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Academic Listening and Speaking
Course Information - Spring 2003
Professor Gregory

Overview

In English I and II, students develop listening comprehension skills useful in university contexts. Intensive listening practice exposes students to everyday and academic language used in a variety of topics and situations. Class guests, sample university lectures, use of audio and videotapes, and observations and interviews outside the classroom support the development of listening comprehension and academic note-taking skills. Students also develop speaking skills appropriate in university contexts. Examples of such skills are: holding extended conversations, asking and answering questions in class, giving oral summaries, giving presentations and speeches, participating in discussions and debates, and having conferences with professors. The course includes activities and assignments outside of the classroom that enable students to further practice what they have learned in class.

Learning Activities

In this class, we will learn:

Through in-class activities to help you learn specific academic listening and speaking skills
By doing interview assignments with WU students
By participating in weekly conversation partner activities with a WU Japanese language class
By listening activities using clips from famous American films
By observation of a WU class
Through self-directed pronunciation practice in the WU language lab
Through self-directed grammar practice using the grammar textbook
By discovering how to make presentations
And more...

General Course requirements

use of English in class as much as possible
attendance at and active participation in all class activities
completion of in-class and homework assignments
satisfactory performance on quizzes and tests

Texts

We will be using the following texts for English I & II:

Fundamentals of English Grammar, 3^rd edition - Betty Schrampfer and Barbara F. Matthies. Prentice Hall Regents. 2003.

Communicating on Campus - Amy Hemmert and Ged O'Connell. Alta Book Center Publishers. 1998.

Grades

You will receive one grade for English III and another grade for English IV. Final grades can be A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, or F. Plusses and minuses will reflect borderline grades and extra effort or lack of effort. Work during the term will be generally be marked as excellent, satisfactory, or unsatisfactory. Unsatisfactory work may be done again.
Work during the term will be generally be marked as excellent, satisfactory, or unsatisfactory: Unsatisfactory work may be done again if a student made an honest effort the first time.

Your will be graded on the following:

class participation - it is expected that all students will participate fully and actively in class. You will receive daily points (0, 1 or 2) based on your participation. Zero points will be assigned if: you sleep in class, are late, fail to participate in the class activity at a minimum level, or are unprepared for class.

classwork /homework - quality of work on assignments, homework, quizzes, etc.

attendance (Check the TIUA Information Catalog explanation of TIUA policies on attendance).

Attendance

Come to every class and arrive on time; please don't come to class tired or hungry

If you miss more than 20% of the classes (7 classes), you will receive an "F".

3 tardies = 1 absence.

If you will not be in class, please talk to me, leave a voice mail message for me, or e-mail me in advance. This is polite in all small college classes in the US.

All absences are unexcused and you are always responsible for both class work and homework, even if you are ill. Please do not skip class because you have not done your homework or have not studied for a test. (Check the TIUA Information Catalog explanation of TIUA policies on attendance).

How to contact me:

By phone: 373-3306 (desk) or 3300 (reception) or at home 363-9558

By -mail: wgregory

In person: Office #203

LEARNING EXPERIENCE:

Classroom: You will only be in the listening and speaking classroom for 7.5 hours each week. That alone is not very much time to develop academic English listening and speaking skills. However, it can be a very useful time, if you will give a 100% effort. Our classroom time will focus on the most important information you need to know. You will work in more detail by doing homework outside of class.
Student Homework: Students will be expected to participate in all classroom activities and complete all assignments. Participation in class is the most important part of your grade. You will do much of your work outside the classroom by doing homework assignments. Homework is not optional. Unless the professor tells you differently, homework is to be done individually.
On Your Own: If you only study English during the few hours of class time and do your homework, you will not improve your English as much as you could. The best way to learn English is to read a lot of English books, magazines, newspapers and write as much as possible in English. It is also important to interact with American students as much as you can. Being shy will hurt your progress in learning English. Do not be afraid to use English, even if you make mistakes. Making mistakes is the way you learn and get better.

STUDENT SUCCESS:

Attend class daily
Participate in all aspects of class, even if you feel shy about speaking English.
Speak English! There is a temptation to speak Japanese frequently, even in class. The only way you will improve your English is to force yourself to speak English as much as possible. English 1 and 2 classes will require that you speak English.
Do the assignments. If you have questions or problems and cannot do the homework, let Professor Gregory know immediately. Otherwise, your grade will decrease.
Be assertive. Take initiative to speak English and interact with Americans outside of class. Don't wait for other people to create experiences for you. You make them happen!
Ask Professor Gregory if you have ANY questions - in class and outside of class. Do not be shy.
Study together in pairs or groups.