Languages Department Cégep du Vieux Montréal. Course Syllabus. English Level 1 ( ) Formation générale commune Département de langues

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1 Languages Department Cégep du Vieux Montréal Course Syllabus English Level 1 ( ) Weighting Formation générale commune Département de langues Winter 2007 Course Objective : 0015 To understand and express simple messages in English Prerequisite: on TCALS Placement Test Professor: Nancy Sarchuk Office: 8.08 Tel: # nsarchuk@cvm.qc.ca Office hours: Monday 9h30 11h30 or by appointment

2 1 Course description English Level 1 (Formation générale commune) addresses beginner/low-intermediate level students of English as a second language and is the first of two required English courses. As such, it proposes an introduction to basic-level skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking using themes of general interest. This course is the prerequisite for the second English course (Formation propre aux programmes). 2 General course objective To understand and express simple messages in English. 3 Target competencies and specific course objectives 3.1 Listening: to understand a simple oral message of approximately 3 minutes to recognize the main structure of the message to identify the main ideas and principal details of a three-minute message, spoken at a normal pace and using standard vocabulary to develop listening comprehension skills to acquire level-specific vocabulary 3.2 Reading: to understand a general interest text of approximately 500 words to identify the main idea and supporting arguments of a general interest text to examine the relationship between main idea and supporting arguments in a text of approximately 500 words to acquire level-specific vocabulary 3.3 Speaking: to communicate intelligibly for approximately 2 minutes to give a 2-minute presentation following specific guidelines to use appropriate vocabulary to use basic grammatical structures accurately to use appropriate language register 3.4 Writing: to compose a text of approximately 200 words to write a 200-word text on a familiar subject, using complete sentences and following essay structure guidelines to use accurate grammar and spelling to use level-appropriate vocabulary This course is thematically based, drawing from topics of general interest and current affairs. The subject matter is presented to students through written text, as well as audio-visual material, both of which use the vocabulary and grammatical structures of everyday speech. Students are asked to explore and share their opinions on these topics in spoken and written form. Grammar points studied include pronouns, verb tenses (simple present, present continuous/progressive, simple past, and future) and modal auxiliaries. The weighting of this course is This means that there are two hours of class time, one hour of lab work (listening or writing), as well as three hours of work to be done outside of class. This homework is essential for the successful progress of students, and is comprised of assignments in any of the four skills, as well as activities such as visits to the monitor and laboratory work. 4 Methodology This course is comprised of a variety of activities which introduce students to the basics of the English language. As well as teacher-centered presentations (grammar and theory) and individual work in the lab and classroom, students participate in pair and group activities on a regular basis. Materials include a textbook and grammar book purchased by the student as well as audio and video cassettes, acetates, and handouts which are provided by the teacher. 2

3 5 Weekly calendar This calendar serves as a general guideline of weekly themes and includes specific information regarding summative activities (i.e. work for marks). I have not included details concerning formative activities (i.e. work that is not for marks) and homework, but expect some every week. If I need to make changes to this calendar to better meet the needs and interests of the class, I will inform you in class. If you are absent, be sure to check the homework board posted outside Office 8.31 so you do not miss any important work or evaluation. WEEK DATE CONTENT AND ACTIVITIES 1 Jan 30, 31, Feb 1 Introduction to course Level-check Writing (1%) 2 Feb 6, 7, 8 Unit 1: Identity Theft Introduction to Apostrophe and Apostrophe Grammar 3 Feb 13, 14, 15 Unit 1: Identity Theft Listening (2.5%) Reading homework (1%) Writing corrections (1.5%) 4 Feb 20, 21, 22 Unit 2: Fast Food Nation Reading homework corrections (1.5%) Grammar quiz # 1 (2.5%) 5 Feb 27, 28, Mar 1 Unit 2: Fast Food Nation Speaking: monitor activity #1 due (2%) 6 Mar 6, 7, 8 Unit 2: Fast Food Nation Writing (5%) Listening (5%) [March = Spring Break = no classes] 7 Mar 20, 21, 22 Unit 3: Changing Relations Reading (5%) Speaking (3.5%) 8 Mar 27, 28, 29 Unit 3: Changing Relations Grammar quiz #2 (2.5%) 9 Apr 3, 4, 5 Unit 3: Changing Relations 10 Apr 10, 11, 12 Unit 4: Ultimate X Speaking: monitor activity #2 due (2%) Listening (5%) Writing (5%) 11 Apr 17, 18, 19 Unit 4: Ultimate X Reading (5%) 12 Apr 24, 25, 26 Unit 6: Off the Beaten Track Speaking (5%) 3

