FOUNDATION PROGRAM ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

Course Syllabus, Level 2 (Intermediate)

A. COURSE SUMMARY
Course Information
Course Name: Foundation English Level 2 (intermediate)
Course Code: 812002
Contact Hours: 20
Credit Hours: None
Pre-requisites: Foundation English Level 1 (812002) or TOEFL (institutional) score of 400
Faculty Information
Name:
Contact Tel.:
Office Number:

Office Tel:
Building:

E-mail:
Office Hours:

Course Description
The Foundation Program aims to bridge the gap between secondary school and university education. The English
Program is designed to build skills in reading, writing, listening, speaking, vocabulary, grammar, critical thinking,
and self-learning. An integrated multimedia program reinforces language skills and supports independent learning.
Level 2
This is an Intermediate level course that consolidates basic grammar knowledge and use, expands vocabulary and
develops reading and writing skills beyond the basic level. It develops skills of generating ideas independently and
collaboratively, develops listening and speaking skills, and promotes critical thinking and independent learning.
Classroom learning is reinforced with a variety of multimedia programs and special websites for independent
learning and self-assessment. Furthermore, the course fosters independent learning activities facilitated by the
Student Learning Center.
Level 2 Course Objectives
1. Understand and use spoken English effectively.
2. Communicate orally in English for personal, social, and academic purposes.
3. Apply critical thinking skills.
4. Read and comprehend texts of varying length at intermediate level.
5. Improved knowledge of vocabulary and grammar.
6. Understand and use effective writing skills to express ideas and give information.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course you will be able to perform the following:
1. Critical thinking skills:

Identify personal assumptions

Compare and contrast persons, practices and experiences
Infer information not explicit in the text
Analyze information and draw conclusions
Identify arguments for or against an issue

Qatar University, Foundation - English

Level 2 Summary, Spring 2008

2. Listening skills:

Listen for main ideas and details

Interpret speakers attitude and emotions
Relate listening to personal experience
Listen and take notes on specific information
Summarize a lecture

3. Speaking skills:

Offer advice and make suggestions

Ask and answer questions about personal preferences
Conduct an interview
Participate and lead a group discussion
Make an oral presentation to an audience
Ask for clarification

4. Pronunciation skills:

Recognize and use rhythm and stress

Correctly pronounce vowels and consonants
Understand some speech reductions

5. Reading skills:

Demonstrate understanding of the major and minor details

Identify the main idea of paragraphs and passages
Demonstrate an understanding of the relationships of ideas within a paragraph
Demonstrate an understanding of the relationships of ideas among paragraphs
Use graphical information to interpret text
Infer meaning of vocabulary words from context
Make predictions
Relate information in the text to life experience
Compare/analyze information from different sources
Paraphrase main ideas and details
Effectively summarize an article
Use context clues
Distinguish main ideas from details

6. Writing skills:

Use pre-writing and organizing strategies such as free-writing, charting, and

outlining
Use transition words and coherence devices.
Peer editing of writing
Write a two-paragraph process analysis composition
Write a two-paragraph compare & contrast composition
Write a two-paragraph classification composition
Summarize an article into 1-2 paragraphs
Use topic and supporting sentences to write effective paragraphs
Use correct format, line spacing, margins and titles in writing
Develop appropriate mechanics in writing, such as punctuation
Use simple sentences to make compound sentences in a paragraph

7. Vocabulary skills:

Understand word meanings and forms.

Employ strategies for building vocabulary.
Use accurate, descriptive language, synonyms and antonyms, prefixes and suffixes,
idioms.
Choose appropriate vocabulary for a given context

QU Foundation English Department, Level 2 (Intermediate)

Qatar University, Foundation - English

Level 2 Summary, Spring 2008

8. Grammar skills:

Recognize and use the first conditional, comparatives and superlatives, the past
simple and progressive tenses
Use regular plural forms of common nouns
Distinguish between definite and indefinite articles
Recognize the present perfect tense
Recognize modals for polite requests and giving advice, asking permission and
expressing ability
Recognize gerunds and infinitives

