Class time will be devoted to activities that allow you to practice and interact in English. To successfully complete the course, you must prepare the assig

• Attendance & participation: 15%


• In-class exercises: 15%


• Written assignments: 20%


• Oral presentations: 20%


• Final exam: 30%

Participation

Your participation grade will be based on your attendance, homework preparation, and the contribution you make to the learning experience of others. Contribution includes your in-class questions to the instructor, insights and comments regarding class content, answers to the instructor’s questions, and reactions to other students’ contributions.

In-class exercises

Periodically throughout the semester, listening/ writing/speaking exercises will be given in class. You should follow instructions and submit your answers, writings or recordings to Moodle or Zuvio in time in class. These exercises can NOT be made up.

Oral presentations

You will give a group presentation and an individual oral presentation during the semester. For the group presentation, you will analyze a superhero from TV, movie, or comic books based on the discussion of Keynote 4 Unit 2 (pp. 25-36). For the individual oral presentation, you will give a 3-minute presentation on “A fictional character who inspires me” or “My most significant achievement” based on Keynote 4 Presentations 1 & 2 (pp. 49-50 & 87-88). More details will be provided in class. The grading rubrics for group presentation and individual oral presentation are available on the class website.

Written assignments

In addition to the periodic in-class and take-home writing exercises, there will be two major written assignments: a summary on an assigned reading, and an essay on “Ideal wealth distribution in Taiwan” (based on the discussion of Keynote 4 Unit 3, pp. 37-48). The grading rubric for the written assignments is available on the class website.

Examination

All materials, including the readings, handouts, and information provided in class will potentially be included on final exam. The final exam contains a written test and a speaking test. The written tests include vocabulary/grammar questions, a listening/reading section, and short writing tasks. The speaking test requires you to answer one question for two minutes. The instructor will evaluate your ability to respond to the question appropriately and to speak for an extended period of time without hesitation, deviation or repetition. The grading rubric for the speaking test is available on the class website. No make-up exam will be given unless you have received the instructor’s permission in advance.

ned homework prior to class and, while in class actively participate in class discussions and pair/group work. Your final grades are determined by the following course components:  

• Textbook: Keynote 4 by Helen Stephenson, Lewis Lansford, and Paul Dummett, National Geographic Learning (2017).


• Supplementary readings: To be distributed in class.


• Study materials:
  
  
  
  1. Dimensions of national culture [Reading]
  
  
  
  

http://geert-hofstede.com/national-culture.html

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   2. Country comparison [Reading]
   
   
   
   

http://geert-hofstede.com/countries.html

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   3. Applications of national culture [Reading]
   
   
   
   

http://geert-hofstede.com/applications.html

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   4. Hofstede’s six cultural dimensions [6 videos]
      
      
      
      
      • Hofstede on Individualism versus Collectivism
        
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQj1VPNPHlI
      
      
      • Hofstede on Power Distance
        
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqAJclwfyCw
      
      
      • Hofstede on Uncertainty Avoidance
        
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZF6LyGne7Q
      
      
      • Hofstede on Masculine versus Femininity
        
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pyr-XKQG2CM
      
      
      • Hofstede on Long versus Short Term Orientation
        
        https://www.youtubcom/watch?v=H8ygYIGsIQ4
      
      
      • Hofstede on Indulgence versus Restraint
        
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0YgGdzmFtA
      
      
      
      
   
   
   5. Host Chris Rock rapped over Asian-American 'joke' [Video]
      
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9tgjD1B2EA
   
   
   6. Chris Rock criticized after Asian joke at Oscars [Video]
      
      https://youtu.be/0yW1cYWvTMQ
   
   
   7. People Aren’t Happy With Chris Rock’s Asian Joke At The Academy Awards [Reading]
      
      http://www.buzzfeed.com/krishrach/people-are-unhappy-with-all-the-asian-
   
   
   
   

jokes-made-at-the-acad#.kaoqwmK03

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   8. Donald Trump vs Barack Obama: Talking About Women [Video]
      
      https://youtu.be/V9hhOWGxxmw
   
   
   1. The Origins of Stereotypes [Reading]
      
      http://aps.psychologicalscience.org/convention/program_2014/search/viewProgram.cfm?
   
   
   
   

Abstract_ID=29772&AbType=1&AbAuthor=&Subject_ID=&Day_ID=71&keyword

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   10. Stereotypes and Prejudices
       
       http://remember.org/guide/history-root-stereotypes
   
   
   11. College Classroom Culture [5 Videos]
       
       
       
       • Be on Time to Class. Americans Appreciate it
         
         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piQmXLLl5Mk
       
       
       • How are Discussions Carried out in U.S. Classrooms vs. Other Countries?
         
         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4fzd_Vbhv4
       
       
       • Deadlines are not Flexible in the U.S.
         
         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gPjg6iWbkQ
       
       
       • How do you React if you are Uncomfortable in the Classroom?
         
         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruYCtS7f7Qo&index=83&list=PLEWYDE6Ehtrk1c 506BkMgybMuK1COvhsa
       
       
       • Do U.S. Students Like Having International Students in Class
         
         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrOLDK5SVwc&list=PLEWYDE6Ehtrk1c506Bk MgybMuK1COvhsa&index=85
       
       
       
       
   
   
   
   

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   50. Formal and informal classroom culture in the U.S. [2 videos]
       
       
       
       
       • Living in the U.S. – Formal Classroom Culture
         
         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzHEtFDBoks
       
       
       • Living in the U.S. – Informal Classroom Culture
         
         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGBE4zlevRI
       
       
       
       
   
   
   
   

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   1000. A Conversation with Chinese and American Students [Video]
         
         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX_7NuOWYMk
   
   
   14. How Do American, Chinese and French Students Characterize their Teachers’ Communication? [Reading]
       
       http://www.immi.se/intercultural/nr38/brassier.html
   
   
   
   

• Resources:

VoiceTube: https://tw.voicetube.com

BBC Learning English: http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish

TED talks: https://www.ted.com/talks