Syllabus

ESL 10:  Intensive Multiple Skills Preparation (Section #2046) – Fall, 2006
Week by Week schedule

 

Instructor: Kathy Sucher                Email & VOH: sucher_Kathryn@smc.edu

Phone: (310) 434-4752                          ESL Office Phone: (310) 434-4260

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

Office Hours:        Mon-Wed-Fri    11:00-12:00 (ESL 121)                             

Virtual Office Hours: sucher_kathryn@smc.edu

 

What?                                    ESL 10 is a 12-unit, 15-hour per week multiple-skills preparation course for non-native speakers of English who place at the “C” level on the SMC ESL Placement Exam.  This course focuses on building five language skills: grammar, writing, listening, speaking, and reading.  Additionally, the class contains an online component in which you will use email, the internet, and language software.

 

When?                                   Class begins at 1:00 pm and finishes at 3:45pm, Monday through Friday. There is a 15-minute break in the middle.  Monday through Thursday we meet in LA 243.  On Friday we meet in Drescher Hall 203.  I will be your teacher on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  Your other teacher, Rena Horowitz, will be work with you on Tuesday and Thursday.  This syllabus refers only to Professor Sucher’s section.

 

Materials

 

1.        Interactions I: Reading (dark blue) by Kirn, Hartmann

2.        Interactions I: Listening/Speaking (turquoise) by Tanka, Most, Baker

3.        Fundamentals of English Grammar, Third Edition by Azar 

4.        The Newbury House Dictionary of American English

5.        ESL 10 Handbook  - this is available only in class from your teacher

6.        Two 3.5 inch diskettes (with labels) or USB storage device.

7.        5 Scantrons (half-sheet size)

8.        1 blue book (for final exam)

9.        Notebook or folders to keep your papers in during the semester.

10.     8˝”  X 11” college-ruled notebook paper

11.     pencils and good erasers (a small pencil sharpener is handy too)

12.     One package of 4” X 6” index cards (4 inches by 6 inches)

13.     One (or more) highlighters

14.     Mini-stapler

 

What will I learn?

When you successfully finish this class, you will be able to:

 

  1. SPEAKING AND WRITING - speak and write with confidence and competence in stating your own ideas with clarity, focus, and independence.
  2. WRITING - write a group of 6-10 thematically-related sentences (formatted like a paragraph; 100-150 words) which demonstrate basic control of verb form, word order, and sentence boundaries, connecting ideas, and some control over the simple and continuous verb tenses.
  3. GRAMMAR - employ new knowledge of English grammar to strengthen your writing
  4. VOCABULARY - use a variety of vocabulary strategies and improve your vocabulary
  5. EDITING - understand and respond to your teacher’s common editing symbols that identify patterns of strength and weakness in your writing

 

 

 

 

 

What should I do to be successful in this class?

  1. Attend class every day; come on time.
  2. Bring your materials to class each session.
  3. Do all assigned homework before class. Most of the time, your homework will prepare you for classwork, quizzes, and writing.  Occasionally, I will also collect your homework. 
  4. Plan to study two or three hours every day outside of class.

·         Studying includes:

1.        completing homework assignments

2.        reviewing the work we did in class

3.        meeting with a study partner or group

4.        making an appointment with an ESL tutor

5.        creating flashcards and other study guides

6.        reading or re-reading

7.        rewriting class notes

8.        practicing new vocabulary in speaking and writing

9.        logging on to the class homepage.

  1. If you miss a class:

·         read the syllabus online to find out what work you missed

·         call a classmate to find out what we did in class

·         when you return to class at the next session, you should arrive a few minutes early and explain to your teacher why you were absent  (or leave a phone message or email for your teacher)

·         ask a friend to turn in any homework due on that day or arrange with your teacher to email your assignment.  Late homework will receive a lower grade.

·         you may not make-up a missed test, quiz, or dictation.  Your teacher will drop one quiz grade at the end of the course. 

·         you may make up an in-class writing assignment and an in-class re-write one time.  It is your job to ask your teacher how to do this.

  1. Keep ALL your work including: your handouts, notes, and graded assignments.  These should be organized in your binder or folders.
  2. Electronic Devices: 

·         During class, please set all pagers and cell phones to “silent” or “vibrate”

·         You may use an electronic dictionary during class time EXCEPT during:

1.        tests

2.        quizzes

3.        in-class writing.