Content Distribution and Pacing Schedule: Level 2 please see attached schedule
Teaching Methods
The main features of teaching this course include, but are not limited to, the following teaching principles and
techniques:
Principles:
- learner-centered environment in which the teacher is a facilitator of student learning
- collaborative learning
- inductive problem-solving approaches encourage independent thinking and learning
Techniques:
- Individual work, pair work and group work
- previewing and brainstorming regarding themes
- Text-based activities
- Project work (Reading project, writing portfolio)
- Small and large Group discussions
- Peer review of writing
- Lecture and exposition
- Preview of vocabulary
Instructional Media
Laptops, OHP, Whiteboard, Data show, audio-cassettes and CD players, video and DVD players
Assessment Policy and Tools
The overall weighting of the level 2 grade is 65% for exams (mid-term and final) and 35% classwork. A Student
passes with a grade of 60%. Specific course items are weighted as follows:
CLASSWORK (35%)
1. A writing portfolio comprising 4 assignments (rubric attached) 10% of overall grade.
2. A reading project comprising 2 assignments (grade form attached) 4% of overall grade
3. Oral presentations/speaking activities following a framework provided by the teacher (rubric attached) - 10
% of grade
4. Class work in reading, listening, grammar, and speaking as set by the teacher (example guidelines attached)
11 % of grade
MID TERM AND FINAL EXAMS (65%)
1. mid-term examination ( reading, writing, listening, and grammar) (Saturday,April 26, 2008) 25% of
grade
2. A final examination on reading, writing, listening and grammar (Saturday, June 7, 2007) 40% of
grade

QU Foundation English Department, Level 2 (Intermediate)

Qatar University, Foundation - English

Level 2 Summary, Spring 2008

Following is the breakdown of grades for the Final Exam, Mid-term Exam and continuous assessment by
component:
Evaluation
Course Components
Total
tool
Reading
Writing
Listening
Speaking
Grammar
MM
Reading
2+2
4
Project
Writing
10
10
Portfolio
(4X2.5)
Speaking
10
4+6
Assessment
Class work
3
2
5
Participation
2
6
2
2
Mid term
Exam
Final Exam
Total

14
28

11
29

9
18

11

6
12

25

40
100

Grades for the course will be assigned as follows:

90-100
A
outstanding achievement
85-89
80-84
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
59 or below

B+
B
C+
C
D+
D
F

Very good, representing above average achievement

fair, average for undergraduate students
poor but passing
Fail

Student Responsibilities and Attendance Policies and Procedures. In order for you to successfully complete
this course, you must understand and complete the requirements.
1. Class attendance is compulsory and may be considered part of the overall classwork and participation mark
recorded by your instructor.
2. Arriving late or leaving early is disruptive to the class.
3. Students who are absent for more than 25% of the total number (entire semester) of class meetings will
NOT be allowed to take the final examination and will receive an F barred grade for the course.
4. There are no excused absences. The allowed absences cover illness, family events, car problems,
appointments, etc.
5. If you are absent for a scheduled class test, assessed classwork (group discussions) or a quiz, a make-up
test, classwork, or a quiz will NOT be given.
6. If you are absent for the common mid-semester or final examination, strict Department and University
policies and procedures apply for make-up exams. Your course instructor can provide further information
on this.
7. Students are expected to participate actively in class because this forms part of the total mark for the
course.
8. All homework assignments must be submitted to the instructor on time.
Classroom Discipline
1. Students are expected to be punctual (every 3 late class arrivals will be counted as 1 class absence) in class
attendance and to conduct themselves in an adult and professional manner.
2. The use of mobile telephones inside the classroom is NOT allowed.

QU Foundation English Department, Level 2 (Intermediate)

Qatar University, Foundation - English

Level 2 Summary, Spring 2008

3. Any student disciplinary issues, which may arise, will be referred to the Head of the English Department.
Additional information on student classroom conduct will be given to you by your course instructors.
The required textbooks:
1. NorthStar 2nd Ed. Intermediate Listening/ Speaking Student Book
2. NorthStar 2nd Ed. Intermediate Reading/ Writing Student Book
3. NorthStar 2nd Ed. Intermediate Writing Activity Book
4. Focus on Grammar 3, Third Edition
5. Longman Dictionary of American English
Additional Sources:
Great Paragraphs (Houghton Mifflin)
Ready to Write, 2nd Ed. (Longman)
Open Forum 2 (Oxford)
Other materials as identified by the instructor
Appendices (attached)

Writing Portfolio Assessment

Oral Presentation Assessment

Classwork and Participation Assessment

QU Foundation English Department, Level 2 (Intermediate)