Santa Monica College/ Summer 2010
ESL 28 Section 1368
TWTh 2:45 - 5:45
ESL 103
Instructor: Janet Harclerode
Office: ESL 111/ Telephone 310-434-4569
E-mail: harclerode_janet@smc.edu
  Office Hours: By Appointment Only (generally before or after class)
Homepage: http://homepage.smc.edu/harclerode_janet

ESL 28: Academic Vocabulary Skills
3 Units

• Prerequisite: None

Course Description: This course is designed for students who wish to develop their techniques for understanding academic vocabulary and using English words idiomatically.  It emphasizes context and usage of academic words from the Academic Word List (Coxhead 1998) or a similar corpus.  Students will learn to comprehend and use approximately 200 new words to improve their reading comprehension, speaking, and writing skills for academic success.

Required Text:
Schmitt & Schmitt, Focus on Vocabulary: Mastering the Academic Word List, Longman, 2005. ISBN: 0-13-183308-1. 

Other Required Materials:
Access to a personal computer (home, school, or library) to use web-based support tools and materials.
Paper- I recommend lined, loose-leaf paper that can be kept in a 3-ring binder.

Course Objectives:

Methods of Presentation:
lectures; small group cooperative learning activities or paired activities; computer-assisted instruction;
group presentation.
  

Method of Evaluation:
Quizzes (11)                                                               50%  (500 points) 
Writing assignments, classwork & homework   20%  (200 points)
Midterm                                                                   10%   (100 points)
Final exam                                                                20%  (200 points)

Grading:
There will be 11 quizzes, but the lowest score will be dropped, so only 10 quizzes will count.  If you miss a quiz for any reason, that will be the score that is dropped. You will not get a chance to make up a quizz. Quizzes are worth a total of 500 points; writing assignments and homework will be worth 200 points; the midterm will be worth 100 points, and the final exam will be worth 200 points.  Keep track of your grades in eCompanion.  If your grade is not posted within a week after you have gotten  your work back, please contact the instructor.  Do not wait until the end of the term. 

Homework:
To succeed in this course you will need to complete weekly homework assignments and study for quizzes. 
You will need to be able to access a computer to use eCompanion and other web-based materials.

Classwork:
Interactive work with classmates is designed to help you learn.  Each week you will be working with a different group of students.  Cooperate and collaborate to learn the new vocabulary, but please do NOT work together on quizzes.  The quizzes are designed to test your own knowledge.  If you cheat on a quiz, test, or writing assignment, you will fail the quiz (0%), and you will be reported to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs.

Other Important Information:
1) Attend class regularly.  Students who do not attend class or complete assignments tend to fail their courses. The summer session is more intensive, so missing one class is like missing a full week during the regular semester.
2) Speak only English when you come to class.  This is a golden opportunity to improve your English communication skills. 
3) Avoid using a translator.  We may be using dictionaries for some class activities, but it is best to listen or read for context or ask a friend when possible rather than looking up every word you don't know. 
4) Get a buddy.  If you are late or you miss a class or assignment, you may call your buddy to see what you missed.  If you have to miss a class, you can give your assignment to your buddy to turn in for you. 
5) Complete all work when it is due.   If you cannot complete an assignment due to illness, an emergency, or a technical problem, you must contact me as soon as possible.  If you have technical problems with your computer at home, you need to make arrangements to complete your work in a library, computer lab, or at another computer.  Every college student has experienced problems with computers.  The best suggestion I have is to complete everything early in the week, so if you do have technical difficulties, you have time to fix them or visit a friend or library to do your work.
6) Please be considerate of classmates and kind to SMC facilities: turn off and stow away all cell phones and pagers; do not eat or drink in class (water is ok).

Using e-Companion
All students MUST have an SMC Computing Account and use eCompanion for this class.
1. Go to SMC's homepage at http://www.smc.edu
2. Go to the Current Student link on the left and click on Corsair Connect. 
3. From Corsair Connect, click on the link to eCompanion.
Your grades will be posted and classmates' e-mail addresses will be available through e-Companion.

Beginning Summer 2010, only your SMC e-mail address will be used for communication with the instructor, so make a point of checking your e-mail through SMC.  SMC's spam guard will block personal e-mail addresses. 

Tutoring & Other Support Services:
1. Free tutoring is available in the ESL center. Sign up online from the ESL Department Homepage: http://www.smc.edu/apps/comm.asp?Q=74
2. Students may use computers in the Cayton Center, the library, and Drescher Hall 203 & 204.
3. Academic counselors can be reached in the ISC (434-4217) and in Counseling (434-4210 or 434-4589).
4. Psychological counselors can be reached at 434-4262 or through the Psychological Services Office in Liberal Arts (on the first floor).
5. You can find support materials for this course by going to my homepage and clicking on the link in the gridbox that says Support Materials for 28.

Communication with Instructor:
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns, via e-mail or telephone.  Note that I have no official office hours during the summer.  However, if you need to meet with me, I may be available before or after class (primarily by appointment).
 

Tentative Schedule*
*Please note: this schedule may change at the instructor's discretion.