Screen English Summer 2012 Syllabus Instructor: Anthony Schmidt Email Address: anthony.teacher@yahoo.com Homepage: http://www.anthonyteacher.com/2012s-screenenglish Course Description The goal of this course is to use the sitcom “Modern Family” to help improve your English. This course will focus on learning and using phrasal verbs, with a minor focus on idioms. In English, we use numerous phrasal verbs (which are a kind of idiom) in our normal, everyday speech. In order to become proficient in English, knowledge of phrasal verbs is very important. In addition, there will also be a small focus on listening skills. Course Format Each day, we will watch one episode of “Modern Family” with and without English subtitles. We will watch each episode twice. During class, we will do several activities related to the episode and then study the relevant phrasal verbs. Activities will include listening comprehension, discussion, and language work. At the end of class, you will be assigned several phrasal verbs. You must submit these verbs, (verb name, type, meaning, example sentence) to our online phrasal verb dictionary. You will be responsible for studying these phrasal verbs throughout the course. Tentative Schedule DAY DATE EPISODE 1 M 8/6 S01E01 – “Pilot” 2 T 8/7 S01E02 – “The Bicycle Thief” 3 W 8/8 S01E09 – “Fizbo” 4 Th 8/9 S02E03 – “Earthquake” 5 F 8/10 S02E05 – “Unplugged” 6 M 8/13 S02E06 – “Halloween” 7 T 8/14 S03E03 – “Phil on Wire” ! W 8/15 No Class – Liberation Day 8 Th 8/16 S03E11 – “Lifetime Supply” 9 F 8/17 TBA 10 M 8/20 Conversation Day Conversation Day On Conversation Day, we will meet in groups of 2 or 3 at A Twosome Place on campus. You will receive several phrasal verb cards. You must use these phrasal verbs with me in a regular, casual conversation. Phrasal Verb Reference Guide A phrasal verb is an idiomatic expression that consists of a verb and a preposition which modifies or changes the meaning; 'give up' is a phrasal verb that means 'stop doing' something, which is very different from 'give'. There are four kinds of phrasal verbs. Intransitive (int) These don't take an object. Example: “They had an argument, but they've made up now.” Nonseparable transitive (non) The object must come after the preposition. Example: “They are looking after their grandchildren.” Separable obligatory transitive (sob) The object must come between the verb and the particle: Example: “The quality of their work sets them apart from their rivals.” Separable optional transitive (sop) The object may come between the verb and the particle, but doesn’t have to: Example: “We need to call off the show.” “We need to call the show off” Objects The object of a verb is created, affected or altered by the action of a verb OR sensed by the subject of the verb. Example: “I wrote a book.” – book is the object because the verb created it. Example: “I saw the film.” – film is the object because it was sensed by the subject (I). Useful Abbreviations Sb – somebody or someone St – something Useful Websites http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/phrasal-verbs/ http://www.wiktionary.com http://www.englishpage.com/prepositions/phrasaldictionary.html