ESL 14B- Pronunciation Training Section 2187
FALL 2008 Tuesdays, Thursdays 12:45-2:05 pm
Room ESL 123 and Drescher Hall 204
Instructor: Andrea Spector ESL Office Phone (310) 434-4260; Fax: (310) 434-3627
Email: Spector_Andrea@smc.edu
Materials:
1. Well Said (2nd Edition) by Linda Grant (Heinle & Heinle, 2001)
2. An English-English dictionary. The Cambridge Dictionary of American English with CD OR
Longman Dictionary of English as a Second Language is highly recommended.
3. A small mirror (absolutely required everyday!)
4. 6 blue or green Scantron sheets Form 882-E (green) or 20788 (blue). These are for sale at the campus
bookstore.
5. A good quality computer microphone or microphone/headset for sending voice assignments to the
professor (available at most electronics stores for about $20 or less.MP3 headphones are ok, but you will
need a good quality microphone in addition)
Course Description:
WELCOME TO ESL 14B! This course provides basic information and strategies needed for a standard
American speech style and gets you started in improving your pronunciation. This class is for motivated
intermediate and advanced ESL students who wish to work on their pronunciation. Students learn specific
pronunciation targets that make the biggest difference in the speech of most non-native speakers. The class
emphasizes listening. Students in this section of 14B are expected to have basic computer skills so that they can use
the computer pronunciation software, WIMBA, in the computer lab. Students learn to monitor their own speech and
the speech of others. Students learn about intonation, stress, vowels, difficult consonants, and strategies for clearing
up misunderstandings in conversations. In the computer lab, students will record some assignments online and
respond to the instructor’s responses. Most students who attend class regularly and do all the home assignments
learn to communicate more effectively in English. Modifying an accent takes time and much practice.
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This class is not appropriate for beginning ESL students with limited English
language skills.
All students taking this class need time to practice pronunciation outside of class
every day. Plan to set aside at least 20 minutes a day to practice pronunciation.
Basic computer skills are helpful to do the lab assignments, but assistance will be
provided in the computer lab.
Class Objectives:
1. To learn about the sounds, rhythm and intonation of an American speech style.
2. To improve your auditory skills, and, therefore, your comprehension of spoken English.
3. To improve your ability to monitor your own pronunciation and identify your own errors.
4. To build confidence in conversing in English.
Class Format:
New material will be presented to the whole group. Students work in pairs or small groups to shape and
practice new pronunciation skills. Students give short talks to the whole class. Home assignments include regular
practice with tapes, use of voice software (both at home and in the computer lab), and keeping a glossary of words
from everyday life. To practice pronunciation, students need to find opportunities to speak English outside of class,
especially with native speakers.
Attendance and Participation:
Class begins promptly at 12:45pm. People who are chronically late will receive a lower grade and may be
dropped. If you are more than 15 minutes late, you will be counted as absent. Allow extra time for parking.
Promptness, regular attendance and active participation are expected.You must come to the labs on Thursdays –
you may not do the lab work at home!
Absences: Students with more than four unexcused absences will be dropped from the class. If you are
absent from MORE THAN one class, send the instructor an email as soon as possible to let her know or you may
be dropped from the class(spector_andrea@smc.edu). Call or email another student as soon as possible after the
class to find out what you missed and what you need to know for the next class. Do not ask the instructor about
missed assignments. You are responsible for finding out what was assigned in class.YOU are responsible for
finishing any lab assignments that are missed. Check the e-Companion Gradebook regularly. If you see a
‘0’ it means you did not complete an assignment.
Grades:
There will be no make ups for quizzes or talks. You are responsible for all assignments, even when you are
absent. Any form of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Students who cheat will have an Academic
Dishonesty Form put into their college files.
.
Home/Lab Assignments(Wimba recordings/lab assignments: 45 %;) ……45%
This includes listening to the audio messages, making Wimba recordings of your speech, completing weekly
vocabulary/speaking, and doing book exercises.
Quizzes(15%) and Presentations (25%) ……………….40%
There will be approximately three quizzes and a final. Students who do not take the final exam will automatically
receive a F. Part of each quiz will be about listening. The rest will be about the class work, the home assignments,
and the book. Students prepare short talks to demonstrate their understanding of pronunciation principles and
speaking effectively in English.
Final Exam (Oral: 5%; Written: 10%) ………………15%
In Class Regulations: Food and drinks are not allowed in the classroom. All pagers and cell phones must be turned
off during class meetings.
Tutoring: Limited individual tutoring is available through the ESL office. Tutoring will only be allowed to help
with course assignments.Sign up for appointments online through the ESL homepage. (Tutoring link)
Support Courses: ESL 14A is a course on spelling and pronunciation; ESL 15 is an oral communication course.
NOTE: the schedule and information in this syllabus is subject to change at the
instructor’s discretion.
