WELCOME TO ESL Level 3

 Prerequisite: ESL Level 2 or through ESL placement.
 
Professors:    
  Patricia Ishill                                        Office: 405E
  Phone: (908)659-5140                       Email: Ishill@ucc.edu 
Website: http://faculty.ucc.edu/english-ishill

Course Description
ESL Level 3 is a full-semester low-intermediate academic sequence designed for students whose native language is not English.  The course meets four days a week, 12 hours a week for 15 weeks including the final exams.  The purpose of this level is to teach low intermediate listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in a cultural context such as the environment, crime, health, and American geography.  Emphasis is placed on extended reading and writing longer passages, comprehending level-appropriate listening selections and manipulating the language.  Students are expected to do simple library research, give an oral presentation, and/or write a report.
Students who are successful in passing this level move on to Level 4.  Students who need more time at this level must repeat the entire course. In some cases a student may be able to skip to Level 5.

Student Objectives and Learning Outcomes:
To demonstrate cultural awareness of  health issues, jobs, current events, U.S. geography, and issues related to novels and other texts being used in class
To understand short conversations and narratives about familiar contexts spoken at native speed and restate main ideas and details

To take notes with graphic organizers
To demonstrate oral competence in simple discussions and narratives of self with basic fluency, accuracy, and pronunciation
To understand fiction and authentic texts, such as news articles.
To apply reading strategies to separate main ideas from supporting details, make inferences and predictions
To make sensible guesses about unfamiliar material that is contextualized
To write narrative paragraphs and short compositions that show control of content vocabulary and basic syntax patterns
To write simple free-writing tasks that demonstrate developing  fluency and that respond to situations and characters
To comprehend and produce the items in the grammar/theme chart with accuracy and developing fluency in controlled situations
To access Level 3 software in UCC labs/ALC and apply basic CALL strategies.

Information Literacy:
By the conclusion of the semester, all students who pass this course will demonstrate, in at least one graded project, familiarity with the research process. This should include attending a library orientation, obtaining at least one library source and incorporating those sources into an oral or written project.

Resources:
Texts:
English in Action Book 3 by Foley & Neblett

Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
Binder and Filler Paper
Dictionary

Every student must have his own books and bring them to class every day.
Please turn off all beepers and cell phones during class. 

Attendance:
Class will meet for 14 weeks.  Attendance is an essential part of the class. Students are required to attend all classes and to participate in all class activities; a portion of your final grade will include class participation.  If a student is absent during the semester, it is his responsibility to find out about missed assignments.  Excessive absences will seriously hinder your ability to pass the class.

Assignments:
Homework will be given for every class meeting.  Please come to class prepared with all assignments handed in on time.   All assignments must be handed in on filler paper.

Grammar:
In this class we will review the Present Continuous, Past, and Future Tenses and learn the Present Tense.  We will also learn about Modals, Comparisons, and Time Clauses.

Reading and Writing:
In this class we will read two novels.  Each week you will read two or three chapters from the book and have an assignment.  In addition, there will be a variety of writing assignments based on the novels.

Speaking and Participation:
It is important that you practice spoken English in class.  Speaking and listening are a large part of the class, and you must participate as often as possible.  Your class participation will also be part of your final grade.

Exams:
During the semester there will be both a final and a mid-term exam.  In addition, there will be class tests after each lesson.  There will be no make-ups for any missed exams.  Tests are only given on the scheduled dates.  All exams will be announced; there will be no surprise tests.  Any student who missed the final exam will not pass the course.  75% is the passing grade for all tests unless otherwise stated.

Final Grade Calculation
:
Final exam:                                                                             50%
Mid-term/Quizzes, Projects, Homework /Participation      50%         

Final Grade:
At the end of the semester, you will receive a LETTER grade of either S, or U.  An "S" grade means that your work is Satisfactory and that you will advance to Level 4.  A "U" grade means the work for the semester has been Unsatisfactory and that you must repeat the class.  The final passing grade for the semester is 75% and will be determined according to the following:

Visit the Academic Learning Center in Room 316 for additional computer practice and free tutoring.

CHEATING:
Cheating is not permitted.  Please refer to the Student Handbook for the college’s policy on cheating and plagiarism.

Any student with a disability should contact the Disability Counselor in Cranford at: (908) 709-7164.

 Good Luck!  Have a successful semester!