Instructor J. E. Seibert

• Office 209 Kaneko
• E-mail jseibert Phone 3302

What are the purposes of this course?

• To help you improve your ability to understand spoken English by recognizing the pronunciation of English speakers
• To help you improve your ability to speak English so other people can understand you
• To help you speak in a way that English speakers will feel comfortable speaking with you

What will you learn about English?

• How to make sounds
• Stress patterns in words and phrases
• Linking sounds and words
• Intonation

How will you learn?

• Listening to short explanations by the professor
• Practicing in class as a group and in pairs
• Doing very short skits and presentations
• Practicing and studying the textbook outside of class
• Listening to tapes (optional but recommended)

 General Course Requirement and Class Rules

• Attend and actively participate in all classes.
• Come to class. Bring your textbooks and your dictionaries.
• Complete all in-class and homework assignments at a satisfactory level or above.
• Pass quizzes and tests.
• Use English in class and encourage others to use English. Please speak English 97.145927% of the time.
• Cooperate with your classmates and encourage your classmates.
• No chewing gum or eating in class. It makes it hard to speak English. You may drink beverages in class. Don't spill!

Grades

• There is no make-up of quizzes and tests unless the students contacts me BEFORE class and has a very good reason for missing a quiz or test.
• Final grades can be A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, or F.
• Each assignment will have a point value; smaller assignments and quizzes will be worth fewer points and major assignments and exams will be worth more points. Most homework will not be graded; the purpose is self-study.
• At the end of the semester:
  • "A"s are 90% and above
  • "B"s are 80%-89%
  • "C"s are 70%-79%
  • 69% or below = "F"
• At the end of the semester, if you are between two grades, you will get the higher grade if you tried hard to do your best and participated actively in class.
• You can check your grade any time using the course website and a password.
• Students who do average work will receive "C's". A few students may receive "A's" if they do outstanding work throughout the course. Students who do below average or unsatisfactory work will receive "F's". Everyone can do well if he or she studies hard.
• Students who miss 20% or more of the class hours (about five days) will receive an "F" and will not get credit. This is TIUA policy.
  • Three late arrivals equal one absence.
  • You are absent if you are asleep in class. Students in the U.S. do not sleep in class.
  • You will be marked absent if you arrive more than about 20 minutes late.

Texts

• Sounds Great: Book 1 by Beverly Beisbier (TIUA will give you this book)
• Longman American English Dictionary or another dictionary that uses the IPA system (IPA=International Phonetic Alphabet)

Tapes: Tapes that accompany the textbook are located in three places:

• The Kaneko language lab (do not take them from the lab, please)
• The Kaneko Learning Center (do not take them from the lab, please)
• At the front desk (you may check a tape out for 24 hours)
• In my office
• Each student does not have a set of tapes because they are very expensive and many students do not use them.

Success

I will do everything possible to help you succeed in this course, but you are in control of your success and your future.