14B Course Schedule Fall 2008
(subject to change at instructor’s discretion)
Week 1
8/26, 8/28
Introduction – Course Overview; Introduction to E-Companion;
Listening Test ; Find Someone Who… Lab #1: Introductions
online
Week 2
9/2, 9/4
Sounds of English (OHP); Ch.1 “6 Magic Steps”
Intro to Wimba; Using Dictionary Ch. 2;
Week 3
9/9, 9/11
Sound/Spelling Patterns Ch.3
Week 4
9/16, 9/18
Syllables and Word Endings Ch.4
Week 5
9/23, 9/25
Lab #2 Word Endings, cont’d;
Week 6
9/30, 10/2
Stress in Words (Part 1)
Ch. 5 Lab #3 Quiz#1
Week 7
10/7, 10/9
Stress in Words (Part 2) Ch. 6;
Talk #1 “You are the Expert”
Week 8
10/14, 10/16
Lab #4 Rhythm, Ch. 7
Quiz #2 “Talk #1: You are the expert”, cont’d
Week 9
10/21, 10/23
Talk #1, cont’d
Week 10
10/28, 10/30
Ch.8 More Functions of Intonation, Ch.9
Lab #5
Week 11
11/4, 11/6
Talk #2: “Be Your Favorite Movie Star”
Chapter 10
Week 12
11/11, 11/13
Talk #2 cont’d .
Week 13
11/18, 11/20
Chapter 10, cont’d.
Lab #6
Intro to Talk #2
Quiz #3
Week 14
Final lab assignments
11/25, (11/27= Thanksgiving holiday- no school)
Week 15
12/2, 12/4
Review for finals
Final Oral exam 12/4 last day of class meetings
Week 16
Tuesday, December 9
Finals week -SMC
Final Written Exam- 12:00-3:00 pm (please note different time)
I. Difficult Situations
Directions: Think of times when you would like to be able to speak more clearly. List three
situations that are the most difficult for you, for example: speaking on the phone, ordering food in a
restaurant, making conversation at a party, inquiring about jobs, talking to teachers at school, etc.
List the three most difficult situations here:
1._________________________________________________________________
2._________________________________________________________________
3._________________________________________________________________
When you finish, compare your answers with those of another two or three students in the class.
Are your answers the same or different? Be prepared to discuss your answers with the entire class.
II. Your English Language Background
1. What language do you speak at home?_________ at work? ______________ at
school?_________________
2. How long have you been speaking English?_____________
3. In what country did you first study English?_______________ What was your teacher’s native
language?__________________
4. How important is it for you to improve your pronunciation in the following areas? (Write 1, 2,
or 3 next to each situation):
1= most important 2=important 3=not that important
_____ home
_____social
_______work/business
_____general public (shopping, banking, etc.)
Share your information with another student.
______international travel
_______other (explain)
Find Someone Who….
Directions: You must move around the room and ask everyone a question to find someone who can
answer “Yes” (or “no” if appropriate) to your question. If a student answers “yes”, he/she can sign his/her
name on the line next to the item. You can only get one signature per student. Get as many signatures as
you can! Good luck!!
Example:
__Professor
Spector_______ teaches English as a Second Language.
1. _________ would rather be at the beach than here in class.
12. ________ doesn’t speak Spanish.
2. _________ loves to eat Mc Donald’s hamburgers
13. ________ has an iPhone.
3. _________ wears contact lenses.
14. ________ saw a movie last week.
4. ________ likes to listen to hip/hop music.
15. ________plays the guitar.
5.________ is single.
16. ________ is married.
6.________ has a birthday in January
17. ________ has more than $10 now.
7.________is hungry now.
18. _________ has a birthday in June.
8. _______ is tired now.
9. _______ prefers dogs to cats.
19. _________ likes to cook.
10. ______ prefers cats to dogs
20. __________ likes to watch tv.
11. _____ has been to Korea.
21.__________ stays up late at night.
Telephone numbers (in case you miss a class):
Name: ______________________ Number:(
)
__ __ ___ - ___ ___ ____ ____ email:
Name: ______________________ Number:(
) __ __ ___ - ___ ___ ____ ___ email:
Oral Presentations:
In this class, you will be asked to give two talks to the class. I will be grading you on the preparation
of your talk and your use of the pronunciation rules.
Talk #1:
“You are the Expert”
For this speech, you will talk for 3-4 minutes to the class about how to do something. It can be an
ordinary everyday task such as formatting a diskette or making the bed. Or it can be something
that is unique to your country, such as “How to wear a kimono,” or “How to find a husband.” The
following are successful topics that have been presented in past classes, but please invent your own
creative topic:
How to fold a T-shirt in one step
How to find parking at SMC
How to cut hair
How to find free art shows in L.A.
How to get a student discount on books
How to fall in love
How to save money
How to get rid of a headache.
How to fight with karate
How to tango
Be creative! Use your imagination! Again, I will be listening to how you use the pronunciation rules
we learned in class – clear vowels, good stress on the correct syllables, etc.YOU MAY NOT TALK
ABOUT HOW TO COOK SOMETHING (RECIPES) OR HOW TO DO ORIGAMI, PLEASE!
Talk #2: “Be Your Favorite Movie Star”
For this presentation, you will be closely imitating the voice intonation and pronunciation of an
American actor in a short monologue from your favorite movie on videotape. I will give a
demonstration of what I expect you to do, but here is an overview to help you get started early:
1. Select a videotape or DVD of a movie or TV show you like. (VHS is old but it’s easier to cue up
to the scene you want to show us)
2. In the movie, pick a SHORT monologue (one person talking) by an American actor/actress.
3. Watch the scene many times, writing down what he/she says.
4. Listen several more times, marking the words with arrows
show stressed syllables and words.
to show intonation and dots
to
5. Make enough copies of the monologue (with markings) to distribute to the class.
6. In class, in Week 11, read your monologue to the class and show us the scene.
7. Show the movie scene (have it queued up to the correct place please. This is what often takes too
much time!) with the monologue. Read the monologue one more time with the class.