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 assigned 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:

• Attendance: 10%


• Participation(including attendance, effort on speaking in class, and homework): 15%


• Tasks and assignments (including oral presentations and written assignments): 38%


• Midterm and final exams: 30%


• Quizzes: 7%

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/quizzes

Periodically throughout the semester, writing/listening exercises and quizzes will be given in class. These exercises and quizzes can NOT be made up.

Oral presentations

You will deliver an individual speech and a group presentation during the semester. For the individual speech, you will give a 3-minute speech on an assigned topic. For the group presentation, you and three other students will report on a selected topic. The presentation should be approximately 15 minutes, followed by a 5-minute discussion. More details will be provided in class.

Written assignments

In addition to the periodic in-class and take-home writing exercises, there will be three written assignments based on the online learning materials for the course. In each assignment, you will respond to the writing prompts regarding a cross-cultural issue. Your papers should show you have completed and thought seriously and critically about the readings and videos provided for you. You are also encouraged to research the topic and cite your sources. The grading rubric for the written assignments is available on the class website.

Examinations

All materials, including the readings, handouts, and information provided in class will potentially be included on mid-term and final exams. The mid-term exam is a written test, and 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 two or more questions, each question for two minutes. The instructor will evaluate your ability to respond to the questions 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 exams will be given unless you have received the instructor’s permission in advance. 

1. Blass, L. &Williams, J. (2016). 21st Century Reading: Creative Thinking and Reading with TED Talks. National Geographic Learning.


2. Supplementary materials