ESL 11A:  Basic English  (Section #1867) – Spring, 2003
This is a tentative syllabus and subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.

Week-by-Week Course Schedule

 

Instructor: Kathy Sucher, M.A.T.

Class meetings: Mon/Wed 3:15-6:20pm in ESL 105

Email: sucher_kathryn@smc.edu

Phone: (310) 434-4752                       

ESL Office Phone: (310) 434-4260  ESL FAX: (310) 434-3627

Homepage: http://homepage.smc.edu/sucher_kathryn

Office Hours:    Monday and Wednesday before class (2:30-3:00)

           


Catalog Description: This course is the first semester of a two-semester course, ESL 11A and 11B.  ESL 11A is a course for non-native speakers of English who place at the “C” level.  This course focuses on paragraph writing, self-editing, grammar, mechanics, reading, speaking, and listening.

 

Required Texts and Materials:

NorthStar Focus on Reading and Writing: Intermediate (black and green cover), Betta Intermediate Grammar (light blue cover), Pavlic, Balleisen, and Bland

Foundations First , Kirszner & Mandell
Farewell to Manzanar, Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston
Handbook to accompany Farewell to Manzanar (only available in SMC bookstore)

Handbook to accompany ESL 11A (Sucher/Jaffe)

 

Recommended:

An English-English dictionary such as Longman’s Dictionary of American English or The Newbury House Dictionary

 

Objectives:

Students will improve their academic writing.  They will also improve their skills in self-editing, reading, speaking, and listening.

 

Course Requirements:

  1. Protocol: No food or drinks are permitted in the classroom.  All pagers, cellular phones, and walkie-talkies must be shut off during class, please.  Electronic dictionaries are not allowed in class.  Only English should be used in class. 
  2. Attendance:  Students who miss more than 12 hours of class need to drop the course.
  3. Tardies: Students who arrive late for class, late after the break, or leave early more than 5 times may be dropped.  Two times tardy equal one absence.
  4. Writing: Seven (7) graded writing assignments are written in and outside of class. 
  5. Out of class writing should be word-processed if you have access to a computer.  Put your first and last name, ESL 11A, and the date in the upper right hand corner of the 8 1/2 by 11 paper.  Late papers will receive one full grade lower.
  6. Journal: Dated and numbered entries will be graded on quality and effort.
  7. Quizzes: Approximately 12 quizzes will cover grammar and mechanics; no make-up quizzes.  You may drop one quiz grade at the end of the semester.
  8. Oral Presentation: You will make one oral presentation on an assigned topic the week after spring break.
  9. Midterm: A listening, reading, and writing midterm examination will be given approximately in the middle of the semester.
  10. Final: Grammar, reading, writing, and listening final on the last day of class.
  11. Assignments:     Exercises in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and grammar.
  12. Group Work:    Students will be expected to participate in study groups in and out of class.
  13. Homework:      Plan to study twenty hours per week minimum. Studying includes not just completing homework assignments but also reviewing class work, meeting with a study partner or group, making an appointment with a tutor, creating flashcards and other study guides, reading and re-reading, rewriting class notes.
  14. Communication with me: You may contact me either by leaving a message at 310-434-4752 or sending an email to sucher_kathryn@smc.edu .
  15. Communications with a classmate: If you miss a class, consult the syllabus to find out what work you missed.  Also, call a classmate to find out what we did in class.  A classmate or friend may turn in work for you if you are ill.
  16. Homepage: There is a homepage that is an important part of this course: http://homepage.smc.edu/sucher_kathryn . Plan to use your home computer or an on campus computer to access the online exercises and readings.
  17. Drop Policy: If you must drop the class, you must complete the proper paperwork in order to avoid a failing grade on your record.  Dropping the class is the student’s responsibility. See Current Class Listings online, Dates and Deadlines.

