ENSL B22 Course Syllabus
Pronunciation/Comprehension
Course Number 32697 TR 4:10 – 5:35 LA 109 3 Units
1/17 to 5/13
Instructor: John Hart Office: FA 63
Phone: 395-4264 E-Mail:
Office Hours: MW 10-12:30 Website: www2.bakersfieldcollege.edu/jhart
ESL Website: www2.bakersfieldcollege.edu/esl
Recommended: ENSL B75, ENSL B71, B21
Course Description: ENSL B22 is a pronunciation course designed to improve the speech intelligibility and fluency of intermediate to advanced learners of North American English. Using the principles of articulatory phonetics, this semester-long class focuses on the stress patterns, rhythm, and intonation of spoken English. Extensive practice exercises as well as in-class individual and group oral presentations provide students of all language groups the opportunity to modify those nonnative speech patterns that interfere with effective and effortless oral communication in English.
Student Learning Outcomes
1. Students will develop listening skills including listening for main ideas, listening for details, and making predictions.
2. Students will develop pronunciation skills by practicing suprasegmental features of English including
· Thought Groups
· Intonation
· Syllable and Sentence Stress
· Rhythm
· Linking
3. Students will develop speaking skills by participating in small and large group discussions and presenting prepared oral presentations in front of the class.
4. Student will develop lecture note-taking skills
Required Text: Talk It Over! Listening, Speaking, and Pronunciation. Joann Rishel Kozyrev
Course Requirements:
1. Weekly attendance and punctuality are expected by this instructor. Consult with the instructor if there are special concerns or problems regarding either attendance or punctuality.
2. Students will be graded on homework, oral presentations, quizzes, participation, and attendance. All students completing the semester will receive a letter grade.
Assignments: Assignments will be given during each class session and are due on the dates set by the instructor. Late assignments will not be accepted except at the instructor’s discretion, and credit may be reduced. Students missing classes are responsible for assignments and information. Students are expected to be in class for all tests, quizzes, examinations, and assigned oral presentations. Exceptions must be arranged in advance of the scheduled due dates.
General: Please be polite and considerate by not bringing cell phones, pagers, headphones, and any other unnecessary noisemaker to class. If you must bring a pager and/or cell phone to class, please leave the class to use it. Also, people that are not registered at the school (friends and children) may not attend class due to school liability issues.
Students with Disabilities: Bakersfield College will make reasonable accommodations and/or academic adjustments to ensure that students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in the college's courses, programs and activities, including extracurricular activities. Students with disabilities who are requesting academic accommodations or auxiliary aids should contact Supportive Services in FACE 16, or by calling (661) 395-4334. Participation by students with disabilities in Supportive Services is voluntary. Any student choosing not to participate in the program may elect an alternate path for support services through the office of the Dean of Learning Support Services.
Support Services Website http://www2.bakersfieldcollege.edu/supportiveservices/
Instructor Goals: I am committed to the success of every student enrolled in ENSL B22. If any questions, concerns, or problems arise concerning the course, please see me.
Grading Criteria: This course may be taken for a letter grade or Credit/Non-Credit. You must complete the necessary form obtained in the Admissions Office, have it signed by the instructor and returned to Admissions..
Grading Categories # of assignments Grade Weight
1. Homework to be determined 40%
2. Oral Presentations 3-4 40%
3. Tests 2-3 20%
Grading Scale:
A 100-90% D 69-60%
B 89-80% F below 60%
C 79-70%
Important Dates:
January 28 (Friday) Last day for refunds for semester length classes
February 22 (Tuesday) Last day to drop without a “W” on transcript
April 1 (Friday) Last day to drop with a “W” on transcript
May 12 (Thursday) Final Day – Meet for grades
Note: If you decide to drop the class, you are responsible for dropping by the specified dates. Don’t expect me to do it for
you. Failure to drop the class by the specified dates will result in an F.
Really Important Dates! The college is closed on the following dates:
January 17 (Monday) Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
February 18 (Friday) Lincoln’s Day Holiday
February 21 (Monday) Washington’s Day Holiday
April 18-23 (Monday – Friday) Spring Break (Easter Holiday)
No Class These Days:
May 10 (Tuesday) Finals Schedule
Homework Assignments and Presentation Topics
Chapter / Page / Skill / Further instructions1 / 13 / Thought Groups / Answer each question in complete sentences. Failure to answer in complete sentence will result in reduced credit.
16 / Living History Project / Be prepared to present your information to the class.
2 / 30 / Question and Answer Intonation / Write down at least 5 questions from the program that you watch. Mark the intonation pattern of each question. Be prepared to read 1 or 2 or your questions to the class.
34 / Game Shows on the Internet / Choose a favorite game show and find out what you have to do to get on to the show. Be prepared to describe the show and application process to the class.
3 / Formal Presentation #1 / Prepare a short 3-5 minute presentation on someone who has been active in helping the environment, the community, the family, or some other worthy cause. Describe
· Who the individual is
· His or her background
· Why the individual became involved
· What problem he or she has helped to fix
· How the person has helped fix the problem
· What else can be done to fix the problem
50 / Listening to a Television or Radio Documentary / Be prepared to describe the program that you watched to the class.
Test 1 – Note taking, listening, and speaking
4 / 67 / Rhythm and Sentence Stress – Practice Giving Definitions / Your definition should contain an example as well as the definition itself. Be prepared to present to the class.
5 / 82 / Focal Stress / Come up with 3 predictions and give a reason why you believe each prediction will come true. Be prepared to present your information to the class.
6 / 101 / Formal Presentation #2 / Prepare a 3-5 minute presentation about how to do something. Use page 101 to help you prepare. You will be presenting this to the entire class, but, keep in mind that you will be sitting in your desk as you present. The class will be sitting in a circle for each presentation.
7 / 118 / Important Endings / Use the bottom of page 118 – Communicative Practice – to help you prepare. Be prepared to share your story in front of the class without notes.
Test 2 – Note taking, listening, and speaking
8 / 140-141 / Role-Play / Prepare a short role play based on the situations given on pages 140-141. With your group, do any research that is necessary in order to understand the situations better. Be prepared to present your role play to the class.
Final / 83-84 / Formal Presentation #3 Panel debate / The class will be divided into 3 groups of 10. Each group will choose a topic to debate. Go to one of these websites to choose a topic.
http://www.idebate.org/debatabase/topic_index.php
http://inst.sfcc.edu/~hfl/SPEECH/debate.htm
After your group has chosen a topic, each group will be divided in half. One side (5 people) will be pro (for), and the other side (5 people) will be con (against). The format of the debate will follow this outline:
1. Opening Statement (Pro)
2. Opening Statement (Con)
3. Debate:
· First Point (Pro)… Refute First Point (Con)
· First Point (Con)... Refute First Point (Pro)
· Second Point (Pro)… Refute Second Point (Con)
· Second Point (Con)… Refute Second Point (Pro)
· Continue until all points are made
4. Closing Summary (Pro)
5. Closing Summary (Con)
The entire debate should last at least 20 minutes.
Each debate will be judged and scored by the instructor and class members. A winner of each debate and an overall winner will be determined.