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 and participation 20%
- Midterm Exam (including writing task 1) 20%
- Presentation 15%
- Final Exam (including writing task 2) 20%
- Interview 10%
- Written Assignments 15%
Attendance and participation
Students are expected to arrive at the class on time. Roll calls are taken every week and active class participation is highly valued. Throughout the semester, both speaking and writing activities will be assigned periodically in class. Students' attendance, coupled with their performance in group discussions and activities, collectively contributes to the attendance and participation scores.
Student presentation
Students are expected to give an oral presentation during the semester. For this presentation, each student will present the main idea and share their opinions on one or more news articles chosen from CNN, BBC, the Washington Post, the New York Times, TIME, or Forbes. The presentation should last approximately 5 minutes per student. Evaluation will focus on students' abilities to present ideas logically, clearly, and fluently. More detailed instructions will be provided in class.
Examinations
All materials, including readings, handouts, and PowerPoint slides used in class, may potentially be included in midterm and final exams. Both exams contain vocabulary and grammar questions, a listening/reading section, and a writing task. No make-up exams will be given unless students have obtained the instructor’s permission in advance.
Interview
Students are required to answer three questions, with approximately one minute allotted for each question. The instructor will evaluate students' ability to respond appropriately to the questions and to speak for an extended period without hesitation, deviation, or repetition. A list of interview questions will be provided to students in advance.
Written assignments
There will be two written assignments based on the learning materials for the course: an opinion essay and a statement of purpose. Students are required to complete two additional writing tasks during the midterm and final exam week to express their opinions on reading/listening content and on local/global issues. Students are expected to submit their assignments before the given deadlines. Late submissions will result in 5-30 point deductions, depending on the extent of the delay.
NOTE: Students are prohibited from utilizing AI to generate assignments; however, they are permitted to employ AI for proofreading purposes and correcting grammatical errors. Detailed instructions regarding the permissible use of AI will be provided during class.
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