Link to Final Project: An International Cookbook
Course: ESOL810 English For Speakers of Other Languages I Section: AB
Location: South San Francisco Center, 40 Chestnut Ave. South San Francisco
Time: 8:10-9:50am MWF. + 8:10-9:25am TTH Dates: 1/17-5/19/06
Units : 6.0 (non-transferable and not applicable to AA degree)
Website : www.smccd.net/accounts/oconnelld/ E-mail: oconnelld@smccd.net
Telephone: (510) 378-7301 ext. 19179 to leave message or (510) 647-4202 (LALR Office)
Office Hours: The instructor will be available after class on MWF from 10:00-10:30.
Texts : Interactions I, Integrated Skills Edition
Materials: 2 folders to collect handouts, finished essays and homework
2 Steno notebooks, one for notes and one for vocabulary
Recommended: An English to English dictionary, such as The American Heritage ESL Dictionary
Interactions I: Listening/Speaking (The Green Book)
Cassette tapes for copying Interaction I: Listening Speaking (can be copied in the
Learning Center behind counter)
Course Prerequisites: None, but completion of the ESL placement test is recommended.
Course Description: For beginning nonnative speakers of English who need to develop fluency in the basic structures of English.
Course Objectives: Emphasis is on reading, basic grammatical structure acquisition, oral interaction, and writing . After successfully completing the course, the student will be able to tell a story in one or two paragraphs, using simple structure and simple verb tenses. Although there may be errors, the writing is comprehensible to an average native-speaker and holds her interest.
• Proofread and correct basic grammar errors.
• Show understanding of basic grammar by accurately completing grammar tasks from the Interactions I , A Communicative Grammar textbook.
• Read a short book and summarize it.
• Read articles from the Interactions I , A Reading Skills Book textbook and show understanding through accurate completion of reading comprehension assignments.
• Show listening competency by accurately completing listening assignments from the Interactions I: Listening/Speaking textbook.
• Speak to the instructor and in front of the class and present ideas and results of class work.
Grades: Grading will be A = 89.5 - 100%, B= 79.5 - 89%, C= 69.5 - 79%, or D (not passing) = 59.5 - 69%, and F = under 59.5%. Grades will be based 80% on class work, and 20% on the final exam.
Last day to withdraw without a grade- April 21 st .
Students can see their grade throughout the semester, updated weekly in Gradekeeper, on the class webpage at the website listed above.
For the final exam, students will need to 1) pass a grammar exam by demonstrating mastery of course content, which will be limited to grammar structures taught in class, and 2) show basic grammar, sentence, and paragraph structures on an in-class writing exam. The final exams will be given early, during the last week of regular classes. This semester the writing exam will be given on Wednesday, May 17 th , and the grammar exam will be given on Thursday, May 18 th .
Final grades will be available during finals week, when we meet one final time, on Friday, May 26 th , at 8:10.
Extra-credit will not be assigned but can be arranged in special cases. This arrangement must be before the final week of classes.
Class Work -Students are expected to take all tests and hand in all the homework for the class. Homework and in-class assignments will require students to use listening, reading, writing, speaking, and grammar skills. Homework and in-class work will be assigned everyday, so make time in your schedule everyday outside of class. Grading of class work will follow the required percentages given above.
Because class work is 80% of your grade, keeping up with assignments is the key to getting a good grade. Contacting the teacher about missing class work or homework is the students' responsibility. Please contact me in class or through e-mail. Missing class work without notifying the teacher will result in a 0 for the assignment. All homework must be handed in on the due date or it will be marked down 10% for each day late.
Written assignments missed because of absences can be made up but there is no make-up for missed group discussions and in-class work.
Also, be prepared to set aside an hour each week using Skyline's many resources. There is a required hour by arrangement in The Learning Center (TLC, Building 5, first floor), which has resources for students to improve their skills. These resources include special lectures and workshops, tutors, books, websites like academic.com, and special software programs such as The Bedford Handbook and Alania. Investigating these resources will satisfy the lab requirement of one hour per week.
Attendance : Since class activities and discussions are an important part of the course, attendance and punctuality (being on time) will be the key to your understanding of the material and success in the course. Missing more than 10% of daily classes, or about 9 days, will have a negative effect on final grade, and may result in being dropped from the class. Also, three late arrivals or early departures equal one absence. Please come every morning, Mondays through Fridays, at 8:10am and don't be late!
If you choose to drop the class, you must drop officially through Admissions before April 21 st to avoid receiving a Fail (an F) on your academic record. It is your responsibility to drop from the class, either using WebSMART (online), SMART (by phone), or by going to the Student Services Office.
Despite all our best efforts, the demands of life, work and family sometimes prevent us from having perfect attendance. If you become aware that an illness or ongoing conflict will cause you to miss more than two consecutive class sessions , let the instructor know as soon as possible. We can often work around conflicts with advance notice, but not if you simply "disappear."
Students with Special Needs In coordination with the DSPS office, reasonable accommodation will be provided for eligible students with disabilities. If you do not yet have an accommodation letter, please contact the DSPS office at (650) 738-4280.
There are extra resources available at Skyline College in the Learning Center, on the main floor of building 5, including tutoring, listening tapes-- Interactions I , interactive CDs-- Grammar in Focus , and extra classes-- ENGL 650 (for TRIO participants only). Extra grammar work will also be available in another course, ESOL 875 English Grammar for Speakers of Other Languages , offered at the SSF Center on TTH from 9:35-10:50.
A complete course schedule of assignments will be made available in the first week of class.