 

 

Content/Methods of Evaluation:

Writing                                                             50%

7 graded paragraphs

Quizzes                                                            20%

12 graded quizzes after units in Northstar,

Intermediate Grammar, and Foundations First

Homework                                                          5%

Weekly homework will be checked off in class (A/F)

Journal                                                                5%

Weekly or bi-weekly entries will be graded on quality and effort.

Oral Presentation/Speaking Assignments              5%

Topic choices will be provided.  Plan a 10 minute presentation.

Midterm Exam                                         5%

Final Exam                                                         10%

Final Grade:

90-100% à A

80-89%   à B

70-79%   à C

60-69%   à D

0-59%     à F

A, B, and C grades qualify a student to take ESL 11B.

D, and F grades require a student to repeat ESL 11A.

 

Methods of Presentation:

Lecture 40%

Small Group     30%

Audio/Visual     20%

Student Presentations 10%

 

Attendance and Tardy Policy:

  1. If you miss 12 hours of class (4 classes) or more, you should drop the class.
  2. Arriving late or leaving early from class will disrupt your learning and the learning of others.  Students who are late or leave early more than 5 times may be dropped from the course.

 

Academic Dishonesty Policy:

Students must follow the SMC Code of Academic Conduct

 

Tutoring:

Free tutoring is available in the ESL Center.  You may schedule a ½ hour appointment in the office (ESL 106).  You may see a tutor a maximum of once a week.

Tutoring may also be available in the Humanities Tutoring Center .  You may be eligible for other tutoring services.  Check online at http://library.smc.edu/tutoring/ .

 

Computer Labs:

1. ESL students can use Drescher Hall 203.  Use times are posted on the lab doors and also via an online schedule.

2. Occasionally, you may be able to use Drescher Hall 204.  Check with Dave Lawrence in DH 203.

3. SMC students with an Association Students membership card can use Cayton Center 201, 203, 207, & 209

4. SMC students can use LV 28 (in the library, past the copy machines) when it is not being used for library orientations.

Support Courses:

ESL 14A                                      Pronunciation and Spelling

ESL 14B                                          Pronunciation training

ESL 15                                             Oral Communication

ESL 16A                                                    Articles

ESL 16B                                                     Verbs

ESL 17                                                      Reading

OIS 1A                                                  Keyboarding

OIS 5A                                        Grammar and Punctuation

OIS 5B                                          Spelling and Vocabulary

OIS 5C                                                  Proofreading

Madison             Introduction to Keyboarding (free!), Basic Skills class (free!)

 

Counseling Services:

Psychological Counseling
Psychological Services is reserving one hour per day for emergency appointments if needed.  Students and staff can call extension 4292 for further information.

 

Health and Psychological Services Health Office                                                                         434-4292

Women’s Center                                                                                                                      PE 100                                                                 434-4339

Disabled Students Center                                                                                  PE 160                                                                            434-4265

International Education Counseling Center                                                                                             434-4218

 

General Counseling

Special Programs

EOP&S                                                                                                                                               PE 152                                                                                                                      434-4268

Adelante, Latino Center                                                                                     CV 20                                                                            434-4452

African American Center                                                                              CV 20-28                        434-4232

Pico Partnership                                                                                                                       CV 20                                                                  434-4926                                                                                       

Student Activities                                                                                                                                        Cayton 202                                                          434-4250

Transfer Center                                                                                                                                          Counseling                                                          434-4210

 

Complaints

Ombuds Office                                                                                                                                           LS 140                                                           434-3986

Student Judicial Affairs                                                                                                                    PE 140                   434-4220

 

Threats

Campus Police                                                                                                                                           1718 Pearl                                                          434-4300

Police Emergency                                                                                                                                       1900 Pico                                                          434-4300

 

 

College Holidays:

This semester there are two holidays during the dates we study. Please note:

Spring Break, Monday April 14-Sunday April 20th (SMC campus is closed)

Memorial Day, Monday, May 26. (SMC campus is closed)