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Course Syllabus

Course: ESL 0975

Division: Humanities
Department: English/Second Language
Title: Level 4 Conversation

Semester Approved: Spring 2021
Five-Year Review Semester: Fall 2025
End Semester: Fall 2026

Catalog Description: This eight-week course is designed to give ESL students at the advanced level practice using English. They will improve their use of the language through small group work, problem solving activities, information gap activities, and roleplaying. The ratio of students to tutor is four-to-one.

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 1; Lecture: 5; Lab: 0

Prerequisites: Placement in ESL 0975 through the department

Justification: The ESL Department at Snow College houses the intensive ESL program. The four-level program provides instruction for students at Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4 (elementary through exit levels). This course is a core course for Level 4. It is a prerequisite for entry into fully-matriculated coursework at Snow College. Placement in ESL 0975 through the ESL department placement exam or successful completion of ESL 0970 with a B (85%) or better.


Student Learning Outcomes:
Students will be able to communicate more fluently in English rather than focusing on error correction. Students will know appropriate vocabulary for various communicative and cultural situations in the academic setting and for current events. Course activities will improve their listening and speaking skills. They will have an increased confidence when talking with native speakers outside the ESL classroom because of exposure to native speakers through class activities. This is an attendance and participation based course. Students will be graded on attendance and participation.


Content:
A typical instruction approach will be the introduction of information via student-tutor oral presentation. Students will then be given an opportunity to practice the new information, that include culturally diverse topics, in small groups with their peers and student-tutors. Cooperative learning techniques are used extensively with students' various cultural and religious identities, backgrounds, and constraints in mind.At a minimum, the following level 4 language areas will be introduced:• Vocabulary: proverbs, slang, current events, etc. • Explanation: giving opinion, persuasion skills, etc. • Discussion: maintaining conversation, asking questions, defending position, etc. • Culture: current events, expletives and gestures, holidays, etc. • Interviews: interviewing famous people in history and current event news makers, etc. • Roleplaying: presentations of news items found in newspapers, on the Internet, etc.

Key Performance Indicators:
The following ranges will be used for the purpose of assessment. In order to pass the course, students must demonstrate a B mastery of course materials. Students who earn a grade below B (85%) will be required to repeat the course.

Attendance 65 to 85%

Participation in activities 15 to 25%


Representative Text and/or Supplies:
The ESL Department has developed a series of more than 150 lessons. Teachers may supplement departmental materials as appropriate.


Pedagogy Statement:
ESL courses consist of students representing diverse cultural, linguistic, and background knowledge which serves as a resource, strength, and benefit. All students are welcomed to share their unique backgrounds and experiences while giving presentations, working in small groups or pairs, or contributing to class discussions with personal insights. Moreover, various learning needs of all students, regardless of their age, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, nationality, race, religion, sexuality, and socioeconomic status are acknowledged and accommodated through uses of various types of teaching methods, learning activities, and modes of evaluation.

Instructional Mediums:
Lecture/Lab

Online

Hybrid

Maximum Class Size: 20
Optimum Class Size: 10