word phrasal verbs.

Given several examples of real-life scenarios, students will
consistently employ appropriate expressions of courtesy and
demonstrate culturally-appropriate conversational etiquette.
INSTRUCTIONAL METHODOLOGY
20%
Lecture and/or demonstration
40%
Speaking and listening exercises (including class
discussions, small-group discussions, pair activities,
oral recitations, and/or threaded discussions)
10%
Reading and writing exercises (including error analysis
and/or paraphrasing)
15%
10%
5%
Student presentations and/or oral recitations
Audio-visual materials and/or guest speakers
Computer-assisted learning
COURSE CONTENT
Percentage
of Term
Topics
25%
Listening skills, including advanced English
vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, grammatical
structures, and two-or three-word phrasal verbs;
complex scenarios in English; slang vocabulary
commonly used in television, movies, and popular
culture; expressions of courtesy; determining when
to use print or online resources helpful in defining
slang and other words not typically found in a
dictionary.
25%
Speaking skills, including advanced English
vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, grammatical
structures, and two-or three-word phrasal verbs;
producing complex sentences; responding to
complex questions; analyzing complex scenarios in
English; slang vocabulary commonly used in
television, movies, and popular culture; contexts in
which it is not appropriate to use slang; culturallyappropriate conversational etiquette and
expressions of courtesy; making oral presentations.
25%
Reading skills, including advanced English
vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, grammatical
structures, and two-or three-word phrasal verbs;
reading complex sentences, short questions, and
basic scenarios in English; determining when to use
an English-only dictionary, either in print or online;
determining when to use print or online resources
helpful in defining slang and other words not
typically found in a dictionary.
25%
Writing skills, including advanced English
vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, grammatical
structures, and two-or three-word phrasal verbs;
writing complex sentences and responses to short
questions; determining when to use an English-only
dictionary.
METHODS OF EVALUATION
30%
Oral presentations
20%
Quizzes and exams
10%
Homework assignments
20%
Writing assignments
20%
Participation in classroom discussions and activities
(including reading exercises, oral recitations, small
group work, pair work, and threaded discussions)
IMPORTANT DATES, DEADLINES, HOLIDAYS, AND BREAKS

Spring Semester begins Tuesday, Feb 17, 2009

#7033 ESL 975 begins Monday, Feb. 23, 2009

Departmental Staff Development Day (No Classes) Campus
Open Friday, Mar 6, 2009

Institutional Flex Day (No Classes) Campus Open
Thursday, March 19, 2009

Spring Break (No Classes) Mon, Apr 13, 2009, to Sun, Apr
19, 2009

Memorial Day (Campus Closed) Mon, May 25, 2009

#7033 ESL 975 ends Monday, June 8, 2009

Spring Final Exams

Spring Semester ends

Commencement
Tue, Jun 9 - Tue, Jun 16, 2009
Tue, Jun 16, 2009
Tue, Jun 16, 2009
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

FAQ ABOUT NON-CREDIT ESL:
HTTP://WWW.SMC.EDU/APPS/PUB.ASP?Q=1444&B=1




Take the Big Blue Bus for FREE: It’s free to current SMC
students, faculty and staff with ID (need current semester
sticker). For help finding the route you should take, please go to:
http://www.bigbluebus.com/ or check out the PARKING and
TRANSPORTATION link on the SMC homepage
http://www.smc.edu/transportation/ . Visit the Bursar’s office
on campus to pay your fees and get your semester sticker.
Park for FREE at our Satellite Shuttle Lots: You can park for
free at any of the satellite campus locations or the Olympic
shuttle lot and ride the Big Blue Bus for free to and from the
main campus. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A MAIN CAMPUS
PARKING DECAL, you will need to get a FREE SATELLITE
PARKING DECAL from the Police or the Bursar’s office to
put in your car.
Links to all the details: For more detailed information about
parking and bus routes, please visit the SMC website at:
http://www.smc.edu/transportation/ . For a link to campus
maps with addresses and parking lot specifics, go to:
http://www.smc.edu/apps/comm.asp?Q=195.
The Food for Thought, Thoughts on Food speaker series will
feature three faculty members:Geography professor Pete
Morris: Beer—Global Beverage, Local Passion Thursday March
12; Communications professor Jacki Horwitz: Sandwiches
Worldwide—Think Inside the Bread Thursday, April 2; Art
history professor Walter Meyer: Food, Consumption and
Consumer Culture—From Vanitas Still-Life to Flying Spam
Thursday, May 14All three talks are in HSS 165 during
the Activity Hour—11:15-12:35The Global Connections
speaker series will feature these speakers from off
campus:Marcus Eriksen and Anna Cummins "15,000 Plastic
Bottles: Junk Rafting to Hawaii" Thursday, February 26 HSS-165
Dr. Steven Kwon "Soybeans and Service: Nutrition for the
World" Thursday, March 5 Art 214 Dr. Amir Hussain
"Contemporary Muslim Societies in North America" Tuesday,
March 31 HSS 16. All three talks are during the Activity
Hour—11:15-12:35
#7033 ESL 975: ADVANCED IDIOMS, PREPOSITIONS, AND
VOCABULARY
CLASS ACTIVITIES
WHICH MONDAY???
FEB. 23
WHICH ALL CLEAR 3 CHAPTER?
INTRODUCTION ESL 975
ICEBREAKER
MARCH 2
LESSON.1 AT A PARTYTAKING THE INITIATIVE PP.118.
MARCH 9
LESSON.1 CONTINUES
MARCH 16
LESSON.2 KIDS BEHAVIOR IN
PUBLIC – THE BOTTOM LINE
PP.19-36.
MARCH 23
LESSON.2 CONTINUES &
REVIEW LESSONS 1 & 2.
PP.37-38.
MARCH 30
LESSON.3 IN CLASS-BORED
TO DEATH OR ON THE EDGE OF
YOUR SEAT? PP.39-56.
APRIL 6
LESSON.3 CONTINUES
APRIL 13
SPRING BREAK
APRIL 20
LESSON.4 ON THE STREETESLIVING FROM HAND TO
MOUTH PP.57-72.
APRIL 27
LESSON.4 CONTINUES &
REVIEW LESSONS 3 & 4 PP.7374.
MAY 4
LESSON.5 WINNING THE
LOTTERY-HE’S GOT IT MADE
PP.75-92.
MAY 11
LESSON.5 CONTINUES
MAY 18
LESSON 6 STUCK IN AN
ELEVATOR-COUPED UP AND
SITTING TIGHT PP.93-110.
MAY 25
LESSON.6 CONTINUES &
REVIEW LESSONS 5 & 6
PP.111-112.
JUNE 1
LESSON.7 VIOLENCE AND THE
MEDIA- A BONE OF
CONTENTION PP.113-128.
JUNE 8
LESSON 8 CHANGING TIME
ZONES – A BAD CASE OF JET
LAG PP. 129-147. REVIEW
LESSONS 7 & 8 PP.149-150.
JUNE 15
SMC FINAL EXAM WEEK
THE INSTRUCTOR HAS THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR CHANGE THE CONTENTS
OF THIS SYLLABUS AT HER DISCRETION AT ANY TIME.