  1. Check the homepage regularly.  http://homepage.smc.edu/sucher_kathryn . Plan to use your home computer or an on-campus computer.
  2. 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.
  3. The final exam is required of all students.  The final exam date for this class will be Tuesday, December 12, 2006.

 

Content:

  1. Structured Writing: You will do in-class timed writing, at-home writing, and re-writing.
  2. Journal Writing:

·         Weekly Journal - dated and numbered journal entries will be graded on quantity and quality. Keep track of your journal entries on your Journal Record Sheet. 

·         Email Journal - You will establish and maintain an email correspondence with me.  This should facilitate communication between us, as well as allow you to use your written English while observing mine.

  1. Vocabulary Study: You will maintain a record of your vocabulary study: a minimum of 10 new words per week.
  2. Quizzes: You will generally take a short quiz each week (except in the beginning of the course and during the midterm and final weeks). Some quizzes are multiple-choice and some require you to write, match, or fill-in. The quizzes will cover material in Interactions I, Azar, the Handbook, and important points from class activities.
  3. Participation: While much of your class work will be accomplished by you independently, you are expected to participate in small working groups during class time.  You are expected to speak aloud in your public voice, listen actively, take notes, and follow your teacher’s instructions.
  4. Computer Lab: Each week in the computer lab, you will be responsible for completing any online grammar exercises as well as a weekly writing assignment. You will also have time to meet with me for one-on-one tutoring.
  5. Portfolio: At the end of the semester, you will choose your best piece of writing to re-write again and then present orally to your classmates on the last day. 
  6. The midterm and final exam will cover Grammar, Editing, and Writing.

 

Methods of Evaluation:

Structured Writing - 5                                                      35%

Re-writes -5                                                                       15%                                                                                           

Quizzes -- 10                                                                     10%

Journals – 10                                                                    10%

Midterm (Editing/Vocabulary) – 1                                   5%

Dictations - 5                                                                     5%

Edited Journals & Vocabulary Study                               5%

Email Journal - Correspondence Project                          2%

Portfolio                                                                                3%

Final Exam                                                                            10%

 

NOTE: Students must receive an average grade of 70% or higher in both parts of ESL10 (grammar/writing and reading/listening/speaking) in order to pass to the next level.  Students not receiving at least 70% must repeat all of ESL 10 before taking the next class, ESL 11A.

 

Final Grade:

90-100% ŕ A

80-89%   ŕ B

70-79%   ŕ C

60-69%   ŕ D

0-59%     ŕ F

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

D, and F grades require a student to repeat ESL 10.

 

Methods of Presentation:

Lecture                                   25%

Small Group                           20%

Individual Writing               20%

Audio/Visual                        15%

Online Activity                     20%

 

Attendance and Tardy Policy:

  1. Students who miss 12 hours of class (4 classes) may be dropped from the course. This includes absences from BOTH sections of 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 4 times may be dropped from the course.

 

Academic Dishonesty Policy:

You must follow the SMC Code of Academic Conduct regarding plagiarism and cheating.  Students who cheat will fill out a form which will be placed on record in the Admissions Office.  Students who cheat will fail the assignment and may fail the course.

 

 

Tutoring:

Free tutoring is available in the ESL Center.  You may schedule a ˝ hour appointment in the office (ESL 106), by calling 310-434-4260, or by signing up online at: http://www.smc.edu/esl/tutoringcalendar/  You may see a tutor a maximum of 2 times 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 on Fridays between 11-3pm.  Ask your instructor.

3. SMC students with an Associated Students membership card may also use Cayton Center 201, 203, 207, & 209.

4. SMC students may use computers in the library.

 

Additional Support:

OIS 1A class - Keyboarding

Weekly Conversation - Humanities Center, DH 313. To Be Announced

Weekly Conversation in the ESL Building. To Be Announced

 

Counseling Services:

Please see the SMC website at: http://www.smc.edu/counseling/smc_counseling.htm#Programs

 

Other Important Services

Complaints

Ombudsman 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 Fall 2006 – no classes on these dates

Labor Day                                                               Mon, Sept 4, 2006
Veteran’s Day (Observed)                                   Fri, Nov 10, 2006
Thanksgiving Holiday                                          Thurs & Fri, Nov 23 & 24, 2006

This syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.

Beginning Week 6, assignments that are submitted late will lose one point.