ESL 130 – Fall 2014
a six-unit intermediate academic ESL course
instructor: Katarina Mijatovic
e-mail: kmijatov@ccsf.edu
web: fog.ccsf.edu/kmijatov
office: L518
phone: 452-7089
office hours: MW 5:00 -6:00 PM
by appointment
PREREQUISITE: Placement in ESL 130 or completion of ESL 120 with a grade of C or higher
TEXTS: The two required textbooks are:
NorthStar 3, Reading and Writing by L. Barton and D. Sardinas
Fundamentals of English Grammar, fourth edition (volume B), by B. Azar and S. Hagen
COURSE CONTENT: ESL 130 is an intermediate grammar, reading and writing course. In this
class, you will improve your English grammar, especially your use of complex sentences, transitions
and correct verb forms. We will also concentrate on organizing writing through the development of a
main idea. The course will include lots of reading, along with vocabulary development, and plenty of
opportunities to write. In addition to graded writing assignments, there will also be a journal of topics
related to the reading assignments, as well as grammar, reading comprehension and vocabulary
quizzes.
ATTENDANCE: Your attendance is very important in this class, and you will be responsible for
everything that is discussed in class and written on the board concerning the lessons whether you are
present or not. Attendance will be checked at each class session. If you are absent more than 5 times,
your final grade will be lowered and you may be dropped from the class. Being late for class 3 times
is equivalent to one absence, so please arrive on time. Make sure you get to know at least two or
three of your classmates and exchange telephone numbers so that you can find out what you missed if
you were absent. Although some late homework assignments will be accepted, you may not make up
any quiz or in-class writing assignment that you miss!
HOMEWORK: You will probably need to spend about 2 hours of work and study time at home
for each hour of class time. All reading and writing assignments must be prepared by the date
that they are due, whether or not they are to be collected. Writing assignments that are turned in
late will receive a lower grade.
You will be required to do journal assignments throughout the semester. There will be one
journal assignment per week (one or two paragraphs for each assignment). Journal assignments
will usually be assigned on Wednesday and collected on the following Monday. They will be
graded on a point system of 1-10, and the total score will be part of your final grade. The topics
that are assigned will be related to the readings in our textbook. Late journals will receive half
credit.
FINAL: The final exam will take place on December 10 and 15, and will consist of three parts:
writing, reading and grammar exams.
GRADES: Your final grade for this class will be based on the following formula:
in-class writing, quizzes and tests - 50%
take-home writing, journal and graded homework - 25%
final reading, writing and grammar exams - 25%
PLAGIARISM: Copying from another student, a book or a website is plagiarism, and it will not
be tolerated. Plagiarized work will receive an “F.” Please do your own work at all times!
OFFICE HOURS: You are welcome to visit me at my office, Batmale 518, during my office
hours on Monday and Wednesday from 5:00 to 6:00 pm. However, I am not always available, so
please make an appointment in person or by email. I check my voicemail only once a week and
my email several times a day, so email is the best way to reach me: kmijatov@ccsf.edu . If my
office hours are not compatible with your schedule, we can arrange a better time to meet.
CELLPHONES: No electronic equipment is allowed during class, including cell phones and
electronic dictionaries. If you need to understand a vocabulary word, please raise your hand and
ask the teacher. Looking up words during class takes your focus away from what is going on in
the class. If you are expecting a call because of a special situation, please tell me at the beginning
of the class.
Student Learning Outcomes: For a detailed list of the skills and abilities you will acquire in
this class, please visit: http://fog.ccsf.edu/kmijatov/slo.html