501.4 English as a Second Language IV (NorthStar:
Intermediate) 120 classes
Prerequisite(s): ESL III or
Intermediate placement test score
Textbook: NorthStar: Listening and Speaking Intermediate, 2nd
ed., 2004 (or comparable text); F. J. Ferrraro et al, Intermediate
English 4: A Handbook of twenty
basic lessons, Spanish-American Institute, 2002 (or comparable text).
Course Description: A fourth
level ESL course that introduces intermediate students to a higher level of
difficulty and fluency than ESL III requiring compound tenses, more extensive
vocabulary, and longer compound and complex sentences.
Objectives: By
the end of the course, students should be able to listen, speak, read, and
write using compound tenses including modals, longer compound and complex
sentences, more extensive vocabulary than expected of ESL III students, and
other language skills required by response to a range of “Wh-“ questions.
Instructional
Methods: An integrated cumulative skills development
methodology increases language retention and fluency by stimulating students to
make meaning from a new language through active learning activities. Recorded listening passages build on
vocabulary and ideas from background material and exercises. Students work individually, in pairs, and in
small groups on guided, linked activities built around each unit's theme. Instruction will be supplemented with ESL
audio and video material keyed to textbook units
Grading: The
final grade is based on the following:
|
Class Participation |
25% |
|
Assignments |
50% |
|
Exams |
25% |
|
Total |
100% |
The grading scale is: A=90-100%, B+=85-89%, B=80-84%, C+=75-79%, C=70-74%, D=65-69%, F=60-64%
|
Week |
Topics |
Assignments and Tests |
|
1-3 |
NorthStar Unit 1
Theme: Advertising Communication Focus: making predictions, offering advice with
imperatives, inferring word meaning, supporting answers with lecture
information, comparing and contrasting, etc. Grammar Focus: imperatives Unit 1 Video Sequence. |
NorthStar unit exercises. Handbook reading and
exercises for unit grammar Student video activity
sheet. |
|
4-5 |
NorthStar Unit 2
Theme: Extreme Sports Communication Focus: discussing sports, elaborating
extemporaneously, questioning preferences, defending opinions, inferring
information, correlating examples, ranking activities, etc. Grammar Focus: modals of preference Unit 2 Video Sequence |
NorthStar unit exercises. Handbook reading and
exercises for unit grammar Student video activity
sheet |
|
6-7 |
NorthStar Unit 3
Theme: Fraud Communication Focus: sharing experiences, making predictions,
recounting experiences, defending opinions, facilitating discussion, making
comarisons, inferring meaning, hypothesizing outcomes, etc. Grammar Focus: equatives and comparatives Unit 3 Video Sequence |
NorthStar unit exercises. Handbook reading and
exercises for grammar focus of NorthStar
text. Student video activity
sheet. |
|
8 |
Review, Units 1-3 Drafting, editing, and
re-writing short essay. |
Write short essay based on
topic assigned by teacher (part of bi-monthly grade) Bi-monthly Exam |
|
9-10 |
NorthStar Unit 4
Theme: Storytelling Communication Focus: making predictions; storytelling with
adjectives, adverbs, and details; composing descriptive sentences; making
statements of purpose, recording a story summary, analyzing storytelling
techniques, analyzing and describing characters, matching actions to
consequences, etc. Grammar Focus: infinitives of purpose Unit 4 Video Sequence |
NorthStar unit exercises. Handbook reading and
exercises for unit grammar Student video activity
sheet. |
|
11-12 |
NorthStar Unit 5
Theme: Language Communication Focus: making
predictions, comparing past and present abilities with modals, presenting a
plan, etc. Grammar Focus: modals of ability and possibility Unit 5 Video Sequence |
NorthStar unit exercises. Handbook reading and
exercises for unit grammar Student video activity
sheet. |
|
13-14 |
NorthStar Unit 6 Theme:
Tourism (first half of unit) Communication Focus: making predictions, defending opinions,
using transition, summarizing an interview, reevaluating advantages and
disadvantages, interpreting word usage, analyzing and proposing solutions Grammar Focus: simple past tense Unit 6 Video Sequence |
NorthStar unit exercises. Handbook reading and
exercises for unit grammar Student video activity
sheet. |
|
15 |
NorthStar Unit 7
Theme: Humor Communication Focus: making predictions, sharing opinions,
giving examples, discussing preferences, asking for repetition or clarification,
etc. Grammar Focus: “Wh-“
questions |
NorthStar unit exercises. Handbook reading and
exercises for unit grammar |
|
16 |
Review, Units 4-7 (includes
first half of unit 7) Drafting, editing, and
re-writing short essay. |
Write short essay based on
topic assigned by teacher (part of
bi-monthly grade) Bi-monthly Exam |
|
17 |
NorthStar Unit 7 (second
half of unit continued) Unit 7 Video Sequence |
NorthStar unit exercises. Handbook reading and
exercises for unit grammar Student video activity
sheet. |
|
18-19 |
NorthStar Unit 8
Theme: Fashion Communication Focus: making predictions, expressing opinions,
giving impromptu definitions, manipulating intonations for meaning, comparing
and contrasting, analyzing word ,interpreting significance Grammar Focus: “used to” Unit 8 Video Sequence |
NorthStar unit exercises Handbook reading and
exercises for unit grammar Student video activity
sheet |
|
20-21 |
NorthStar Unit 9
Theme: Punishment Communication Focus: sharing background information, making
predictions and expressing opinions, supporting opinion, asking and answering
questions, summarizing observations, recognizing personal assumptions,
evaluating argument’s persuasiveness, comparing and contrasting past and
present practices Grammar Focus: present perfect tense Unit 9 Video Sequence |
NorthStar unit exercises. Handbook reading and
exercises for unit grammar Student video activity
sheet. |
|
22-23 |
NorthStar Unit 10
Theme: Marriage Communication Focus: making predictions and expressing
opinions, using word stress for meaning, interrupting politely, interpreting
quotations, supporting opinions with information, developing arguments for or
against an issue, evaluating the quality of arguments Grammar Focus: articles Unit 10 Video Sequence |
NorthStar unit exercises. Handbook reading and
exercises for unit grammar Student video activity
sheet. |
|
24 |
Review, Units 8-10. Drafting, editing, and
re-writing short essay. |
Write short essay based on
topic assigned by teacher (part of bi-monthly grade) Bi-monthly Exam |