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:

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


2. Oral presentations and written assignments: 50%


3. Midterm and final exams: 25%


4. MOOCs quizzes: 10%

Participation (15%)

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.

Oral presentations/projects (30%)

1. Group presentation: You will give a group presentation with three classmates in the semester. Research any topic that’s related to the contents in the textbook or any current issues that are of your interest. The presentation should be approximately 15 minutes, followed by a 10-minute discussion. Each group should meet with the instructor two weeks prior to their presentation to discuss their topic and present their outline. Following the presentation, each member in the group will submit a written report regarding their performance. More details will be provided in class. (10%)


2. Role-play: You will be given a scenario and 3 minutes to prepare the conversation with your partner while the previous group is conducting their conversation. It should at least last for 3 minutes. (10%)


3. Impromptu speech (10%) requires you to deliver an individual 3-minute speech. The instructor will evaluate your stage performance. 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.

Written assignments (20%)

In addition to the periodic in-class and take-home writing exercises, there will be three written assignments:

1. Email writing/Study of Purpose: You will be writing your study of purpose for your graduate school application. Samples will be provided in class. (10%)


2. Critical thinking: You will be given a scenario that requires your response. Read the scenario in class and discuss with your classmates for deeper understanding and clarification. You will then respond to the prompts regarding the 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. (5%)


3. Self-reflection on a book/movie: Choose a book or a movie or a TV series that you think is worth reading/watching. Express your reasons in a 3-paragraph essay. (5%)

Examinations (25%)

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 (10%) is a written test, and the final exam (15%) contains a written test and a speaking test. The written tests include vocabulary/grammar questions, a listening/reading section, and short writing tasks.

MOOCs quizzes (10%)

There will be four quizzes from MOOC Unit 4-6. By May 31, all four quizzes have to be done, and the best scores for each quiz will be counted toward this mark.

Textbook: Perspectives 4 by Amanda Jeffries, Lewis Lansford, & Daniel Barber (2017). ISBN: 978-1-337-27715-0

• Study materials are as follows but not limited to the following. Some more will be distributed in class:
  
  
  
  1. 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
     
     
     
     
  
  
  2. 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
     
     
     
     
  
  
  3. A Conversation with Chinese and American Students [Video]
     
     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX_7NuOWYMk
  
  
  4. 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

Vocabulary: https://www.vocabulary.com/

English Grammar Online: https://www.ego4u.com/

Word Roots: https://www.learnthat.org/pages/view/roots.html