4 13 May 1, 2, 3 Unit 6: Off the Beaten Track Grammar quiz #3 (5%) Preparation for final evaluations 14 May 8, 9, 10 Final Listening Evaluation (10%) Final Reading Evaluation (10%) Information about final speaking exam [May 16 = Épreuve uniforme de français = no other classes that day] 15 May 15, 17, 23 Final Writing Evaluation (10%) Final Speaking Evaluation (10%) 6 Evaluation Strategies 6.1 Formative evaluation During this course, students will be able to evaluate their progress and assess their understanding of the concepts covered in class through a variety of in-class activities, correction of homework, summative activities and quizzes, and teacher feedback on various assignments. Formative activities prepare students for the final evaluations. As a result, to succeed in this course, your attendance in class is essential. 6.2 Summative evaluation Summative evaluation includes all activities completed for marks. A minimum of 25% of the final grade will have been accumulated by week 7 of this course (see 5 Weekly calendar). Course work 60% Reading 1) 2.5% 2) 5% 3) 5% 12.5% Writing 1) 2.5% 2) 5% 3) 5% 12.5% Listening 1) 2.5% 2) 5% 3) 5% 12.5% Speaking 1) 2% 2) 2% 3) 3.5% 4) 5% 12.5% Grammar 1) 2.5% 2) 2.5% 3) 5% 10% Final evaluation 40% Reading 10% Writing 10% Listening 10% Speaking 10% 6.3 Description and criteria of the final evaluation The final evaluation will determine if students have attained the target competencies of the course (see section 3 of this course outline). It consists of four components: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. This evaluation will take place during the last two classes of the semester and counts for 40% of the final grade. For the speaking and writing components of the final evaluation, the marking criteria are as follows: Language use (grammar and vocabulary) 50% Content and organization 35% Speaking skills (pronunciation/fluency) 15% OR Writing skills (mechanics: spelling, etc.) 15% 6.4 The passing grade for this course is 60%. There is a double threshold (double seuil) in this course. Therefore, in order to pass the course, students must pass the final evaluation with a grade of 60% (=24/40) AND pass the entire course with a grade of 60%. A student who fails this double requirement will receive a maximum grade of 55%. Any final grade falling between 55% and 59% will be entered as 55%. 4

5 7 What is expected of the student 7.1 Students must attend and participate actively in ALL classes. Learning a language requires that the student be exposed to the target language. If you are absent frequently, you increase your chances of failing this course. 7.2 Speaking practice is essential to succeed in this course. Students are expected to speak English in class at all times. 7.3 Students must complete all homework and be prepared for every class. If you are absent, it is YOUR responsibility to find out what the homework is. Get the phone number of a classmate and call him or her, or come to my office (8.31) to check the homework that is posted there. I post it weekly. Do not phone me to ask me what the homework is. I will not reply to those phone messages. If, however, you have doubts or questions about how to do the homework, then either come see me or contact me by phone or . I will, of course, respond to those questions. 7.4 Late homework will receive a penalty of 10% per day late. I will accept late homework no later than one day before your next class. Bring it to my office (8.31). I will not accept homework the next class (i.e. 1 week late). Also, read carefully points 10.5, 6, 7, and 8 (Département de langues: politiques générales) of this syllabus. They describe the department policy concerning homework, summative activities, etc. 8 Required materials Apostrophe (by Nancy Sarchuk) and Apostrophe Grammar (by Deborah Payne) Buy the Combo at the CVM bookstore (magasin scolaire) on the 3 rd floor. DO NOT BUY USED COPIES OF THESE BOOKS. A bilingual dictionary. 9 Mediagraphy Sarchuk, N. (2003). Apostrophe: Integrated Skills in English. (textbook, videotape, CD / audiocassette) Anjou: Les Éditions CEC. Payne, D. (2003). Apostrophe Grammar. Anjou: Les Éditions CEC. 10 Département de langues : politiques générales 10.1 Le bon classement des étudiants est une condition de réussite dans les cours de langues. Par conséquent, le département de langues peut exclure du cours tout étudiant mal classé Les étudiants dûment inscrits en date de la première séance du cours mais qui ne se présentent qu après la troisième séance de la session ne seront pas admis au cours. Ils doivent, en outre, s adresser à l Encadrement scolaire pour faire annuler leur inscription De façon générale, les activités des cours de langue portent, de concert ou de façon autonome, sur quatre compétences : la rédaction, la lecture, la compréhension orale et l expression orale. Dans la mesure où même le locuteur natif a des forces et des faiblesses relatives, l échec par rapport à une seule compétence langagière n aboutit pas forcément à un échec au cours. Par contre, l échec par rapport à deux compétences, même lorsque la note finale globale est de 60 pour cent ou plus, constitue un échec au cours Les travaux d équipe constituent une activité d apprentissage et d évaluation de premier plan des cours de langue. Ils exigent, tant pendant les cours qu en dehors des cours, une collaboration active de la part des étudiants Les travaux remis en retard peuvent faire l objet de pénalités, jusqu à concurrence de 10% par jour de retard, et ce par jour ouvrable. En outre, dans un souci d équité, une fois que le corrigé d un travail, d un contrôle ou d un examen est fait en classe, ou qu un travail corrigé est tout simplement remis aux étudiants, le travail n est plus recevable En cas d absence, il revient à l étudiant de faire les démarches nécessaires pour se renseigner sur le déroulement du cours et les travaux à faire pour les cours suivants. Sauf justification médicale ou autre cas de force majeure dûment consigné, la reprise des travaux et examens se fait à l entière discrétion de l enseignant. 5

6 10.7 Attendu que certaines activités pondérées, surtout des exercices oraux réalisés en classe ou au laboratoire, sont difficiles sinon impossibles à réaliser en dehors du contexte premier, le professeur n est pas tenu de permettre une reprise de l activité à un étudiant qui a été absent ou qui n a pas réalisé l activité malgré sa présence En vue d assurer une formation cohérente, le Département de langues ne permet pas aux étudiants de rattraper (ni par la remise tardive de travaux, ni par des activités de rechange) un nombre trop important de travaux ou d autres activités pondérées. L étudiant pourvu d une raison fortement valable pour expliquer ses absences et le non-respect des exigences de cours et des échéances a le droit de demander un incomplet permanent aux instances collégiales Le professeur a le devoir de sanctionner tout manquement aux principes de probité intellectuelle (plagiat, fraude, recours à des documents proscrits, etc.) de la part d un étudiant. Ces sanctions, à appliquer en fonction de la gravité du manquement, consistent soit à donner la note 0 pour le travail ou examen en question, soit à donner la note d échec au cours L étudiant doit conserver tout travail, en vue d une éventuelle demande de révision de note, jusqu à l expiration des délais pertinents. 6