Intermediate Core (ELI 025-001) / Fall 2011 – Syllabus

 

Class:	Mon, Wed, Fri: 10:30-12:20 Tues, Thur:        8:50-10:20	Office Hours:	Tuesday, Thursday, 10:30-11:30
	Robinson B, Room 124		Northern Neck (by Starbucks)
Instructor:	Jane Kirsch	E-mail:	jkirsch@gmu.edu
Website:	http://www.kirsches.org	Phone:	703-993-9369 (Jane’s desk)

 

DESCRIPTION

In Intermediate Core class, we will continue to work on improving your academic reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills, with a special focus on reading, writing, and grammar. We will do a mix of in-class and at-home assignments, individual and small group activities, discussions, some presentations and listening practice.

 

Please get to know your classmates, especially those who speak a different language. It will help you improve your English and to make friends. Your progress depends on YOUR hard work!

 

OBJECTIVES (What you must do to pass this class)

READING

·         Read an intermediate text and identify main idea vs. supporting ideas and details, guess meaning of new words in a sentence, make simple inferences, and identify how information is organized.

·         Read, summarize and respond to an intermediate ESL pleasure book

 

WRITING

·         Write paragraph summaries:

o   Paraphrase / synthesize information

o   Summarize main ideas

·         Always get an ELI level 3 (iBT TOEFL 2) or better on TOEFL-style essays

·         Write several essays that include several drafts and have:

o   Thesis statement

o   Main ideas, supporting details, some transition words in body

o   Simple, compound, and a few complex sentences

o   Mostly correct mechanics: formatting, spelling, punctuation

 

LISTENING

·         Listen and take notes in your own words to catch key points and to make a summary.

·         Use this info to make inferences (including new vocab words in context), identify purpose, and tell the difference between main ideas and support; respond by speaking or writing about what you heard

 

SPEAKING

·         Give an oral presentation with a clear main idea in the introduction, body support in the main ideas and details, and a summary in the conclusion.

·         When you speak in class every day, people can understand what you say and your ideas make sense.

·         You speak with some fluency but with a few pronunciation problems. Your grammar and vocabulary are mostly ok and your ideas usually make sense. You can develop your topic and keep talking but sometimes the connection between ideas is not always clear.

TEXTBOOKS  (listed under ELI 025) and CLASS MATERIALS

-First Steps in Academic Writing (Level 2), by Ann Hogue

-Focus on Grammar 3 (Third Edition), by Marjorie Fuchs, Margaret Bonner, Miriam Westheimer

-Groundwork for College Reading (Fourth Edition), by John Langan

 

-News for You – ESL newspaper; teacher will bring each week; students pay $6 for semester

GRADING

Final Grades:  A=90-100, B=80-89, C=70-79, NG=0-69 or more than 10 absences.

Final Exam:    The final exam will be in class on Wednesday, December 7, 2011.

Your final grade for this class will be calculated as follows:

 

            15%    Quizzes and Tests

            15%    Pleasure Book Project (read, discuss, do oral and written book reports)

            15%    Writing (summaries, paragraphs, essays)

              5%    Listening / Speaking

            20%    Midterm Exam

            30%    Final Exam

 

POLICIES

·         10 minutes or more late = 1/2 absence; MORE THAN 10 absences = NG (no grade)

·         Absences count the last week of classes

·         If you are absent, talk to a classmate or check the website; it is YOUR responsibility to turn in assignments on time, even if absent.

·         If you are late, please come in quietly and take your seat. Do NOT knock!

·         No cell phones during class; they must be turned OFF

·         No late work will be accepted. All assignments must be ON TIME.

·         No make-up exams will be given unless approved by the teacher in advance

·         No early exams will be given

 

HONOR CODE

 “I promise to do my own work and not to give or take answers from others. I will do my assignments by myself and not cheat, steal, or lie.”  See http://academicintegrity.gmu.edu/honorcode

 

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Jane’s advice: Get organized, be prepared, be on time, ask questions, feel free to make mistakes, speak up in class, always do your best, use English in daily life, get to know your teachers and classmates, and take time for yourself!