SADDLEBACK COLLEGE
ESL 354 Advanced Vocabulary Skills Professor Cheryl Altman
OFFICE: BGS 325B temporary location PHONE: 582-4954
Email:
Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday: 9:15-10:15, 12:00-1:30; Tuesday: 6:00-7:00pm CC6
Course Syllabus: Fall ‘05
Course Description: Advanced vocabulary course for the ESL student. Stresses the development of college-level vocabulary.
TEXTBOOKS:
Required:
· Baudoin et al. 1993. Reader's Choice, International Edition, University of Michigan Press.
· Bonet, 1992. Vocabulary Improvement: Words Made Easy
Recommended: English - English Dictionary
· Longman. Dictionary of American English.
MATERIALS:
· 3 ring notebook with standard, lined writing paper
· 3 packages of index cards
· one package of scantrons (100)
· black or blue pen, #2 pencils
COURSE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:
1. Students will increase their passive vocabulary by:
¨ reading a variety of materials (magazine articles, newspaper articles, essays, poetry,
short stories)
¨ learning a variety of strategies for vocabulary development
¨ learning to decode words by affixes and roots
¨ learning how to use context clues to guess at the meaning of an unknown word
¨ learning how to use the dictionary efficiently
¨ recognizing the difference between the connotation and denotation of a word
2. Students will increase their overall reading skills by:
¨ using prereading strategies
¨ learning to identify the main idea
¨ learning strategies for understanding complex sentences
¨ learning to make correct inferences from reading material
GRADING:
This course gives you 3 units and a letter grade A, B, C, D, F, (or a Pass/No Credit grade, if you so choose). All students are expected to attend class, be prepared with assignments, study for exams, participate in group activities, and put forth your best effort.
Grading:
Final Exam 10%
Exams - unit tests, quizzes 30%
Homework assignments; textbook checks 25%
Weekly Word Cards 15%
Classwork/participation/attendance 20%
100%
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
· In-class work includes discussions, activities and exercises based on readings and vocabulary. This may be done in groups or individually.
· Attendance is mandatory! Anyone absent more than 3 times needs to see me to explain absences. Lack of an adequate explanation for excessive absences may be grounds for failing the course. Additionally, college policy dictates any student absent 6 cumulative instructional hours or 4 class meetings may be dropped from the class.
· Homework assignments include reading various types of materials as well as doing vocabulary and reading exercises in the textbook, outside of class assignments, and preparing 10 vocabulary index cards per week (of self-selected vocabulary). The vocabulary cards will be collected each Wednesday, starting ______.
· Exams: There will be three unit exams, one approximately every 5 weeks. The final will include everything we have covered during the semester. Quizzes will be given periodically from the words and terms discussed in class. Be sure to keep up with your assignments.
WHERE TO GO FOR HELP WITH LANGUAGE SKILLS AT SADDLEBACK COLLEGE
· Reading Laboratory (CC6): English 332 is a special section offered for ESL students in the Reading Lab.. This individualized class will give you extra help and practice with spelling, reading, and vocabulary. In order to use the Reading Lab, you must register for a section of lab. It can be taken for credit or no credit, or the 0-unit option.
· Language Laboratory (CC4): The lab has audio tapes and videotapes to help you with listening, vocabulary, pronunciation.
· Learning Assistance Program (LAP, Library 114). This program can arrange for a tutor to help you with English and provide conversation groups for you to practice your English.
· Audiovisual Section of the Library (Library 2nd floor). There are films and videotapes for you to watch and listen to. Captioned videotapes are also available.
Good luck in this class! I hope you enjoy learning about the English language through reading, listening, writing and speaking. Don’t worry if you make mistakes. You learn by trying. Be sure to see me if you have any questions.
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Index Card Format: Weekly Vocabulary Assignment – due every Wednesday
Side 1: Front / Side 2: BackYour name date
Word / · Definition of the word
· Source (where did you find the word? LA Times, Register, class textbook)
· Copy the sentence with the word as it is used in the source.
EXAMPLE:
SIDE ONE / SIDE TWOK. Manami 9/20/06
VOCIFEROUS / Reader's Choice
characterized by a loud voice or
noisy outcry; shout
“Young children are vociferous; they usually play loudly.”